engine cranks but not starting?

When you turn the key to the on position without cranking the engine over can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for 5 seconds?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.

yes the starter enguages. It sounds like it wants to start but just won't. It keeps turning but last night I went outside and it started right up. It does have and ignition kill switch on it so I am not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. The altenator is new and I went to O'Reilys and they tested the starter, battery, and altinator and it all tested good. It just seems odd to me that when it does not want to fully kick in I mess with the positive battery cable and it starts. Also when I am driviing it when I get it to start it seems like it wants to cut off on me but only sometimes and I give it gas and it seems ok. Like I said though my neighbor tested the pressure for fuel line and it has really good pressure.

Are you sure the battery terminals are clean and tight, free of corrosion?

just recently changed the engine got the wiring harness back in and all, changed the crank, and cam, position sensor,can smell fuel, but not getting any spark checked for spark at the coil pack, nothing, checked the grounds, they are all clean. so i dont know what to do now

check the fuses underhood an dthe pcm relay first. if that isn't the problem there is an ignition relay in the central junction box under the dash. then get back an dlet us know what size motor it is. Of course this is assuming it's the stock hookup going back into the car.

Engine problem
2000 Mercury Cougar 6 cyl Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 91000 miles
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Hi, I was recently driving my 2000 cougar and all of a sudden my water pump belt snapped. I replaced the belt but now the car wont start at all. I triied to jump it but still nothing. What could be the problem?

it may have jumped time, first check for bright blue sparks at each cylinder, and fuel pressure, if those are both good you can try a compression test to check the compression to see if it jumped time.

My 2000 mercury cougar w/ automatic transmission starting humming and sputtering when i step on the gas. Now it wont turnover at all.

First, is your "Check Engine" light on??? If so, then begin by having the computer scanned for codes. This will point you in the right direction.

Though there's more than one cause for your symptom, this sounds like a faulty fuel pump. And this won't necessarily give you a code in the computer. However, test the pump before you just replace it.

You'll need a pressure gauge and proper fitting. Plug it into the fuel rail on your engine and turn the key to the "On" position but don't start the engine.

You should get a reading of 32-39 psi. If not, then the pump/wiring/relay is faulty. You'll have to narrow that down.

If you do get that reading, next look at a faulty CKP or CMP sensor/wires/connectors, as these will prevent your car from starting.

occasionally it doesn't start. fuel pump working. runs fine when it starts. are there any common denominators with other cougars, no other symptoms. sometimes you shut it off wont start back up but maybe 2 to 3 hours later it will start sometimes it will sit a week or to and go back to it,it will start and run fine

Check under the hood in the relay box. There, you should find an EEC relay. When the car doesn't start, switch it with another relay from the box with the same part number and see if it starts.

Cranks but no start. Fuel pump was not kicking on so I bought just fuel pump and replaced it. Now I hear fuel pump but still no start. Check compression and all are between 180-200 besides number three it has 155. I do not know of that bad but not sure if I should wait a little time to retry test or what.

Do you have spark? Here is a guide to help you confirm:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

I have spark. I used a spark plug and a screwdriver and I seen it arc. I have fuel to the fuel rail, but it does not seem to b firing from injectors. I sprayed starting fluid in air cleaner and tried to start but kept shutting off.

Nice work. It sounds like it can be a crankshaft or camshaft angle sensor that has gone out. Can we run the codes to see what comes up?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

No codes came up and I replace the crankshaft potion sensor. I did not replace the camshaft sensor yet. But it does not have injector pulse.

It sounds like you have an ignition or PCM power relay that is not working. Here is a guide and diagrams for the engine wiring and the fuse and relay locations so we can get the car fixed. They call the PCM relay engine management.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken

Getting fuel and spark but will not start.

If we are getting fuel and spark but it will not start, we need to check compression and then circle back to fuel and spark. You need fuel, spark, and compression to start an engine.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

If the compression is okay then we need to suspect we have a weak spark possibly due to fouled spark plugs. This could be caused by cranking the engine with it not starting and it spraying fuel. Basically this fouls the plugs and the engine will not start.

Let me know this info and we can go from there. Thanks

My daughter wrecked her Cougar last week. She went in the ditch and ended up on the passenger side. Front fender is damaged but we can't get it to start. Found the reset for the fuel pump and it carnks over but won't fire. All fuses are good, no lights are showing a problem what else could be wrong? Is there another reset? The car seems too good to total but one guy looked at it but said he counldn't get it started but would buy for $200. We paid 2800 3 months ago. Any help please

Hello
Thanks for the donation.

First off, how is the daughter doing?

Okay, I would not sell it for $200...too nice of a vehicle..

Now, you say it is cranking but will not fire? You need to check for fuel and spark. If plugs are getting spark then check fuel pressure at the fuel rail. To reset the computer, disconnect the negative cable battery for at least 10 - 15 minutes then reconnect.

Hello –

Well, first I hope your daughter is okay………………

Okay, just a couple of questions to maybe narrow things down a little.

First, driver’s side or passenger side?

Now, if I understand you correctly, you turn the key on….the dash lights come on normal, your turn the key and the engine turns but will not fire?

We need to figure out if it is electrical or fuel related. I know you reset the fuel pump but that doesn’t mean it is pumping fuel. Pull a plug wire off of the spark plug and insert something into the end of it and have someone try to start the car and have the metal object really close to a piece of metal on the engine and see if you are getting a good strong popping blue spark. Don’t have your hands on any part of the metal!!! If there is no spark, then it is electrical. If you are getting good spark then take some starting fluid and spray in the TB and see if it starts for a second.

When you turn the key on and the dash lights come on..………..can you hear the fuel pump come on?

Next, if you go to Auto Zone (AZ) or O’Reilly’s (OR), you can use the tool program and get a code scanner, bring it home and check the codes. Most important: Once you check your codes, if you find something and you don’t get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that.

I wouldn’t sell it yet…………let’s do some of these checks and see what we have.

Again, I hope your daughter is okay.

The car over heated and died. The over heating was caused by broken water pump belt, I still havn't replced the belt. I know some cars have a oil pressure sensor so the car wont start without oil press. Is this the case

Not on yours. Doe sit crank evenly? or does it sound like it is "skipping"? If sounds funny, then you may have blown a head gasket, fairly common on those engines, they have a tendency to crack heads when overheated too. Do you have spark? fuel pressure? does the engine turn at all? if no cranking, you may have hydro-staticly locked the engien, meaning coolant in the cylinder is keeping it from turning over, fluid doesnt compress

Engine problem
1999 Mercury Cougar 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic ? miles
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Okay I am attempting to repair a friends Cougar, I Have the following info regarding this Crank No start.
1- Spark IS present durring cranking
2- using Snap-On "Red Brick" there IS an RPM signal durring cranking
3- swapping fuel pump relay with Low beam relay does not resume starting ability no ECU relay with fuel pump (same part numbers fortunately)
4- All fuses have B+ and there is no Voltage drop across the fuses
5- The fuel guage reads 48% using the "Red Brick", however to eliminate the possibility of defective fuel sensors I added about 1/2 gallon of gas (all that was in our gas can)

my question is where would I measure for fuel rail pressure?, and is only 1/2 gallon good enough in case the engine was indeed run to empty? Does Ford supply any Wiring schematics online? and if there is no firing of the injectors, does Ford cut out the injectors for anti-theft? Any help Would be MUCH appreciated.

Try looking for a fuel pressure tap on the fuel rail if non tap in at the filter side.

Try feeding it with carb cleaner thru the throttle body-it should fire and dies out

Have you checked the fuel cut off switch

We bought this 99 cougar without a manual, do you know where the fuel cutoff switch is or a good reference source so I can find where it is if you don't?

Its located inside the left kick panel

ok so my 99 cougar wont start i have checked all the relays replaced the fuel pump charged and replaced the battery what happens it when i turn the elctronics position the fuel pump surges then cuts off put a pressure gage on the fuel rail and it only reads like 10psi and then you have to build it up by cutting the key on and off car still wont start please help?

The fuel pump would only prime for a few seconds when ignitin switch is turned on.

The low fuel pressure could be due to a bad fuel pump or a fault with the fuel pressure regulator.


Pinch the return hose at fuel pressure regulator and cycle the ignition switch a few times and check the fuel pressure again.

where is the regulator?

Which engine do you have? It should be on the fuel rail.

its the 2.5 v6

The fuel pressure regulator is downstream of the fuel rail. It has a vacuum hose and a return line for excess fuel to return to tank.

Clamping the return hose would prevent fuel from returning and if the pressure regulator is faulty, the pressure would increase.

replaced the alternator and battery in my 99 cougar because it was sputtering and then dying and killing the battery after they were replaced had it started once now it just turns over and will not start up all fuses are good stereo comes on car will crank and crank till you kill the started but wont turn over

-Check the fuel pressure and also look for an ignition spark-start here and let me know-also refer to this link:https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

found out that the fuel pump is not engaging i want to check the relay to drop the tank dont have a manual for the car i believe the fuse is 14 a 15 amp fuse and the relay is R8 in the power distribution box

if that was the correct relay i tested it with another relay and it did not work still so next step would be to drop the tank and change the fuel pump

What is a cam advancer on a 99 Mercury Cougar, and will it keep the car from starting?
My Cougar died and won't start. Mechanic says it is the cam advancer (can only be purchased from the dealer at nearly $400) and will cost over $800 to fix it. Does this sound correct. I called a Ford dealer and they don't know what a cam advancer is.

are you sure he didn't mean cam sensor? if it's a cam sensor it's $11-13 at rock auto or did he mean the cam phaser? the cam phaser advances and retards camshaft for more or less power as the engine requires it. He is probably right about the cost.