Bird won't start

[wishfulbird]

After sitting about 2 months in my garage, the battery went down. I disconnected the battery cables and slow charged the battery on 2 amps for several days. After reconnecting the battery cable, the engine turns over but doesn't fire. Any suggestions? I have already checked the fuel pump reset and it looks good to go. Any help would be appreciated before I have her towed to the Ford dealership for repairs.

[bwlewis]

Re: Bird won't start

Fuel filter?

[Leroy]

Re: Bird won't start

Close the doors, lock the doors and set the alarm, then unlock the doors and try it. Leroy

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[wishfulbird]

Re: Bird won't start

Nope, locking and unlocking doesn't work either. I can hear the fuel pump run when I first turn the key on but it fails to start. The motor turns over very fast but it never even tries to start. I guess I'm headed for an expensive dealer repair.

[billm]

Re: Bird won't start

I tried to charge my battery a few weeks ago with a new 2 amp charger. Left it on all night,a nd it would not start.then used an old trusty regular charger, and it started right up about abut 30 minutes on the charger. Also, strange intermittent sounds came from beneath the hood near the right front while connected to the 2 amp charger that did not occur when connected to the regular charger.

[bottomtime]

Re: Bird won't start

Nope, locking and unlocking doesn't work either. I can hear the fuel pump run when I first turn the key on but it fails to start. The motor turns over very fast but it never even tries to start. I guess I'm headed for an expensive dealer repair.

It's quite possible that the gas has gone sour after two months. This so-called new oxygenated gas, plus 10% ethanol added may have solidified into small varnish particles, which it can and does, will clog a fuel filter/s in a heartbeat. Open the gas cap, and take a good "whiff" smell of the gas, and if it's gone sour, it will have a strong repulsive odor. The "shelf-life" of this present day gas, is very short, and when it goes sour, it can clog up the entire fuel system, including the injectors. When storing anything that has a gas fuel system, always, fill the tank completely full, to prevent condensation forming, and add fuel stabilizer.

[wishfulbird]

Re: Bird won't start

The last time I drove the TBird, I did fill up with gas (2 months ago) and it has been periodically started a few times since then. But this past weekend the battery died and I recharged it but it wouldn't even try to start. The engine turns over very good but no firing of engine. I checked every fuse/diode/relay that I could find but still no go. I bought a new battery from the dealer this past evening and it still won't fire. I have called the roll back for tomorrow morning to haul it to the dealer for repairs. Better get the check book out for this one.

[Sumerbird]

Re: Bird won't start

Please let us know how things pan out at the Ford dealer.

[bwlewis]

Re: Bird won't start

Did the computer(s) fail to recognize the key since the battery died completely?

[prbre]

Re: Bird won't start

the car would not even turn over if it did not recognized the chip in the key.

[cool57]

Re: Bird won't start

After sitting about 2 months in my garage, the battery went down. I disconnected the battery cables and slow charged the battery on 2 amps for several days. After reconnecting the battery cable, the engine turns over but doesn't fire. Any suggestions? I have already checked the fuel pump reset and it looks good to go. Any help would be appreciated before I have her towed to the Ford dealership for repairs.

I'm having a similar problem. A few months ago it was simply the fuel pump relay located in rear power distribution box (cost $200 in labor to diagnose!). Now car is acting the same way; crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,cr ank,crank,....
but no start-replaced the relay myself but it didn't help. A helper can feel the relay "click" but cannot hear fuel pump running. I located fuel pump "crash switch" through the access hole in kick panel, but it doesn't feel like the button is popped up. I have the original battery and it has been on a Battery Tender for months now (since it went dead a couple times from sitting). Could a slight drop in voltage prevent fuel pump from running? Everything else electrical works.

[snowbird]

Re: Bird won't start

I'm having a similar problem. A few months ago it was simply the fuel pump relay located in rear power distribution box (cost $200 in labor to diagnose!). Now car is acting the same way; crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,cr ank,crank,....
but no start-replaced the relay myself but it didn't help. A helper can feel the relay "click" but cannot hear fuel pump running. I located fuel pump "crash switch" through the access hole in kick panel, but it doesn't feel like the button is popped up. I have the original battery and it has been on a Battery Tender for months now (since it went dead a couple times from sitting). Could a slight drop in voltage prevent fuel pump from running? Everything else electrical works.

It takes a lot more amperage to crank your engine over with the starter then it does to operate the feul pump so I would not think there is a problem with your battery.
MartinB.

[cool57]

Re: Bird won't start

It takes a lot more amperage to crank your engine over with the starter then it does to operate the feul pump so I would not think there is a problem with your battery.
MartinB.

That makes sense!

[wishfulbird]

Re: Bird won't start

Got the TBird back from the dealer today. Locked fuel pump!!! 764 dollars to repair. I could hear the fuel pump MOTOR running but the pump itself was locked up. The mechanic didn't have an assignable cause other than it happens. Boy, she ran sweet all the way home.
New policy at home-- TBird will be driven at least weekly from now on.

[rcjohny]

Re: Bird won't start

If you love em you got to drive um ///////////////////////