Taurus wont start.

[Merzbow]

SO last week I was ready for work, went out to start the car and warm it up and it wouldn't start. I went out and bought new plugs and after a few minutes of giving it gas and screwing around with it, it finally started and didn't give me any more problems until this morning. Same thing.When the key is turned, it turns over fine. I smell gas so it is getting gas, and I touched the plug to the frame and it is getting a spark....I went out and bought ANOTHER new set of plugs and new wires still didn't change anything, now if I hold the gas down when I turn the key, it backfires out of the muffler but nothing else happens.I am at a total loss of an explanation here as to what the problem is....I was going to replace the distributor cap and coil but I didn't even bother becuase that would have just been another $40 wasted....I'm afraid to think that the timing might be off. I'm not sure if the Taurus uses a belt or a chain.ANYWAYS...I'm gonna have to take the Vibe to work and school until I can get the Taurus started (Taurus is about 10 miles away from my house). The neighborhood I work in is not that great so I'm going to try and park in the front of the store. I'd give it atleast a week before my car is broken into or the wheels are stolen so I'm either going to have to invest in some new tires and put the stock rims back on and somehow hide my system or figure out how to start the Taurus....also I hope the snow and salt doesn't destroy my rims or the hood for that matter...I'm so mad and frustrated right now I don't even feel like being mad and frustrated anymore if that makes any sense.Hopefully someone on here has had experiences with old Fords and can help me out (BTW it's a 1991 Ford Taurus GL wagon with the 3.0 liter V6).

[RIT]

Did you drive thru any snow banks? If it has a timing belt, then it can skip a sprocket, and have the timing go off - but since it started once, then maybe that isn't the problem.

[Merzbow]

I have a feeling it is the timing belt but not because of snow banks...most of hte snow has melted....well now after freezing rain today everythings (including my car) was covered in ice.

[vibe-04]

Possibly O2 sensor, backfire and black smoke with poor starting are symptoms. I have a Ford 2.9l did very similar things. It also had a bad spark plug wire to the coil. To test, turn over the engine in the dark while standing outside with the hood up. and look for blue arcing. Good luckRelay

[Merzbow]

Thanks I went out and got new wires and plugs and they are getting spark. I held the plug to the chassis and it arched. Did that earlier and still didn't do anything.

[mcgusto82]

might sound redundant, but make sure the plugs are in right firing order. Wife and i had an old taurus. the distributor cap went bad, and had similar symtons

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 »might sound redundant, but make sure the plugs are in right firing order. Wife and i had an old taurus. the distributor cap went bad, and had similar symtonsGood point!I don't know much about engine internals, but I do recall reading somewhere that if you reinstall spark plugs and wires in the improper order and change the firing order, it will cause major problems, including possibly keeping the car from starting.

[northvibe]

I had to replace my fuel pressure regulator on my 93 taurus lx 3.8L because of start issues. Another start issue that occured before it got totalled in 2000 was when I would go to start it, it wouldnt even turn over, just have one click. It was a wiring harness below the front bumper part (if your laying underneath the front) on the left side torward the middle i had to fiddle with and then it would start just fine.

[Vibr8tr]

I didn't know the LX had the 3.8L, I thought it was just the SHO in the later years

[northvibe]

85 -2006 had the 3.0 ohc (vulcan engine)96-2006 had a 3.0dohc (same as the mazda6 but without the vvt) (duratec engine)91?-95 had a 3.8l8x-95 sho had a 3.0dohc and a 3.2dohc96-1999 sho had a 3.4l v8

[Merzbow]

Thanks alot everyone Im looking up wiring diagrams to take with me and make sure we wired it correctly if we did then Im just gonna have it towed to a shop down the street I know of.

[drunkenmaxx]

the problem is circled on the front of the car...

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx »the problem is circled on the front of the car... oh SNAP!! haha

[Merzbow]

(removed)! Got it started. I re-wired the plug wires after my dad figured out the firing order. Still don't know why it initially didn't start so I'm going to have it looked at tomorow.