My car is junk, seriously. Lately I have been having problems with getting it to start. I have gas, the oil gage is fine, the only thing I see is the temp gage is always on cold. Plus, I had to take out the fuse for my interior lights because they wouldn't turn off, AND there's a leak in my rag top by my back window so whenever it rains (like tonight) water leaks in behind the back seat.
Any help would be appreciated.... and please no comments about getting a new car, I'm workin on it!
2006-06-18 17:57:00 · 7 answers · asked by GinGin 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
About the lights: This is a common problem with Fords with the door closed sensor not recognizing that the door is closed. Cost at local mechanic-$100.
Your engine has probably overheated many times due to the thermostat not working, so you've probably cracked the heads and leaked water into the chamber. Unfortuneately this is a problem that should have been taken care of immediately. Has anyone told you how to check the water level in your radiator? Have you had your oil changed lately? There are so many things that could be a cause, some simple, some extensive. If you give me more information I could probably help you determine the cause. Contact me and I will give you a step by step process, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty.
As for the rag top, well, you've got to find the leak and either patch a tear or seal with rubber caulking.
2006-06-18 18:05:06 · answer #1 · answered by Rockstar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unfortuneately the hard start could be anything from the Pats Key being damaged on to a fuel pump that is not staying primed to many things.. Only a mechanic can tell you exactly (For the 2 I've said, the theft light will blink real fast if it doesn't recognize the key and the fuel pump can be diagnosed as usually only hard to start after sitting awhile and cycling the key a couple of times before starting will tell you)
The temp guage on cold all the time may be a bad sending unit but my guess is a stuck open thermostat.. problem that occurs on some of these fords from time to time.
The interior lights problem is as people said ,probably a bad switch inside the door that tells which door is open and the $100 figure is about right (but you may want to try adjusting your dim on your dash board by rotating the headlight knob a little making sure you didn't accidently turn the interor lights on that way.
the rag top is just because it's a rag top.... Cuts,tears,bruses do happen on all makes and models of tops.. a shop dealing in vehicle interoirs and tops should get it diagnosed and fixed right
2006-06-19 10:04:34 · answer #2 · answered by gearbox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the temperature guage will always be on cold when you try to start it, because the engine hasn't warmed up yet obviously. But for getting it to start, try replacing the spark plugs, getting a new battery or charging the battery, checking the fuel to air ratio and see if your car has been "flooded" from the last time it ran from a ratio that was running way too fuel rich. There are many more ways to try to get it started, but try those first.
P.S. Hey Bill M, umm, sorry to be the one to update you buddy, but just about every car made for the past few decades has a computer chip.
2006-06-19 01:04:36 · answer #3 · answered by Blue Sky Dreaming 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok its a 2001 it should'nt be that bad, instead of getting just any car next time. If your light does'nt turn of its the switch in your door and the check engine could be anything as small as a sensor could even be the sensor for you engine temparature your rag top anything i can tell you to do would be duck tape on in side so it does'nt show if its to big for that go to someplace that fixes them and it should'nt be that bad your car is not that bad its just somethings you need to do but i'd check before how much it would cost you to get everyhting fixed. It would probably be cheaper and you never know with cars these days they break down all the time even when they are new...
2006-06-19 01:10:12 · answer #4 · answered by Jude 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When is the last time you put fuel injector cleaner in your gas tank ? Or checked your plugs for carbon build up ?
Have you checked your fuel and air filters lately ?
Could be the only thing your car needs is routine maintenance.
I have an '03 and have no problems with it. Of course, it is maintained. By the way, have you checked your transmission fluid lately if it's an automatic ? Most people let that slide.
2006-06-19 01:08:46 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a 92 ford ranger that was having stalling problems,the mechanic hooked it up to a computer which determined what the prob was.most fords have computer chips for this reason i believe.hope this helps,good luck.
2006-06-19 01:02:59 · answer #6 · answered by swat team commander 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first check for spark at the plugs,then check to see if you are getting fuel to the injectors.
2006-06-19 01:05:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋