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Car trouble......

EhlerDave
Okay my Mom drives a 1997 Ford Taurus GL. Whe she is driving the tachometer will just drop to zero, the radio will shut off all power stops. A short time after this the ignition will shut down and the car is dead. If you wait about 30 minutes the car will restart without being jumped. If you jump it as soon as it dies it will also restart. This problem started before the alternator wore out the brushes, due to the amount of damage it caused we just replaced the alt. The car is back to shutting off, it may do it for a few days then stop for a month. The car has a good battery.

Any ideas or sugesstions as to what or why the car can do this? Once that battery is low enough to shut off the ign. how can it have the power left to restart the car?

Thanks, David.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Fatstrat
    Take it to an Autozone Parts store (if any in your area) and they'll run a code check on it for free. I'd bet other parts dealers will also. That would be my 1st suggestion. W/these new computerized cars, it could be several things.
    A few years ago I spent $300.+ on my '88 Ford truck, self troubleshooting an engine miss problem. Replaced every electrical component on it before finally taking it to a mechanic. Turned out I had a cracked sparkplug. (pugs were only a couple months old)
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  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by Fatstrat
    Take it to an Autozone Parts store (if any in your area) and they'll run a code check on it for free. I'd bet other parts dealers will also. That would be my 1st suggestion. W/these new computerized cars, it could be several things.
    A few years ago I spent $300.+ on my '88 Ford truck, self troubleshooting an engine miss problem. Replaced every electrical component on it before finally taking it to a mechanic. Turned out I had a cracked sparkplug. (pugs were only a couple months old)
    This showed on a code check..?
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  • sig232
    I think I would trust the dealer to give me a correct read on the problem before AutoZone!!! Yes you pay dealer cost but then what is the cost of being stranded and unable to trust your car???

    Most auto zone techs are about as high paid as the ones at jiffylube and not very experienced.

    Take it to the dealer and let them give you an extimate. Let them fix it they need the work![;)]
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  • tomahawk
    check all ground wires and harnesses?
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  • bpost
    Check the motor mounts, my son had similar problem with a 95. Bad mounts move wires all over causing shorts.
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  • br549
    fords are known for the electronic ignition modguals (sp) going bad. sometimes they will cause problems as you described and ssometimes when they go bad the car or truck won't crank and run at all. i've owned fords since 1977 and i found always have a spare electronic ignition mod, and a fuel filter.
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  • buddyb
    I agree with Tomahawk.Sounds like a bad ground.
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  • acdodd
    Try asking here
    http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/index.php?act=home
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  • 47studebaker
    I think Tomahawk has it, ground or wiring connection !
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  • 180A
    You may have a defective ignition switch.
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  • givette
    Dealer a must. I had a surplus Ford police cruiser, and took it in for XYZ repair. After they ran my VIN, they replaced three recall items free. Spontaneous ignition cut-out has plagued Ford in the past. If it's a recall item, they send the bill back up the ladder to Detroit. Best, Joe
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