V6 Not Starting

[Darth Vader]

Hi all

 

I have a 1997 2.8 v6 Galaxy which has recently started to have problems starting. What happens is that I can start the car, no problem, in the morning and all is well. Intermittently, however, I will try to start and all the car will do is the engine spins(the starter turns the engine) but the engine will not fire. I have tried it with my foot flat on the accelerator and not even a whiff of petrol. After a while (anything from 2 minutes to about an hour), she starts as if nothings happened. This happens when its hot or cold, sunny or rainy, after a trip to the shops or a two hour drive, it is just so random, there is no pattern to it.

Here is an example from today:

16.15 go to fetch the wife, started

16.30 stopped at shopping centre, restarted

Bought meat from the butcher, got back: started

Bought stuff from the other shops, got back: started

Went and bought take away, picked up wife went back to the car, No start

Ate takeaway in the car, repeatedly trying, no start until about 18.00 then all of a sardine....started

Drove back home, parked up, tried again, started

can go out anytime and check if it starts, you never know

 

I have done the fuel pump relay thing, even replaced with a new one but to no avail. I have contacted Ford and spoke to a mechanic, he suggested opening the fuel cap which could release a vacuum caused by a blocked ventilation pipe. No go. I have read that my next thing to try would be to check and or replace the crankshaft sensor. Problem is, I don't know where it is on the engine, so if anyone knows, that would be a help. If anyone knows what else I should try, any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[a18nkd]

my guess if it's that random it could ba a loose/corroded wire or terminal

probably best off starting with the wires at relay 30

Edited May 22, 2012 by a18nkd