I was wondering if anyone else has had the following problem/fault and could enlighten me on a remedy...

Ford Falcon ED Futura 4.0 1993
During summer car runs and starts fine, but come winter and colder/moist days/nights car has problems starting. Turn the key and everything that should happen works (turns over etc) but doesn't ignite and run. This can happen even after the car starts the first time, get to a petrol station and turn the car off, fill up and then pay and go to leave, car won't start just keeps turning over (not good pushing car out of the bowsers by yourself).

Now the mechanic and I have replaced just about everything that we thought might be causing the problem, we have even replaced the ECU. But the problem persists.

If anyone else has had this problem or anyone who might have an idea at what to look at next, your help would be greatly appreciated.

mine used to do that every time it rained.
ended up being the coil.

chOcO

Yeah, replaced that already.... was slightly cracked, but didn't help none

its not something really simple, like a loose fuse / relay ?
when it gets hot or cold it doesnt make good contact, or maybe moisture is getting in ?

I'll move this to 6 cyl workshop mate, you'll have a better chance of finding the answer you're looking for.

chOcO

Yeah, though of that too ... replaced most if not all fuses/relay's. It is getting really frustrating, especially when you think you have got it, go to leave work late at night and cold and the darn thing won't start.

It may have something to do with winter / summer fuel???

Replacing s**t willy nilly is an expensive way of diagnosing whats wrong. All ED's have smartlock... Is the jewel flashing any error codes? If your car won't start, try hitting your hand against the panel above the handbrake. (that is where the smartlock module lives, and are known for giving intermittent starting faults)

I also recommend you buy a gregories and do a diagnostic check to see what service codes it can give you. The connector for it is under the fuse box.

Whats your fuel pressure like?

dead right.. i bet thats your problem mate.. if it doesnt work by hjitting the panel push the handbrake in and out really hard slamming it against the backstop on the firewall side.

I have this problem..

just a tip.. always come on here first when you have a problem you can save alot of time and money..

could be a leaking injector, commom problem on high km e-series cars

Check your fuel pump relay just below your coolant reservoir (green color) mine was replaced when it did the same thing. You should be able to diagnose this by turning your key to on and get someone to hear if the fuel pump activates at the back.

hope this helps.

fordzatmyplace; damn right it gets expensive real quick, smartlock has already been an issue, had to replace that thin flimsy wire from ignition to it and then to the relay. Will go and invest in a gregories ... fuel pressure I will look more deeply into but fuel pump works fine, I thought that was the initial problem but you can feel and hear it working everytime, even when it doesn't want to start.

eed-250; Thanks, my brother said exactly the same thing, hence the replacement of the wire. I might yank it out and check it again just for kicks.

falcon4litreOHC; didn't think of looking at that ...

john_jay; yeah, nah that was one of my first thoughts too, but you can feel and hear it working each time.


Thanks for the response so far guys, I will check out the smartlock system again and check these error codes. just really frustrating trying to chase down such an intimitant problem, luckily the mechanic isn't such a bad bloke, but you are right the bill is going to be hideous.