I also have a mustang gt 96 with 170,000 miles on it. 5 weeks ago my car didn't won't to start so I left it alone for about 2-3 days and all of a sudden the car started working. Strange? It worked for about 4 weeks and now the car won't start again. It starts for a second but then stops then all other attempts it cranks but won’t turn over and start. I was thinking it can be the fuel pump but, I can hear it and it sounds fine.

My question is if anyone knows what can be the problem?

Check for spark?

it does sound like an ignition problem, probably this is your starter.

Well do you have constant clicking? - solenoid problem or your battery voltage is too weak.

today I checked the battery and alternator and when I connected my battery back on the negative, it started shooting sparks. Once I connected the negative the alternator started shooting sparks. I don't know what the hell that is?

I'll check the starter later today.

Lol Are your terminals or battery cables corroded? if it was just a little bit of sparking then dont worry. And the alternator shot sparks...Your alternator maybe done for.

I tested the alternator and it passed. My battery terminals are clean but, I tested the battery anyways and it passed.

I'm a rookie when comes to car stuff and I don't know if it's me but, trying to remove the starter is hard as hell. I don't even know what size tool I need to remove it.

Is there a way I can test the starter without removing it?

I'm getting so pissed that I'm going to dip my ***** in marinara sauce.

Todays Deal:
Each day I try to turn it on it starts for a second but then stops. All other attempts it cranks but won’t turn over and start. Alternator and battery seem fine.

If the car cranks, then your starter and battery are fine. Check for fuel pressure, check for spark. If both are present do a compression test.

Is a fuel pressure test the same as a fuel pump pressure test. If it is, does the car have to turn on to check it?

I don't know what's the best way to check for spark?

Dipping your ***** in marina sauce is sure fun, but it wont make your car start.

Sounds like it could be more than a starter.

If I read this correctly, the car starts, then dies on its own, then the starter wont crank the engine until time elapses, for a random amount of time.

This could be the following:
1) Bad starter. (Draws a lot of current, then overheats) But this doesn't explain why the engine dies.
2) Bad ground. (Could cause the starter to be intermittent.) And could certainly cause the engine to stop running.
3) Bad fuel pump. Some cars have a fuel pressure safety interlock, if the fuel pressure is too low, the car shuts down. Anyway if the fuel pressure is low, the car will stall. The fuel pump failure is usually catastrophic, meaning the car wont even run at all. Regulators go bad and cause fuel pressure out of spec, but usually pumps either work or don't work. So I doubt its your pump. To truly test the pump, you need to hook up a pressure gauge to the schrader valve on the fuel rail and command the pump on. The pump can be turned on by switching the key on (the pump will run about 2 seconds when ever the key goes on) several times and checking the gauge. If pressure drop under high rpms, its probably a filter or regulator malfunction. Try filter first. There are tests to check the fuel pump quantity pumped through, that involves disconnecting the fuel line and commanding the pump on for so many seconds (can always jump the relay) and pumping into a glass measuring container and comparing to spec.

4) Other places to check are the connector from the steering column to the wiring harness, as if thats loose your key switch may or maynot kick the starter, and if its loose, the engine may die intermittently, too.


So, I'd start by feeling the starter after the engine starts and dies. Is it hot to the touch? Check the connections at the starter and solenoid, check the starter relay connections. Measure voltage at the starter relay feed and the starter side of the starter relay.

Check the connection/wiring at the steering column. Has the car been serviced? Has the car been repaired after a wreck? Is this car new to you? Has the column or switch harness been replaced?

Check the grounds. There's another post here where I talk about checking the grounds, measure voltages all over the place.

Hope this helps.

I had a bad fuel pump and replaced it but, the car still won't start. I checked for spark and it has it.

I've been out of town and now I got time to work on it. I'm just going to keep on posting until I find the problem. This might be useful to someone.

todays deal is that the car cranks but will not start. Fuel pump has been replaced and it is good and it has spark.