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On my way home from work, my car shut off and I could not get it started again. I have had some Fords in the past, so I checked some of the obvious things: 1) I had gas (although very close to "E"),oil (I blew an engine once)and antifreeze. The car sounded like it wanted to start but sounded like it wasn't getting any gas. I thought maybe my gas gauge was off so I got the gas can out. I put the gas in but still nothing. I din't notice anything out of the ordinary other than a funny smell under the hood (something I had not smelt before in any of my cars)and my check engine light came on just before it shut off. Just before the car died it started running rough and was hard to accelerate. I am thinking it could be the fuel pump. My boyfriend says it was the starter but my question to him was what does the starter have to do with the car WHILE it was RUNNING? - wouldn't that be the alternator that kicks in and keeps the car running after the initial ignition? And also if it was my alternator, why would my battery not be able to hold the charge. I tried to jump it (in the event it could have been the alternator but no go. Please advise  
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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First of all, you must identify your car by year, engine, and transmission. No one here is psychic (if they were, they would already have won the PowerBall and bought an island).
Of the items you listed, only the fuel pump is a possibility - one of quite a few. The battery, alternator, nor the starter would account for the problem you are having.
Describe any unusual circumstance that may have occurred in the minute prior to the engine dying.
Steve
98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car
89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles
94 SHO ATX - 190K
1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K.
ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
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You're not supposed to let these cars run outta gas (with bad/dirty tank sensor, you may have run out, or just too low). I can't remember the fix for it, but somebody will chime in.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Originally posted by projectSHO89:
Of the items you listed, only the fuel pump is a possibility - one of quite a few. The battery, alternator, nor the starter would account for the problem you are having.
Accually, it could be alternator. If the alternator went bad, the car would run off of the batterty untill it is the car and the battery are both dead. This is probably not true however, because if the alternator went bad, the little battery light would have come on.
But all of your symptoms describe the horrible feeling of spinning 2 crank bearings in a friends svt (offroadsvt)...lack of power, CEL...ofcourse a loud KNOCK could be heard due to the lack of oil..but thats a different story.
personally i would have your cars computer scanned for any codes, which may lead to a proper diagnosis. I will throw my hat in and guess crank sensor broke...no reason why, just thats my guess 
-Tim 
Tim
Ex - ContourPower
2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen
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Originally posted by lonefox:
The car sounded like it wanted to start but sounded like it wasn't getting any gas. .....a funny smell under the hood ....my check engine light came on just before it shut off. Just before the car died it started running rough and was hard to accelerate.
I hope I'm wrong here, but did you notice the temperature gauge while all of this was happening? A seriously overheated engine with a warped head would give all of the above symptoms. Hope not.
95 Contour Zetec, ATX (wrecked, sitting in the barn)
95 Mystique Zetec, MTX
2000 Taurus SEL 3.0L Duratec
1994 Crown Victoria LX 4.6 V8
1993 Chevy Silverado 4.3 V6
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It is a 2000 contours SE, 4 cylinder, sorry don't know the transmission.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Maybe timing belt? That just went on my boyfriends escort...he was driving and it died and that is what his ended up being...hope this helps 
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Update by lonefox posted on 11/12 @7:06am transferred from now deleted thread. Originally posted by lonefox:
This morning when I attempted to try to start the vehicle, it actually sounded like it wanted to start but wouldn't catch. Yesterday right after it DWD,when I attempted to start it, it sounded "raspy". Like I said it was a weird sound. I don't know if this can clue anyone in, but my car is strange. It does not like rain and although I have a garage to put it in at home, at work it is outside. Once before my car wouldn't start because of the moisture. I'll keep trying
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
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Originally posted by lonefox:
.... sorry don't know the transmission.
Automatic(atx) or 5-speed manual(mtx) would be your possible choices.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
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I was operating under the assumption that if a RED light had been staring her in the face, it would have been indicated. I gave her credit for no light since she did not mention it.
Steve
98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car
89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles
94 SHO ATX - 190K
1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K.
ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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