CLpwner

Hey guys... I need some help.

My friends '04 Ford Escape will start for about 2 seconds then it shuts off... There is gasoline in it, the battery and starter both work, obviously.

Any help is appreciated.

Thnaks

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Ignition coil. Distributor. Computer. Idle Air Control Valve. Is the check engine light on? It could be a number of things. Hook up an OBDII scanner and see what codes it's throwing.

CLpwner

I don't think the check engine light is on... Wouldn't the car need to be started to check that? If not, how do you check to see if the CEL is on? And since it won't start, I can't take it to advanced auto parts to get the scanner.

CLpwner

And now it started up just fine... Let it run for a second... shut it off, back on, shut it off, back on... It's fine now... what the hell?

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

I had a similar problem with my suburban and it was the distrubutor. I would periodically not start. Not sure if escape has a distributor or not.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I've seen the ignition cylinder have a dirty connection & cause this. Also if it has the chip in the key it may have gotten confused for a sec. That will happen if it's near another transponder key or there was some sort of interference.
And a bad ground connection would cause it as well.

So yeah see there's a ton of things that could have happened.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

This could be a lot of things.

Are you smelling any gas when you try to start the car?

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

now that it is running...get to computer to give up those codes... does it stop while its at idle?

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

I had a chevy suv that needed a new distributor module... then it worked just fine... was hard to start and would just stop whenever....

S A CHO

Now that it can be driven, take it and get it scanned, any codes that have occured since the battery was unplugged will still come up.

Actually kind of sounds like an immobilizing feature is kicking in when it's not supposed to.

black label

I'm of no help here however, I was visiting some friends at the Acura dealer about a month ago and the RDX in the showroom was doing the same thing. It would fire up and within 2 seconds just shut down. I never found out what the actual issue was, definitely strange to watch and a little disturbing on a brand new car.

808havok_tsx

if its the idle air control valve, you won't get a code since its a mechanical issue. my toyota highlander did exactly that. as soon as you start the car, the revs just drop and cut off. electrical, battery, alternator, distributor were all good. the dealer had it for a week to figure out what was wrong with it. once they changed out the idle air control valve (it was sticking), the car had no problems. hope this helps!

charliemike

My guess is fuel pump.

Soccer_playa1579

ooo i kno.. its american!!! lol jk

CrockPot

same here, my guess is the fuel pump. was this vehicle purchased used? perhaps he, or maybe the previous owner installed a kill switch that cuts off power to the pump. or, maybe an electrical issue?