misfits

This is a standard 2001 Taurus. I've recently installed a new battery, alternator, and fuel filter trying to solve a problem where the car would not start after something like going in a store for 10 minutes.

Today I took it for a short drive to the store after replacing the fuel filter and left it running while I ran in (had a friend wait in the car). When I returned and shut the door the ABS light came on and once I came to a stop light the brake warning light came on, the RPM dropped to 0, and I started hearing a lot of static from the radio but the car never stalled. The light turned green and I hit the gas but the car hesitated for a couple seconds then the RPM went back to normal, the car jumped forward and the warning lights and static from the radio went away. When I got home I turned the car off then turned the key to the on position a few times to listen for the fuel pump but heard nothing. After waiting an hour or so I tried again and the car started right up.

Is the fuel pump dying?

Bert

Sounds like you have an electrical problem not in the fuel pump itself. If the pump was bad, the lights wouldn't do all you mentioned. Check all of the grounds too.

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Bert

misfits

Turned out to be a bad fuel pump + a bad alternator from AZ. The lights were caused by the bad alternator not charging the battery at a low RPM.

Bert

Good find. Multiple problems are hard to find. Thanks for the update.

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Bert

ndrewoods

Quick question. You have bought a new alternator right. Was it because of a bad fuel pump? Kinda a newbie on these things so forgive my ignorance on such matter. Thanks.

Bert

The fuel pump won't cause the alternator to go out. They had to be 2 unrelated problems.

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Bert

Prophecor

Hello all. Interesting that you mention the lights blaring. Every time my 94 Mark would lose her alternator, the ABS light would show up. I'm trying to narrow down my 98 Taurus no start problem which sounds much like yours. I'll drive for a while and shut the car down and it won't start till about an hour later, as if nothing was wrong. Just had a crank sensor replaced, an alleged short to the computer repaired etc. This thing still refuses to start at points after reaching operating temp. Coil Packs, Fuel Filter, Wires. Still the same problems.