user 59934
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- Mar 24, 2004
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Hi Everyone,
I recently had an issue with my 2003 ST.
This has happened twice in the past few days. I've never had this problem before.
I have read all the posts on the subject that came up on the Search function. Most of the responses seem to be people guessing with no real experience in the problem.
I couldn't actually find anyone who had the same issue and came back to post on what the final diagnosis was and if it was fixed 100%. It seems most people get some input on their question and then disappear without adding the answer to the original post.
I'm hoping to find someone who has concrete experience with the issue.
First, some background....
My ST has just over 90,000 miles. It is taken care of nicely.
I religiously use a high quality Fuel System Cleaner every 4th fill-up. All the required maintenance steps have been done.
I have changed the oil with Mobil 1 every 3000 miles since the intial 5000 mile break-in period.
I clean the entire intake tract and it's components every 10,000 or so miles. This includes the IAC.
The Fuel Filter is replaced about every 25,000 miles. The current one has only about 10,000 miles on it.
Okay...here's the issue.
I drove to a car show last Saturday. It was a 2.5 hour drive. I had no issue driving there. I came out and my ST started right up, as it always did, and I drove 2.5 hours home. When I was 5 minutes from home I stopped for a bit to eat. When I came out my ST would not start.
It cranked fine but wouldn't start.
I had no choice but to let it sit because I had no one to pick me up. I walked around a shopping center and came back 2 hours later after it had cool down and it started like there was no problem.
It started and ran fine the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday, I went to a store and when I came out it did the same thing....cranked fine but wouldn't start. I sprayed some Starter Fluid in the TB and it started for a few seconds then died. So....I checked everything I could think of fuel related. I checked the Schrader Valve on the Fuel Rail and there was fuel there. I checked the Fuel Pump Relay, Fuel Pump Fuse, Fuel Pump resist button and all connections I could get to. Everything seemed ok. I didn't here the Fuel Pump prime when turning the key but I have never been able to hear it when sitting in the driver's seat. I didn't have anyone to stand in the back to listen for me.
So...I walked around a nearby Home Depot and let the car cool down for 2 hours like I did the first time it happened.
I came out and it started again like nothing ever happened.
I think this is a fuel delivery problem but I have yet to pinpoint exact why.
I was thinking a sensor somewhere is sensing the heat and telling the computer not to let the fuel pump work. Anyone know of a sensor that has a job like that?
Possibly a sensor that controls the Fuel Pump Relay? I wonder about this because I heard the Fuel Pump Relay click twice when the key was turned. This may be normal but most Relays click once when arming the circuit. If they click twice, it is usually a problem. However, maybe the circuit is designed to do that just to prime the Pump. Then, when the starter is engaged, the relay clicks back on. I switched out the relay and the second one did the same thing.
Then I was wondering about the PATS System.
Does anyone have concrete knowledge on the PATS System. If the transmitter is going bad will the engine still crank? I have heard that the only thing that is effected by the lack of a PATS signal is that the Injectors are cut off.
I ask this because right before the engine started the second time, I dropped my keys on the ground. Sometimes when a battery is going bad you can hit it against something and it will work again. I have done this to my remote door lock fob over the years. It gets me through for a few weeks until I get the chance to change the battery. Also, I have done this with my EZPass transmitter. It may also be because of a loose connection. A jarring can reset the connection.
I'm have since swtiched over to another PATS Key and haven't had the problem...but it's only been a day.
Of course the Fuel Pump could be going bad but I don't think the only time the problem would show itself is upon starting when hot...with a half a tank of gas. I would think it would shut down or at least stumble while driving also.
Jeff
I recently had an issue with my 2003 ST.
This has happened twice in the past few days. I've never had this problem before.
I have read all the posts on the subject that came up on the Search function. Most of the responses seem to be people guessing with no real experience in the problem.
I couldn't actually find anyone who had the same issue and came back to post on what the final diagnosis was and if it was fixed 100%. It seems most people get some input on their question and then disappear without adding the answer to the original post.
I'm hoping to find someone who has concrete experience with the issue.
First, some background....
My ST has just over 90,000 miles. It is taken care of nicely.
I religiously use a high quality Fuel System Cleaner every 4th fill-up. All the required maintenance steps have been done.
I have changed the oil with Mobil 1 every 3000 miles since the intial 5000 mile break-in period.
I clean the entire intake tract and it's components every 10,000 or so miles. This includes the IAC.
The Fuel Filter is replaced about every 25,000 miles. The current one has only about 10,000 miles on it.
Okay...here's the issue.
I drove to a car show last Saturday. It was a 2.5 hour drive. I had no issue driving there. I came out and my ST started right up, as it always did, and I drove 2.5 hours home. When I was 5 minutes from home I stopped for a bit to eat. When I came out my ST would not start.
It cranked fine but wouldn't start.
I had no choice but to let it sit because I had no one to pick me up. I walked around a shopping center and came back 2 hours later after it had cool down and it started like there was no problem.
It started and ran fine the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday, I went to a store and when I came out it did the same thing....cranked fine but wouldn't start. I sprayed some Starter Fluid in the TB and it started for a few seconds then died. So....I checked everything I could think of fuel related. I checked the Schrader Valve on the Fuel Rail and there was fuel there. I checked the Fuel Pump Relay, Fuel Pump Fuse, Fuel Pump resist button and all connections I could get to. Everything seemed ok. I didn't here the Fuel Pump prime when turning the key but I have never been able to hear it when sitting in the driver's seat. I didn't have anyone to stand in the back to listen for me.
So...I walked around a nearby Home Depot and let the car cool down for 2 hours like I did the first time it happened.
I came out and it started again like nothing ever happened.
I think this is a fuel delivery problem but I have yet to pinpoint exact why.
I was thinking a sensor somewhere is sensing the heat and telling the computer not to let the fuel pump work. Anyone know of a sensor that has a job like that?
Possibly a sensor that controls the Fuel Pump Relay? I wonder about this because I heard the Fuel Pump Relay click twice when the key was turned. This may be normal but most Relays click once when arming the circuit. If they click twice, it is usually a problem. However, maybe the circuit is designed to do that just to prime the Pump. Then, when the starter is engaged, the relay clicks back on. I switched out the relay and the second one did the same thing.
Then I was wondering about the PATS System.
Does anyone have concrete knowledge on the PATS System. If the transmitter is going bad will the engine still crank? I have heard that the only thing that is effected by the lack of a PATS signal is that the Injectors are cut off.
I ask this because right before the engine started the second time, I dropped my keys on the ground. Sometimes when a battery is going bad you can hit it against something and it will work again. I have done this to my remote door lock fob over the years. It gets me through for a few weeks until I get the chance to change the battery. Also, I have done this with my EZPass transmitter. It may also be because of a loose connection. A jarring can reset the connection.
I'm have since swtiched over to another PATS Key and haven't had the problem...but it's only been a day.
Of course the Fuel Pump could be going bad but I don't think the only time the problem would show itself is upon starting when hot...with a half a tank of gas. I would think it would shut down or at least stumble while driving also.
Jeff
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