Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting my car will not start

hello ,
my 98 svt won't start. My wife went to start it and she said it didn't. The car will crank but will not turn over. I checked the starter and the fuel pump. nothing....... and the check engine light is on. what could it be . I am going to try to get a scan tool from my buddy tomorrow.anyone have a guess

do you have any spark?

it has no spark and i checked the the coil and electronic distributor thingy(whatever ford calls that ) i tested it at auto zone and it was fine. Could it be a sensor(CRPS, Camshaft po sensor. I don't know. Does anyone have any ideas.

Try connecting a test light to the ignition coil's negative (ground) side. Have someone start the car. While the starter is turning the engine, the test light should blink off and on. If the light stays on then something is wrong with the ignition circuit that signals the ignition coil to fire. If the light does not light at all, then you have no ignition voltage. If the light blinks off and on, then the ignition primary circuit is probably OK.

Here is an article about ignition circuits:
http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/ignition.htm

The ignition coil itself could be bad. Sometimes an ignition coil will test OK but under voltage the coil will have a open circuit. A test light will make finding the problem easy.

things to also check:
the impact activated fuel cut switch.. (sometimes these thing just trip)
turn on the ignition.. and listen for the fuel pump. it kind of "whirs"
I have heard of a fuel filter being so clogged it caused the same problem
also make sure the fuel filter tis still connected well on both sides these damn cheap clips ford uses can bounce right off of there with small impacts like rail road tracks
just ask little scorty. (I.E. i had that problem lol)

If tested good, Did you attempt to press the Gas peddle down while trying to start? My contour wouldnt start for awhile till i found out pressin on the gas started it up

well can anyone tell me where the activated fuel cut swithch, i have tried pumping the gas while starting it. The fuel pump does work. I took a spark plug wire out and stuck a spark plug on it and there was no spark. How do i check the coil. What sequence do i need to go in?(from the top of the distributor with the spark plug leads to the plug on the outside of the distributor) I have tried the ohms resistance with a voltmeter, but not with a test light. Is that any different. I have a buddy at Autozone and i will just get the part from him, see if that works. Any more ideas will help tremendously.

The fuel cut-off switch is on the driver's side kick panel. There is a label there, just push the button. If your fuel pump is working, the switch shouldn't matter. You won't hear your fuel pump pressurize if the switch is tripped.

Well, if the car sounds like it is working, (everything is intact, such as good fuel pump, tried pumping the gas, etc) Check for compression in your cylinders, I know with my contour around 130-120 is good compression, cus thats what im gettin and it will start :P if not, Check to see if fuel pressure is good. What you have to locate is a little thing that looks like a tire valve (where you can put air in your tires) And when that is located, have someone try to start the engine, and press down on the valve, if Fuel is sprayed all over the place, that = Fuel Pump is good, and fuel is attempting to get to the fuel injectors. If not, Your problem lays inside your fuel pump. (Note this is located on a fuel line hose, I found mine by the back of the engine compartment, on top, by the air cleaner assembly. Also check your spark plugs, could be a problem there. And lastly, check your timing chain/belt. I hope that will help, And hopefully everything ends up working.