| Jan 21, 2007 @ 2:34 AM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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sweet5red
Posts: 10,237
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ok this is the deal anyone know how to solve this mystery..
ok 98 ford escort.. only 73000 miles on it , it has a new fuel pump, new fuel filter and a new oil change.. i drove it yesterday just fine.. it got me to work this afternoon but tonight after work it wouldnt start.. this happened a few days ago too.. well the fuel pump was defective so the mechanic replaced it wiht a ford motorcraft pump.. and yesterday changed the fuel filter.. and changed the oil.. it was fine all last night and this afternoon as i said it got me to work but tonight wouldnt start.. any suggestions.. Sweet N Louisiana
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| Jan 21, 2007 @ 8:26 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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The first thing you need is a computer diagnostic tool. But other than that you can check to see if you have a spark. Then make sure fuel is getting in the cylinders. If both of those check out then you have some issue with the computer, probably. The bad thing about a computer in a car is it controls so much of the basic functions that there may not be anything mechanically wrong and the darn thing still won't run. Wish I could tell you something more than that. Get a pre 82 and you won't have to worry about computer issues any more.
S
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| Jan 22, 2007 @ 4:57 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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nah12
Posts: 3,973
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Sweet you can take it by Auto Zone and they can do an in dash check with the limited diagnostic tool they have and see if anything comes up. It's free of charge and that's the best part (at least around here it is). Besides that, like Seal said it could be many different things from small to large but probably small. It could be your battery, plugs, plug wires lots of things that are not expensive and things i even do myself.
Good luck i know what a pain it can be!
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| Jan 23, 2007 @ 2:51 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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tatiana329
Posts: 1,121
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Maybe you should just go and trade it in on something like a newer economy model. Some come with 100,000 mile warentees.
When a car gets to the point its nickel and diming you to death, it may not be worth keeping.
Anything could be wrong with it... like water in the gas or some gasket cracked, you may never find the problem since you have already tried.
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| Jan 23, 2007 @ 5:21 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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Well tatiana that may be true for the vast majority of people but it really is not true. A car will only nickel and dime you to death if you don't use a logical approach when it come to repairs and maintenance. First thing to do is to get to know everything there is to know about a vehicle, the one you plan on keeping. Even if you don't do the work you need to know what is going on. The second thing to do is go through the car with a fine tooth comb and make sure everything is up to snuff. Then it is only a matter of maintenance. There is not repair you can do on a car that will cost you more than another car will. I'll give you a good example.
I have a 1970 Pontiac LeMans. When I got this car 15 years ago it needed lots of TLC. I went through it completely and now I have driven it for these past 15 years with absolutely no trouble what so ever. I have a maintenance program that I follow and this prevents expensive repairs. Howeve even if something went terribly wrong it is cheaper to fix that car than to buy another one. At this point in time I have 15,000 in this car but that is less than half of a new one of comprable size. And my car is worth much more than any new one I could buy. Not to mention that after 20 years the value of any vehicle slowly rises. So mine will not decrease in value any more. Solving long term vehicle problems is a matter of education and the information is redially available.
S
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| Jan 25, 2007 @ 12:31 AM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sweet5red
Posts: 10,237
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Maybe you should just go and trade it in on something like a newer economy model. Some come with 100,000 mile warentees. 1 the car is paid for already i cannot afford car payments..
2.. the car only has 73000 miles on it.. i just bought it a year ago.. the problem it turns out is something called a fuel pump driver module..
it was / is a dealer only part but should be fixed tommorrow.. ( even if u trade a car in u have to have cash add with the trade..) dont know about u but i am not rich..  Sweet N Louisiana 
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| Jan 25, 2007 @ 7:20 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,699
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I have a 1970 Pontiac LeMans
So, you have a car that might get 15mpg on a good day and belches out as much air pollution as 3 modern cars, and that's assuming you keep it properly tuned up at all times. It has no modern safety systems, no air bags, no anti lock brakes, no stability control or traction control, and you think that's something that should be encouraged?
My car gets 4 times the gas milage, is a PZEV, and has every modern safety system, and it was less than 30k. Why would you want to risk your life driving something that belongs in a museam when you buy a modern, safe vehicle?
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| Jan 25, 2007 @ 8:37 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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So, you have a car that might get 15mpg on a good day and belches out as much air pollution as 3 modern cars, and that's assuming you keep it properly tuned up at all times. It has no modern safety systems, no air bags, no anti lock brakes, no stability control or traction control, and you think that's something that should be encouraged?
Well you would be wrong about that, all of it. First I get 20 mpg. That is excellent for that car. Second it can pass an emission test with the best of them. It doesn't "belch" anything. Remember what I said about maintenance. Mabey yours did in its day but maybe you didn't know what to do about it either. I don't have to worry about tune up as it has an up to date racing quality electronic ignition in it so it is clean, reliable, and efficient. I hate antil lock brakes because they make the computer control the car not you. I know how to drive thankyou and anti lock brakes are dangerous. They were designed for people that don' t know how to drive, which is the majority of people, a catagory that does not fit me. I have installed a racing grade suspension and I have yet to find a car that can even come close to the manuverability of mine unless it was modified. And yes find out, fix, tweak, modify, make it better than stock is something I encourage everyone to do. Maybe you should ask a question before you blast someone that you know nothing about. Because you are way way off here.
Oh and should I mention again that I have saved thousands of dollars keeping a car for many years. Thousands of dollars. Go ahead and spend your money. I don't care it is yours. But don't try to goad me into spending mine unnecessarily.
S
[Edited on 1/25/2007 8:44 PM]
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| Jan 25, 2007 @ 10:14 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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T_i_m
Posts: 809
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First I get 20 mpg. That is excellent for that car.
But not excellent in general.
Anti-lock brakes are dangerous. They were designed for people that don't know how to drive.
They were designed to prevent brake lock and skids in panic and emergency stops. I don't care how good of a driver a person is, on a dark rainy night when a deer jumps in front of you on a curve, the natural instinct would be to stomp on the brakes. In such cases, this is where anti-lock brakes make a big difference.
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| Jan 25, 2007 @ 10:28 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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uab_5
Posts: 4,886
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on a dark rainy night when a deer jumps in front of you on a curve, the natural instinct would be to stomp on the brakes.
Hey! For some of us, that's how meat gets on the table!  
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| Jan 26, 2007 @ 1:03 AM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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sweet5red
Posts: 10,237
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update of sorts.. this is a car update.. well good ole jr is puzzzled so hes refunding all my 500.00 dollars in car repairs and since he has no old fuel pump to put back on the car. he has to leave the new one, i am getting the ford dealership to pick the car up and it will get fixed..and thats where the money will go.. and hope it will get fixed fast now.. thanks for trying.. Sweet N Louisiana
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| Jan 26, 2007 @ 12:47 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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I don't care how good of a driver a person is, on a dark rainy night when a deer jumps in front of you on a curve, the natural instinct would be to stomp on the brakes. In such cases, this is where anti-lock brakes make a big difference.
Incorrect. When a situation arises as you describe it takes the car forever to stop and the final resting place can not be calculated as the computer makes that determination and it won't tell you what it is. I have a work truck that has had an accident three times now due to havng anit- lock brakes.
S
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| Jan 26, 2007 @ 10:45 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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T_i_m
Posts: 809
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Were these accidents on snow or ice, or wet or dry pavement?
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| Jan 27, 2007 @ 5:48 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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A couple were wet pavement, a couple were dry. The problem was there was no way to tell when the vehicle would stop. And even though I had the pedal jammed to the floor it just took its sweet time stopping. Had I done that in my older car or older truck it would have locked up all four wheels and I would have known exactly what to do. In the case of anti-lock brakes all you can do is push down real hard and hope for the best. I have had one accident in 28 years with regular brakes. That was because the person in front of me hit the person in front of him and he stopped so fast that there was not even time to think. Actually the regular brakes saved me then too because I did not let off like I would normally do to allow the vehicle to straighten out. And it was down hill too. So the truck I was in tuned almost all the way around so that the rear of my truck hit the rear of his car. So now it is ugly but it didn't hurt it in any way that was debilitating. If the front had hit the rear of his car there would have been some severe debilitating damage and if I had antil lock brakes I would have been moving faster that I was.
Now in 28 years I have had four accidents with anti lock brakes and those happened in the last 6 or so of the last 28. I hate them and don't want them on any of my vehicles. I was thinking today that the only good advantage that anti lock brakes could give anyone would be on ice. That is some tricky stuff no matter what you have and you never ever want your wheels to lock up on that stuff.
S
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| Jan 30, 2007 @ 1:02 AM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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sweet5red
Posts: 10,237
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ok i am spose to get the car back in the morning..it was a fuel pump relay and the driver module so.. it should be fixed right since ford did it.. and it was just under what my original mechanic refunded .. Sweet n Louisiana
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| Jan 30, 2007 @ 3:14 AM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,278
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Great news, Sweet.  A big WHEW!! 
(and I don't worry about what kind of brakes I have because I don't ever get into potential accident situations  ...being rear-ended once at a stoplight doesn't count over the course of 38 years.  )
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| Jan 30, 2007 @ 8:49 PM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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Glad that you got it straightened out sweet. Hang on to that car.
S
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| Aug 2, 2007 @ 2:44 AM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sweet5red
Posts: 10,237
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dannnnnngggg.. well tonight my brake light stayed on all evening when i was at work had to get the car jumped but when i got home and was looking at the brake light switch and Noticed a little flat rubber disc on my floor board and then looked at the brake light switch.. the switch was fine and i noticed the little disc came off the little metal plate under the break pedal and the tiny plastic piece on the back had broke off.. that went thru the hole. but once i stuck it back on the spot and released the brake pedal the lights went off.. sooooooooo now i just gotta find out what the part is called and get one.. Looks like a flat smooth washer.. without a hole.. Sweet N Louisiana
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| Aug 2, 2007 @ 6:46 AM |
car problems helpppppppp..
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waterfire
Posts: 2,947
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Most women call it a thingy
You might get lucky and find one at your local auto parts store but it sounds like a dealer buy to me.
Hmm, what to call it...pedal stop?
Oh cool that you figured it out
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| Aug 2, 2007 @ 12:36 PM |
car problems helpppppppp.. |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,687
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Well WF I think that would be "rubber thingy". I'm not sure what it is called on that car but I have one on my Chevy truck that is a metal flap and every now and then the flap gets bent and the brake lights will stay on until I bend it back into position. I call it a brake light switch actuator. But I think that "rubber thingy" will do.
Check the Blade Switch at the Rear Brake Pedal. There is a small blade spring which is used to push the tit in the switch back into the switch. The blade spring is supposed to sit on top of a bar that is on the right hand side of the brake pedal and as you depress the pedal it pushes the spring up and then activates the light through the switch. If the blade spring gets under the pedal (which it can easily do) the brake light stays on.
http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/BrakeLight.htm
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