My wife was driving our 01 LS v8 today and it shutdown out on the highway. No warning lights or any messages. It would start and run for about 2 seconds and quit. I had it towed in to the Ford dealer. When they got it off the truck the car started and has been running fine for them. No codes or anything........Anybody have a guess as to what is going on?
It Just Died
- Thread starter jamhow
- Start date
Mac98SHO
Active LVC Member
Could be a vapor lock... seen it happen before... causes are gas/weak fuel pump/weather.
Just an idea
Just an idea
jamhow said:
I had a similar problem with my 00 LS. Not exactly the same but similar...
Driving down the highway and dash lights start blinking and beeping, then headlight go off completely (it was dark outside and I was going about 60mph) then car dies. It started back up fine and worked for about 2 months after that. Then it did same thing again. It would start up for a couple seconds then die again. Towed it to the dealer and it was that my alternator was not fully charging my battery. Got a new alternator and everything is fine.
The fact you had no warning lights or messages makes me think it is a different issue but the rest sounds similar.
Good luck,
Bob Slydel
tyler1313
Active LVC Member
bobslydel said:
Yea mine also did that and it was the alternator and its been fine since.
No alarms, lights or anything. And if it was vapor lock or the alternator, why would it start up with no problem, no dragging starter, no dim lights? If it was vapor lock, I would think that it would take quite a bit of cranking to get it to fire up. But it didn't--started just like normal--just wouldn't stay running. But I won't rule that out completely. But as to the alternator--absolutely no hesitation in rolling the starter over. In fact when I first started messing with it the auto headlight was on and I was starting it with the lights on. Back to the vapor lock possibility--that might explain why it would go ahead and run once it cooled down. It was a 100 degree day here.
Just talked to the dealership and they said that there are dual fuel pumps in the gas tank. Occassionaly in hot weather, if the pumps are not 100%, they can overheat on less than half a tank of gas and cause a vapor lock. Anyone heard of anything like this? Not reccommending replacement yet, but said to keep at least half a tank of fuel in hot weather.
The LS has a fuel tank that straddles the drive shaft. It has a transfer pump to keep the two side of the tank even in level. Then it has a conventional electric fuel pump to provide the engine with fuel.
First I would change the fuel filter. Any idea how many miles since this has been changed?
If the transfer pump is the problem and it DOES sound like it is. You should not have any symptoms until the tank is around half full or less. If your car is under warranty I would push to have the transfer or jet pump replaced. Your probably out of warranty by now. You can change the pumps without dropping the tank. Under the rear seat is a access plate.
How many miles on the car?
First I would change the fuel filter. Any idea how many miles since this has been changed?
If the transfer pump is the problem and it DOES sound like it is. You should not have any symptoms until the tank is around half full or less. If your car is under warranty I would push to have the transfer or jet pump replaced. Your probably out of warranty by now. You can change the pumps without dropping the tank. Under the rear seat is a access plate.
How many miles on the car?
Jim Henderson
Dedicated LVC Member
There is a variation of vapor lock that does affect fuel injected cars. I and many others on a chebby site have had this problem.
The problem comes if you have a plastic fuel tank. Don't know if the LS has a plastic tank. On the chebbies, it was common on long drives as the tank ran low, that the tank would build up a vacuum which would cause the bottom of the tank to bulge up which caused the fuel to move away from the pickup. This had the effect of vapor locking the car. It would run a few seconds and stall. Or it would run like heck for a few miles as you limped along the freeway at walking speed.
When you removed the gas cap there would be a loud whoosh and sometimes a pop as the tank popped back into place. Usually the car would start after the pop, if you had a gallon or two of gas left.
It is possible this might have happened with your LS. If the car sits long enough, eventually the vacuum bleeds away and the car runs fine again. You won't get any warning lights etc other than maybe a spark missfire, at least on the chebby.
I have had this happen several times in my 96 SS which was fuel injected. Many other owners also experienced the vapor lock and the whoosh pop of the plastic tank.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
The problem comes if you have a plastic fuel tank. Don't know if the LS has a plastic tank. On the chebbies, it was common on long drives as the tank ran low, that the tank would build up a vacuum which would cause the bottom of the tank to bulge up which caused the fuel to move away from the pickup. This had the effect of vapor locking the car. It would run a few seconds and stall. Or it would run like heck for a few miles as you limped along the freeway at walking speed.
When you removed the gas cap there would be a loud whoosh and sometimes a pop as the tank popped back into place. Usually the car would start after the pop, if you had a gallon or two of gas left.
It is possible this might have happened with your LS. If the car sits long enough, eventually the vacuum bleeds away and the car runs fine again. You won't get any warning lights etc other than maybe a spark missfire, at least on the chebby.
I have had this happen several times in my 96 SS which was fuel injected. Many other owners also experienced the vapor lock and the whoosh pop of the plastic tank.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
bufordtpisser
Dedicated LVC Member
Since When.....................
Vapor lock is not something that only happens on non fuel injected cars. I have a 1992 Ford Van with a Fuel Injected 302 in it and it vapor locks all of the time on hot days. If I drove it more than 500 miles a year, I might just get around to fixing it. Vapor Lock is a condition where as the fuel in the lines gets so hot that it vaporizes and expands so much as to not allow the flow of fuel to the system. Fuel injected or not, they can vapor lock.
LS4me said:
Vapor lock is not something that only happens on non fuel injected cars. I have a 1992 Ford Van with a Fuel Injected 302 in it and it vapor locks all of the time on hot days. If I drove it more than 500 miles a year, I might just get around to fixing it. Vapor Lock is a condition where as the fuel in the lines gets so hot that it vaporizes and expands so much as to not allow the flow of fuel to the system. Fuel injected or not, they can vapor lock.
Maybe I can help clear some things up here since I work in engineering for Walbro.
Vapor lock can happen to fuel injected and non fuel injected cars. Vapor lock occurs when the fuel pump can no longer generate enough pressure in the pumping section to condense the vapor it has generated. When this occurs, the pumps ability suck more liquid fuel into the pump greatly diminishes and the pump basically loses prime.
Vapor lock can be caused by 2 things. 1) the fuel temperature reaches a point where it begins to readily vaporize (boil) usually around 40-50c depending on the grade of fuel (winter vs summer). The higher the RVP the lower the boiling point. Or 2) when the amount of negative pressure at the inlet of the pump is so great that the fuel is essentially pulled apart into vapor as Jim H. clearly knows
By shutting off the car, the liquid fuel has a chance to enter and reprime the pumping section because the pump is submerged in the fuel. However, vapor lock will occur again very quickly if the original conditions are still present ie. temperature, negative pressure.
Sorry for the long winded reply. Just thought I'd share some knowledge.
Vapor lock can happen to fuel injected and non fuel injected cars. Vapor lock occurs when the fuel pump can no longer generate enough pressure in the pumping section to condense the vapor it has generated. When this occurs, the pumps ability suck more liquid fuel into the pump greatly diminishes and the pump basically loses prime.
Vapor lock can be caused by 2 things. 1) the fuel temperature reaches a point where it begins to readily vaporize (boil) usually around 40-50c depending on the grade of fuel (winter vs summer). The higher the RVP the lower the boiling point. Or 2) when the amount of negative pressure at the inlet of the pump is so great that the fuel is essentially pulled apart into vapor as Jim H. clearly knows
By shutting off the car, the liquid fuel has a chance to enter and reprime the pumping section because the pump is submerged in the fuel. However, vapor lock will occur again very quickly if the original conditions are still present ie. temperature, negative pressure.
Sorry for the long winded reply. Just thought I'd share some knowledge.
MICHELRONN
New LVC Member
vapor lock
You have done lost your mind. I have a 1992 Lincoln Town Car, fuel injected of course and it most certainly does vapor lock, I am still searching for the reason or solution. Do not tell someone fuel injected cars can't vapor lock, that's completely irresponsible!
You have done lost your mind. I have a 1992 Lincoln Town Car, fuel injected of course and it most certainly does vapor lock, I am still searching for the reason or solution. Do not tell someone fuel injected cars can't vapor lock, that's completely irresponsible!
trickett90
Well-Known LVC Member
Whether fuel injected cars can vapor lock or not, this thread is six years old and someone already said what you said. You just failed really hard. Nice first post.
MICHELRONN
New LVC Member
Vapor Lock
Hi, First try to fix vapor lock on 92 Lincoln Town Car. Wrapped fuel line where it comes close to manifold with reflective material. Since I've had the problem last 2 summers (bought the car last summer) I don't think the fuel pump is bad, or it would have caused more problems by now, I think. So, will keep wrapping fuel line until all of it's done if I keep having the problem. If that doesn't work I don't know what I'll do. I don't dare go out of town in summer heat, so have to fix it somehow. Has anyone else had to fix this kind of problem and if so, what solution did you come up with? Also, am trying to figure out where "level ride) problem is, pump works, so it's somewhere else. Any suggestions on common cause of failure on these? Dad had Eldorado Cadillac with same problem, traded it in so never discovered what caused it on that car.
Hi, First try to fix vapor lock on 92 Lincoln Town Car. Wrapped fuel line where it comes close to manifold with reflective material. Since I've had the problem last 2 summers (bought the car last summer) I don't think the fuel pump is bad, or it would have caused more problems by now, I think. So, will keep wrapping fuel line until all of it's done if I keep having the problem. If that doesn't work I don't know what I'll do. I don't dare go out of town in summer heat, so have to fix it somehow. Has anyone else had to fix this kind of problem and if so, what solution did you come up with? Also, am trying to figure out where "level ride) problem is, pump works, so it's somewhere else. Any suggestions on common cause of failure on these? Dad had Eldorado Cadillac with same problem, traded it in so never discovered what caused it on that car.
I suggest the Town Car forum.......
trickett90
Well-Known LVC Member
Yeah, go away weirdo.
MICHELRONN
New LVC Member
Yeah, uh, thanks for the help?