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Mercury Sable 97 does not start
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oddgca
User
Dec 30, 2012, 3:18 PM
Post #1 of 5
(4120 views)
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Mercury Sable 97 does not start
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Mercury Sable 1997 Wagon 3 ltr
160000 km
Sable 1997 not starting
The engine cranks well. Tank is ¾ full. Fuel pump seam to work. I noise is heard when listening at the fuel filler cap and the ignition is switched on. By using a digital OBD2 car reader, no new trouble code is seen (the car runs since about one year without a working camshaft position sensor. Code PO340 is present. However I was told by an expert, that the car will function well without it as long the crankshaft position sensor works).
The car worked well for two days, after it was not used for about four weeks. The engine stopped on two occasions after it was started, but restarting was successful. It failed to start after it was parked overnight at very low temperature of about -15 C (10 F). Heating up the engine by a block heater and an additional heater inside the engine compartment did not solve the problem.
I assume that either the fuel supply is blocked or the ignition does not work. Tomorrow I will check the ignition by removing a spark plug and checking for proper sparks. Could it be that the fuel filter is frozen?
How can a proper fuel flow be checked? I learned that before touching any fuel line the fuel pressure should be released. How and where can it be done?
I would appreciate very much any help in the matter.
Otto
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 30, 2012, 3:49 PM
Post #2 of 5
(4107 views)
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Re: Mercury Sable 97 does not start
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3.0L OHV or DOHC?
There is a pressure test port on the fuel rail you can connect a fuel pressure gauge to.
You do need to have the cam shaft sensor problem fixed. It will run, but the fuel system is batch firing the injectors instead of using the sequential method. If it is the OHV engine, a common problem is the cam shaft synchronizer wears out and wipes the sensor off and blends it up inside the housing. You don't want the synco locking up because it happens to drive the oil pump.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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oddgca
User
Dec 31, 2012, 4:15 PM
Post #3 of 5
(4049 views)
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Re: Mercury Sable 97 does not start
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It is a 3.0 l OHV engine.
Is batch firing detrimental to the engine, ignition coil, spark plugs, injectors, PCM and others? I gave up looking for a low cost camshaft position sensor a time ago. I will try again to find one at a reasonable price.
I got the engine started after checking the ignition sparking, heating up the engine, fuel filter, fuel rail, adding Gas Line Antifreeze and Gas Treatment to the fuel. I hope the car will start again after the cold night coming up.
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oddgca
User
Jan 1, 2013, 8:55 AM
Post #5 of 5
(4030 views)
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Re: Mercury Sable 97 does not start
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It is an old car and old cars don't hold forever in the harsh climate of Canada. Maybe it is time to buy a newer one.
Happy New Year
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