new 12/24/2003, updated 12/31/2003
Hey guys, I feel like I am beating a dead horse here. I need to know what the skinny on the FPR is. The car wont start at all. Cranks just fine, battery is low now, but fuel all over the place. Out the air intake, filter onto the ground. I pulled the vacuum line off the FPR turned the car to run and fuel shot everywhere. I thought this was the purpose of the FPR. A mechanic says I need to change it. I ordered one today, But I want to verify that is what the problem could be. Its a 96 SHO. Also, I pulled a code off of it the other day, Bank 1 rich, and an Emissions control, and a cylinder 1 misfire.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank god for this list. No one seems to know the
SHO except this list..
Justin Brown
96 ES
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You have fuel coming out your air filter? Or just a strong Smell of fuel? Raw fuel making it all the way back to the aircleaner smacks of one hell of a backwards flow of air FROM the fuel injector TOWARDS the MAF. Only thing I know that causes THAT kind of reversed flow is a Valve which is stuck open on the compression stroke - Oh Oh!
An unresponsive fuel pressure regulator can cause your fuel rail pressure to raise too high and put LOTS of fuel into the motor when you only want a little - ie. FLOODING. Pulling your vacuum hose and finding fuel coming out of the top of the FPR is a definite No No. You need a new FPR for sure if this is happening.
Only other thoughts I have on the excessive fuel in your engine bay are 1 - Bad "O" ring on an injector allowing
blow by and splashing up on the motor and 2 - If you keep trying to start a motor covered in gasoline I hope your fire insurance is paid up.....WAIT - This might be the best way to get most of your money BACK out of the car!
:-)
(Can't SELL the damn things .......)
Regards
Eric Lehmann
97 ebony 37k Welded
97 TR 125k Welded
91 Jade Plus SHO-fa
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Regarding fuel in air cleaner -
Another thought. It could also be POSSIBLE from a FPR leak to FILL the surge tank through the little vacuum line which could in turn spill into the TB and back to the aircleaner. Unlikely, but hey - we ARE talking about SHO's here.
Eric Lehmann
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If the FPR diaphragm was ruptured and the vacuum hose connected it would pull fuel into the intake. If the vacuum hose is disconnected and fuel is coming out of the vacuum port on the FPR this would confirm it.
Disconnect the vacuum line, plug the port securely and start the car. Should run ok once all the fuel is out of the intake. Might be wise to make sure your insurance is paid up and/or have a fire extinguisher handy.
Paul Nimz
'97 TR
'93 EG mtx
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That's exactly what's happening. The FPR has a diaphragm and a spring inside the can. If the diaphragm gets a hole in it or tears, fuel under pressure passes the diaphragm and gets drawn/forced into the manifold. This is why fuel is coming from the vacuum hose and also why there is a cylinder 1 misfire. The vacuum hose is connected the manifold right by the runner leading to cylinder number 1. The diaphragm has been failing for a short time before it finally ripped completely and flooded the engine.
This car must have a FPR installed and the intake cleaned before attempting to start it again. The regulator should be about $75-100 and installs in about 10min with two allen screws. The intake tract should be wiped out the best you can. Wipe out the MAF and replace the air filter. Wipe out the throttle body and the intake tube as well. You're gonna need to change the oil twice. Once now, before any other work is done and once again after you finally get the engine started. I say this because the crank case is gonna be full of fuel. Pull the dipstick and smell it. Once you get the FPR installed and the oil changed, pull the fuse for the EEC system (power distribution block - 30A - far corner - passenger side) and turn the engine over as long as you can stand it. Bursts of 10 seconds at a time with a break in-between to let the starter cool. Do this for some time to get the fuel out of the cylinders as much as possible.
After clearing the engine and changing the oil, hold the throttle to the floor and turn the key. Don't be surprised when the engine doesn't want to start. It'll proll'y chug and pop and wheeze and fart and do all kinds of stupid stuff before finally lighting off. When it does, keep the RPM's up about 2500 or so until it smoothes out. Let it run a little while and get some heat in it (maybe 3-4 min) while revving it up a few times. This will let the fresh oil absorb as much fuel as possible. Then change the oil again and you should be back in business.
Be very careful when doing this repair. The risk of fire and explosion is very high. There will be raw fuel all over the place. Even the oil will be extremely volatile. Just be careful and you should fine.
Hope this helps...
Doug Lewis
Ford Performance Specialists Inc
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Eric this is the exact problem he is having
Kirk J Doucette.
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Doug:
At some point they are going to have to let go of the accelerator as it should never start with it to the floor while cranking correct, IIRC the injector pulse is shut down while the pedal is to the floor.
I agree that they want to crank it with the pedal to the floor as long as they can stand it (in 10 second intervals like you suggest) But then they should stop cranking and release the pedal and then it will stumble and eventually start as you
describe above.
Maybe I'm just nuts...
Scott Krietemeyer
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Well, driving down the road today, my car just quit. I was going up a hill, hit the gas, and no power, no reading on the tach above 1g. Lost power steering, engine died. Pull it over to side of road, and crank on it for a few seconds, and nothing. I pop the hood, and the smell of raw fuel is overwhelming. I pinpoint hte smell, and it was in the airfilter. Everywhere in the air filter. That can't be good. Look under the car, big puddle of gasoline there. Great, so I pop the oil dipstick to smell for fuel, and it is clear, thank god. Remembering what Kirk had mentioned, pulled the vacuum hose off of FPR, sure enough, fuel comes streaming out and then dies down. Wonderful!
So I guess it would be suffice to say that the FPR is shot??
There is also a recall on it So my car is at my local stealer.
Justin Brown
96 ES
Exactly what happened today, this is the recall.
1996 Ford Taurus
Fuel pressure regulator located in the fuel engine compartment has a vacuum diaphragm that was damaged during manufacture of regulator. If diaphragm tears or ruptures, liquid fuel could enter intake manifold plenum through vacuum line, release fuel from the air cleaner assembly or the exhaust system and result in a fire.
Justin Brown
Here are the details that you need to check it out yourself. Only affects 96 SHO built before July 19, 1996.
Safety Recall 96S47
Technical Instructions
Inspect the side of the fuel pressure regulator cover for build date codes 950810 or 950811.
If the build date code is other than 950810 or 950811, release the car.
If the build date code is 950810 or 950811, replace the fuel pressure regulator. Refer to the 1996 Taurus SHO Service Manual Supplement, Section 03-04C-11 for replacement procedures.
NOTE:
Be sure to use the supplied fuel pressure regulator screws to attach the regulator. Tighten the screws to 3-4.5 N-m (26.5-40 lbs-in).
Glen Murdock