Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Engine cranks but doesn't start, help needed

I am a new Contour-owner, having purchased a beautiful, silver 98 GL, 4 valve 2.0 liter, used from a dealer two months ago with 55k miles.

I'm happy to have found this webpage and forum. I hope to find it useful.

A week after purchasing the vehicle the engine wouldn't start, despite being able to crank. The Chevy dealership from whom I bought the car was unable to determine the problem and sent the car to the local Ford dealer. Ford came back and said that the Chevy dealership had used the wrong type of oil filter when getting the car ready to be sold; the engine consequently shut off the fuel pump.

Supposedly wrong oil filters shut off the fuel pump? But after a week of running normally?

After reaching 3,000 miles last week I had the oil replaced at JiffyLube. I then immediately drove the car from Provo, UT, to L.A., CA, and back again. A few days later (last night), the car refused to start, giving me the exact same problem: the engine cranks but no fuel seems to be reaching it.

I love my car but am awfully frustrated at this irregularity.

It is currently very cold in Provo, UT. May that be the problem? Would it be the oil filter again? Why does the fuel pump seem to get turned off so easily? Are there other reasons the fuel pump would shut down?

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

I was having the same problem with my civic,the engine turns over but wont fire? my problem was the bolt that holds the rotor on in my distibutor.

Check the crankshaft position sensor--not sure if yours is a V6 or not. If it is the sensor, and yours is a V6, it will be on the lower, left hand side of the engine bay near the crankshaft pulley. Just try to wiggle the wire to see if it helps. I can't imagine that you're having fuel pump problems b/c of an oil filter. I hope you just misunderstood the dealer--either that or the dealer is on crack. Too, you should be able to hear the pump when you first turn the ignition on.

There is a fuel pump shutoff that is down by the drivers kick panel iirc. I think the ford dealer was feeding you a line of bull about the oil filter shutting off the fuel pump. I don't know the 4 Cyl. very well, but this sounds real fishy. There may be something wrong with your fuel pump shutoff switch or maybe they really meant the fuel filter. Wouldn't hurt to change it just in case. (Takes about 15 min. By gas tank in front of PS-rear tire.)

Check if the car is getting spark to the cylinders to help isolate the starting problem. (It's either ignition or induction...)