Engine will not start, then runs rough

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Justin Spafford

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I posted about this a while back. I just bought the ST last month. Within a week of owning it, it refused to start until the third try, and then ran VERY rough until I gave it gas. It only did it once.



Fast forward 3 weeks, wife calls me today. She is at work, tried starting the truck 6 times and it would not fire. While on the phone with her it starts, but she says it is running "funny" so I tell her to give it gas, and all the sudden it's fine.



So it's happened twice now. I just did the IAC cleaning. Anything else. I am not going to leave her in a vehicle that will randomly not start.



 
I'm guessing the reason that it runs rough until the throttle is applied is because it is very rich due to unburned gas from the previous attempts. The hard start condition could be a flaky sensor such as the TPS, MAF etc.
 
I've has similar problems with my 05. I say similar because it has always started but over the past 3 years, once started, it runs REALLY rough. Like not on all cylinders. Maybe happened 3-4 times. Each time I disconnected the battery cables for 30 minutes or so, which re-sets the comp, and that cured the problem.
 
It has no codes.. I have a laptop code reader and nothing is showing. I know if I take it to a dealer they will say they "Can't seem to make it act up" there is nothing they can do and ask for $120.



It's not normal. I've had other people tell me it's happened to them and as long as it's not all the time to forget about it. It shouldn't happen at all. It's not supposed too. Looks like I will have to pick up a set of the tamper proof torx bits and go to town pulling and cleaning sensors.

 
Have you tried dis-connecting the batter for 15+ minutes yet? I say this because the ST has a known electrical Gremlin that rears it's head periododicly. But yes, you are correct that it shouldn't happen at all, but that fact is, it does!!!

Mine has never thrown a code either.

If you haven't done so, try it...
 
Try to start i with you foot pressing down SLIGHTLY on the gas pedal. If it starts and runs well, then I agree that the IAC needs attention...
 
I had a prob like that a few months ago on a 97 Escort. In my case, it turned out to be a weak battery and dirty terminals. After having the battery recharged by Autozone and cleaning the terminals...no more issues.



Not saying this is your issue, but if you haven't checked....might be something to look into.
 
I cleaned the IAC last night. It was gross looking, but it seemed to still open correctly. I will have to wait and see if it happens again, and if so I will try the gas pedal trick.



 
Justin, batteries are funny. So yes, it could still be the issue. If there is a partial short often they will perform pretty well but affect things once it is running.



That said, the IAC was the first place for you to go based on your description.
 
My battery had enough charge to get the car running, but not enough to handle all the electronics which made it idle rough and misfire. The battery had run itself down since the cables and posts were in bad shape.
 
fuel cut off switch...



its under the passenger side of the dash in the right hand corner... push the red button down then u shouldnt have a problem





my 05 does this randomly... :wacko:
 
Hey Guys,



I'm having a similar problem right now. Over the past few months my ST would not want to start on random occasions. It would try to start but never catch. If it did happen to go, it would idle very roughly and then stall out.



Today on my way to the grocery store I was about to turn left out of my subdivision when the Trac quit on me. I tried to start it, but the same thing as above happened. I moved it out of the way and sat there for 5 mins and tried it again and it wouldn't start. Waited another 5 and it started without a problem.



What would cause it to die while running after having been driving for a minute and a half? Thats the first time it died while running fine.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Shaun





Mine did this lastnight out of the blue and after 2 hours stuck on the side of the road i hit the fuel pump reset and it worked fine after that... i havent connected to a computer yet but i will. so give it a try.
 

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