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1997 Ford Probe Won't Start - General
Question: 97 or 98 Ford Probe. Car will start on first start of the day. Will not start unless you wait approximaely one half hour to an hour. Distributor cap was changed in the fall and seemed to be ok for the winter. Now that the weather is warmer, car is not starting again unless you wait for a certain amount of time. We just change the distributor cap again, but car is still doing the same thing. Ford dealers can't seem to find the problem.
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Technican: Do you hear the fuel pump run during this time (the humming sound you hear in the fuel tank)? It should run when you initially turn the key on and while the engine is cranking.
Does the check engine light come on when you turn the key on, as it normally does?
Is spark to the plugs missing during the no start period?
If any parts have been replaced please list them.
Owner: We just replaced the distributor cap and rotor. My daughter had the fuel injection system checked out and that was OK, I believe she may have replaced the starter about 1 year ago. She now tells me the car seems to shake a little when she's trying to start it and the "check the engine" light does come on.
Technican: Next question-
Does the check engine light come when the engine is running?
To be sure we are on the same page... the car will start fine on the first start of the day. The problem is if you shut the engine off you have to let the engine cool for half an hour or more for it to start. And the starter will turn the engine but the engine will not run during the no start period.
Answer as much as you can.
Owner: You asked me more about the car. Here is my reply.
Engine light goes off when car is running. Spark plugs are good.
Car sometimes stalls at a red light but starts up again.
Problem: When you completely shut car off and want to restart the car within 20 or 30 minutes, car will not start. You have to wait over a half an hour or more before the car will restart. We had to call tow trucks several time, but by the time they came car had started.
Car seemed to run much better after the first change of distributor cap last winter.
I am work and will be leaving soon. I will look for your reply tomorrow.
Thank you.
Technican: "During the period of time the engine will not start you'll need to:
1. Test for spark available to the spark plugs, preferably with a spark tester.
Do you have spark?
There are 1 of 3 things missing during the 'no start period'. They should be checked in order. First is spark. Second is fuel pressure (do you hear the pump run during this time?). Third is injector pulse. Injector pulse is tested with a noid light(available inexpensively at your local autoparts stores).
If you have an autozone nearby they will check for trouble codes stored in your cars pcm (computer) free of charge. If you have a trouble code stored this will help with diagnosis (keep in mind anyone can use a scantool, but this does not qualify them to interpret code meaning). If you get a trouble code it's very important to give me the trouble code number and not autozones interpretation. IE for a troublecode is 'P0300'."
Owner: My daughter had the car at autozone. Had it computer tested. They say there is not problem.
Technican: Now you will need to test for spark to the spark plugs during the no start period. Need additional instructions?
If you do please give engine size or simply let me know if it's the Probe GT with a 6 cylinder or a Probe with the 4 cylinder. Here's How To Get Guaranteed Solutions In Minutes
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