Car problems?

Question

My car has hard starts and idles. Every once in a while it stalls, and won't start for 30mins. or so. I have a 2000 Mercury Mountaneer. Any help?

Answer 1

Sounds like a fuel related problem. Replace the fuel filter and have the fuel pressure checked.

Answer 2

well if it starts then stalls after 30 minutes it can only be a few things, first check you battery, the best way is to grab a mulitimeter ,put the (+) and (-) leads from the multimeter across your battery if it reads under 12.6 volts its stuffed. you can also use a hydrometer buy checking the acid in every cell but it can be a lil messy, start ur car....recheck with multimeter oh by the way make sure the multimeter is on the V dial and if it reads over 13.4 Volts then your alternator is working well ,cant be that

um... maybe you can check your fuel filter if its clean, most cars have clear universal ones if its really dirty then its a possibilty our fuel tank is blocked up and needs either repair or replacing....
um....you can check inside the dizzy cap (where the spark plugs come off) sometiems carbon can stop the spark from producing the equal amount of voltage that has to be indivdually passed through the leads, just see if the lil prongs on the inside are black if they are then file them down with a lil emory paper...if that doesnt help your timing may be out you can do this yourself but you need a timing light and the specs of your vechile eg:BTDC or ATDC ,yer i think that what it is you say it starts idles then stops ...try and get someone like mechanic or auto electrician to check your timing..or just take it for a diagnostic service ...good luck

Answer 3

Your description is good however it would have helped if you included the engine size.
Generally speaking this type of problem can be traced to a sticking EGR valve. This is located on top of the intake manifold. It's purpose is to meter a small amount of exhaust gas back through the intake manifold while driving. The diaphragm spring loaded valve is operated by intake manifold vacuum. Usually a thermo - vacuum port switch operated by the heat of the antifreeze / water meters the amount of vacuum the EGR receives. If the system is working properly, at low RPM very little vacuum reaches the EGR valve. At increased throttle openings the valve opens more allowing more exhaust gasses reach the intake manifold.

In your case it would seem that the EGR valve may be sticking open causing your motor to die out at decreased throttle openings. Have the valve and the thermo-switch checked.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

most common problem is idle speed control valve is binding. this valve is located on the throttlebody. remove it and look inside at the shaft, if you see carbon deposit or shiney spot on one side, replace valve

Answer 5

to keep from changing part after part to no avail have a diagnostics check run on the vehicle