Ford Taurus Cranks But Won’t Start

Question

My 6th generation Ford Taurus cranks but will not turn on. I do not see a check engine warning light. What are the most common reasons for a Ford Taurus to crank over but not start up?

UPDATE: My car is fixed this https://amzn.to/3khdpCr was the problem. Runs perfect now. 

I read on the Internet that the most likely cause is a dead battery or alternator. How do I test if these components are good or bad? The car did not break down on the side of the road. It just wouldn’t start in the morning when I turned the ignition key.

Even though starter activates and turns the crankshaft could the starter be the problem. Maybe it is not turning over fast enough to catch and fire up the engine?

My vehicle is a 2013 Ford Taurus Limited. It is stock. No modifications to the sound system. This is the first time it has ever left me stranded. Help please!

solved 0
Johnny Abraxas 3 years 2021-01-13T17:11:22+00:00 7 Answers 9073 views Beginner 3

Answers ( 7 )

    3
    2021-01-13T17:18:14+00:00

    Ford Taurus Cranks but Won’t Start

    A Ford Taurus owner often faces this daunting problem: the car cranks but won’t start. Though it’s quite desperate, no need to worry that much. You can easily troubleshoot the problem by yourself through the guide below.

    There are some common faults which may cause this problem. No spark or even a low one, insufficient fuel, low compression, and a problem in the power supply are the common causes that can be detected and fixed easily.

    1. Weak or no park

    Most commonly, the Ford Taurus won’t start due to the faulty spark system. The lack of spark may be caused due to certain reasons. If your car is not starting and just cranking, there may be a corrupted ignition module or a flooded engine. A fault in the ignition circuit can also make the sparking system work improperly. you should also check for a malfunctioning ignition switch. One more thing to remember: the sparking should be appropriately timed.

    To check if there is a problem with the spark, you can check the distributor cap and the spark plug wires or coil(s).

    2. Insufficient fuel supply

    Secondly, appropriate fuel pressure is vital for your car to start. If the Ford Taurus is cranking and not starting, look for a problem in the fuel supply.

    A cracked fuse for the fuel pump can cause the problem. It could be the fuel pump relay, which is located behind your rear passenger seat. You should also check for a low-quality fuel pump, contaminated fuel in the tank, and a defective fuel filter. Beware, you can have an empty fuel tank even.

    Fuel Pump Relay Location - Behind Rear Passanger Seat
    Fuel pump relay can cause a crank but no-start issue. Fuel pump relay is located behind the rear passenger seat.

    3. Low compression

    For an Ford Taurus engine to run perfectly, each of the cylinders needs compression. If one or more cylinders have low compression, the engine won’t work correctly. The problem in compression is induced by a cracked or loose timing belt. A broken chain or the snapped overhead camshaft can also be the culprits. Compression-gauge can be used to check the fault in compression.

    4. Charging and starting system

    Another factor that can be a culprit in just cranking and not starting the motor-vehicle may be a weak starter motor. detecting this problem is easy; try to notice if the starter is making an unusual noise. If it does, this is the symptom of a problem in the starter motor.

    If the battery cables are weak and corroded, clean and tighten them repaired. A dying battery can also cause crank but no-start problem.

    Best answer
      4
      2021-01-21T06:11:52+00:00

      I changed the fuel control module like the one in your picture and sure enough my car started and runs smoothly. I was about to take my car to the dealership to have it diagnosed and fixed. Then I read this article and it saved me about $250.00. It only took 5 minutes to swap the old part for the new one.

        3
        2021-01-21T06:15:58+00:00

        Did your Ford Taurus have a check engine light illuminated or a trouble code? My 2016 Taurus cranks but it won’t start and I am wondering if it is the fuel control module.

          2
          2021-01-21T06:21:16+00:00

          My ford taurus did not have a check engine light or code. I just changed it hoping I would get lucky, and I did. I plugged in the new part and it turned on. When the car died I spent about an hour cranking the engine until the battery died.

    0
    2021-01-21T06:26:07+00:00

    Wow this worked! My 2013 Taurus broke down on the side of the road near an Auto Zone. So I searched Google for the symptom and it brought me here. I went to the part store across the street and bought a fuel control module and boom the car started right up. The part was $80 bucks. Thank you!

    0
    2021-01-21T06:30:44+00:00

    I am praying this is the problem. I went to start the car this morning and it is cranking but it doesn’t not turn over and fire up. I would love to pay a shop to fix it but they want to much money to fix my vehicle. I will try this tomorrow.

    0
    2022-06-29T16:28:35+00:00

    My 2017 Ford Taurus SE just died. I noticed my car would turn over slower than usual for about 3 days before it finally died. Then one morning I tried to start the car and the crankshaft turned for a moment and then the I just heard a clicking noise. I brought the battery to auto zone and had it tested. They said the battery had a bad cell. So I purchased a new battery. By the way, do not forget to get this https://amzn.to/3yucVSk as it is cheap and can extend the life of your battery.

    I bought a Duralast battery for $179.99 and gave them my old battery to avoid a core charge. With tax the total was under $197. The battery comes with a 2 year or 24 months of coverage and free replacement. 

    Anyway. I changed the battery in under 10 minutes with 10mm socket and my car started right up and is running fine. 

Leave an answer