I’ve got a 97 Taurus. The other day, I would turn the key and the engine would turn slowly but not start. All of the lights and ra

The other morning, when I turned the key, my engine would turn super slowly and never quite start. All of my lights worked fine and no warning lights stayed lit on the dash. I dug out the jumper cables and gave the car a little juice just to see if it would help. It did. The car started right up. I let it run for a few, then shut it off and started it up again 3 times. It seemed fine. The next morning I tried to start it again. It hesitated and turned slowly again on the first attempt, but on the second try it started. Later that afternoon it started up fine, but a few hours later it was a lit
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
You should have the battery tested after running the engine to try and charge it up. Have battery load tested to see if it can hold a load and replace it if it cannot. Then have the charging system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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Why your car struggles to start but runs fine. There are a number of reasons why your car might be slow to start but runs as-normal once it gets going. Causes can vary from weather conditions to battery health, wiring issues, starter motor concerns and fuel-pump health.
Best Answer. The light still is indicating a problem with either the battery or the alternator. Make sure the battery is checked to make sure it is good.
The most common reasons a Ford Taurus won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Bad Battery Symptoms

If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or there`s no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw.

A slow cranking starter or no crank at all may be caused by a faulty ground that prevents full voltage to the starter motor. Most people assume the starter is grounded because it is bolted to the engine. However, that does not mean it`s grounded properly.
When you have a brand-new battery but still can`t start the car, the alternator might be the issue. Cold and damp climates may increase wear on an alternator, causing it to fail. Flickering gauges and a burning rubber smell could indicate that the alternator overheated and requires replacement.
If your battery warning light comes on whilst you`re driving, it means that your battery is no longer being charged by the alternator and is running only on its own charge. That means that your car is only running on battery power that will eventually run out, bringing your car to a halt.
If the battery is in a good state, the multimeter should show a reading between 12 and 13 volts.
The primary problem is transmission failure, which comes with an average repair cost of $1,930. The good news is that these problems don`t typically arise until the vehicle has reached higher mileage.
A: Possible causes: a marginal battery, a poor connection in the starting circuit or starter, a charging-system problem, or the battery is being drained while the car`s parked. If this only happens first thing in the morning, a weak battery or a drain in the electrical system are likely causes.
Bad Sensors

One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft. The computer uses the information from this sensor to know when to fire the spark plugs. If the sensor isn`t working, the spark plugs won`t fire, keeping the engine from starting.

Typically when your electrical accessories are working well, but it takes a few cranks for the engine to start, the issue is with the fuel or ignition system. In most cases, clogged or dirty fuel injectors, throttle body or mass air flow sensor will be the root source of this problem.
The engine cranks, but does not run. Dead battery: A dead battery is the No. 1 cause of a no-start. If the battery is weak, but not totally dead, the starter may turn slowly.
Bad Spark Plug Or Broken Distributor Cap/Rotor

If you have a good battery and enough fuel in the gas tank and your car still won`t start, chances are you have a bad spark plug. Why? A bad spark plug will prevent fuel ignition, and the vehicle won`t move.

If you`re unable to start your vehicle, check and see if the headlights and dash lights come on. If they shine bright and clear, that means that the battery and alternator are likely not the cause of the problem. If they were, there wouldn`t be enough power to run the lights.
A blown fuse could be a cause of the battery light to come on. Excessive voltage in the electrical system can blow the fuse and prevent charging of the battery. A electrical technician can replace the fuse quickly and it an inexpensive fix.
It is possible that the problems that you have been experiencing with the bad alternators have damaged the battery causing it to be weak. This would make the Battery Light come on. It is also possible that there is a problem with the fusible link or the alternator fuse for the charging system.
Basically, the light indicates a battery charging problem. If the light comes on and stays on while driving, this means that your alternator is running solely on energy stored in the battery. If you continue driving, your battery will eventually drain and your vehicle will stop working.
At 12.4 volts the battery is considered 75% charged and can still ignite your engine. When the battery voltage lowers to 12.2 volts without the engine running, it is considered a bad battery that may start your engine but is no longer capable of holding a charge.
In conclusion, using a voltmeter to check your car battery`s voltage is a crucial step to ensuring that your car starts smoothly. An ideal battery voltage range for any car battery should range from 11.8-12.8v when starting up, increasing to 13.2-14.8v upon ignition of the vehicle.
The best years of the Ford Taurus are 2017-2018, 2011, 2015-2016, and 2002-2003. The years you should absolutely avoid are 2012-2014, 2004-2007, 2008-2010, and 2001. Most issues are related to lower reliability ratings and a higher cost of ownership.
Yes, the 2019 Taurus is a good used large car . It has oodles of trunk space, and its suspension easily smooths over most road flaws. Additionally, it features the responsive SYNC 3 infotainment system as an option, as well as a potent engine in the Ford Taurus SHO.
Performing a Master Reset

On your vehicle`s SYNC screen: Select Settings. Choose General. Scroll down and press Master Reset. A message confirming that all system settings will be erased and reset to factory defaults will appear.

Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I’ve got a 97 Taurus. The other day, I would turn the key and the engine would turn slowly but not start. All of the lights and ra
ANSWER : You should have the battery tested after running the engine to try and charge it up. Have battery load tested to see if it can hold a load and replace it if it cannot. Then have the charging system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate.

Battery light goes on when I start car then turns off, if I rev engine light comes back until rpms go down. Abs goes comes on/off
ANSWER : Batteries can die due to faults in the charging system so ideally a suspected "faulty" battery should be load tested before a decision is made to condemn it. The only exception to this rule is if the battery is already clearly "old" (greater than 5 years) but even then once you put a new battery in, as a replacement for a "dead" battery, you have to comprehensively check out the charging system. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0460 will result in disruption of the dashboard fuel gauge’s ability to accurately report your tank’s fuel levels. The fuel gauge readings may be erratic, or read somewhere off scale. Vehicles equipped with a low fuel warning light feature may also suffer from erratic low fuel warnings in the event of a code P0460. Unless the P0460 code has been reported alongside other trouble code, all of the vehicle’s essential systems should otherwise function normally. I would recommend that you request a check engine light diagnostic to first resolve the fault causing the P0460 code to set. The check gas cap light warning light could be due a faulty gas cap and/or small leaks in the EVAP system.

Honda Civic 2008. AC stopped working suddenly and engine check light came ON for a day.Next day AC worked and no engine light.
ANSWER : Hi there. In both cases, when an AC system is not working and a warning light is coming on the dashboard, typically a professional mechanic will complete the same initial inspection, which is to download the stored error codes that triggered the warning light initially. This tends to give them an idea as to what is causing the problems. This could be something as simple as an electrical relay that is faulty or loose or an indication of a computer related "glitch". Either way, the best way to move forward is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection.

2012 equinox reduced power light engine light and traction light came on. Lost a lot of power got home and all light except engine
ANSWER : Your car has what is called a "safe mode" that will be engaged by the computer when it detects that something critical has gone wrong related to any of the major components in your engine chassis or power train. This may be related to a number of things, most of which should have been registered in the computer when the check engine light came on. I recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your check engine light and diagnose any codes registered by your vehicle’s computer.

Car won’t start and shakes while turning the key – 2003 Saturn L300
ANSWER : Hello. These lights can mean that there is a serious issue going on or that there may be an electrical malfunction. I usually check and see if there is oil pressure and check to make sure that the charging system is working.

If they both are, then the circuits needs to be tested as it is common to have a battery cable issue, an ignition switch, or a body control module fail and cause these symptoms. If you need to have these warning lights checked, consider a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who can come to your home or office to determine why the car is not starting.

Was driving on the expressway and my car started shaking, check engine light turned on, oil light turned on and off
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Shaking and vibrating typically comes from a misfire, or poor engine performance. A lack of oil will absolutely contribute to these symptoms and amplify them, if not cause them to begin with. You want to turn your attention to the cause of the oil leak. If external (you can see the leaking oil), then you will want to trace the leak to the component which has failed. If the leak is internal (or the engine is consuming oil), the leak will be harder to find. It will also explain the poor engine performance due to excess oil in the combustion chamber. A head gasket is one of the main components that will fail and cause these issues. It is however not common for a vehicle this age to have these kinds of problems. You will also want to scan the computer, and see what codes are triggering your check engine light. These diagnostic tools will help you determine what system(s) is to blame for the malfunction. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Car was sometimes not starting, not even cranking when i turned the key then after a few times itd start. Now it ont start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:

Without being there to inspect your vehicle, or having information about what type of car, truck or SUV you own, it’s very hard for us to give you some advice. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can come to your location and determine why your vehicle is having these issues.

Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.