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Ford Tempo won't start problems

18 of the 814 owner complaints about the Ford Tempo describe won't start, most of them for the 1994 model year.

owner complaints
18
worst model year
1994
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Stalling 10Fuel pump 1

What owners say

Filed Jun 27, 2008 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · AZ

Tl*the contact owns a 1993 ford tempo. The engine would not turn over, but when the key was slightly turned in the ignition, something electrical in the vehicle would start. When the contact changes the key slightly in the ignition, he loses all power and can hear an electrical spark as if it is attempting to make a connection. The vehicle goes from having no power to power, depending on the sparking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three different occasions for this failure. While attempting to repair the vehicle, the batteries have been replaced three times. A new battery was recently installed in the vehicle and the fuses were replaced on four occasions. In addition, the starter was replaced, the terminal cables were replaced three times, and the vehicle had more tune-ups than what was necessary in order to diagnose the failure. The contact was informed that his VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign id number 96v071000 (electrical system: ignition). The current mileage was 108,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Oct 24, 2004 · Fuel system · 78,000 miles · CA

Intermitently random stalling. Car will not start for a few minutes. Then, everything seems okay, and car runs fine. Consumer isoalted problem to fuel pump relay inside "constant control" relay box. Replacing this module completely corrected problem. You can isolate this problem by putting a volt-meter on input and output of relay. Then, when problem occurs, the input will be high (12v), but there will be no output from relay, proving bad relay. I have kept this module if wanted for testing/inspection. Consumers having stalling problem can contact me at [email protected] (remove "nospam.)

Filed Nov 27, 2001 · Electrical · SC

While driving in traffic, engine suddenly stopped without warning. *ak vehicle will not start after stopping and shutting off engine, engine will start after one to two hours of cool down time.

Filed Oct 26, 2001 · Electrical · NY

Stalls/stops when warm, won't start after being driven for a long distance, runs rough, has shorted out 2 distributors.

Filed May 23, 2001 · Acceleration, Engine · CT

While at a stop sign or stop light, vehicle stalls at take off. Paint is peeling off of vehicle.*ak consumer also stated that the tfi ignition module was replaced after one incident where the vehicle would not start but did not help the problem, vehicle surges foward at times, it can move foward up an incline without pressing on the accelerator.

Filed Dec 11, 2000 · Electrical · TN

A no-start on these dates4/5/99,4/12/99, 6/9/99, 7/6/99, 9/19/00, 10/13/00. Has donw it one more time. Dealer kelp putting in parts but didn't fix problem and it does start and stalls also and could cause a wreck and they don't know whats wrong.

Filed Dec 8, 2000 · Electrical · VA

When going at a speed of 25mph engine check light came on and then the car stalled in traffic and would not start for about an hour. This has happened several times leaving me stranded for an hour at a time.

Filed Dec 4, 2000 · Electrical · VA

When driving at 25mph the engine check light came on and the car stalled. It would not start for about 45 minutes.

Filed Oct 20, 2000 · Electrical · OK

Vehicle stalls with a loss of total power. Vehicle stalled 3 times trying to get it home. It will not start until it has cooled down, the reason for the stalling is because the ignition module is mounted on the distributor, when the temperature goes above 257 degress, the module is likely to cut out and cause vehicle to stall, some vehicles were recalled. *ak

Filed Oct 17, 2000 · Electrical · NM

Car will shut down, without any type of instrument/gauge warning, when going at 30+ miles per hour. Panel lights come on just as they would when you first turn the ignition key. The first time this happened I had to wait about 15 minutes before the car would restart. A mechanic who checked out the car said it was the ignition module system, and that I could have it replaced or wait for a general recall. On later incidents, the car will not start for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported February 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
These vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. The vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0l engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3l engines; 1992-1995 taurus/sable with 3.8l engines; 1994-1995 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
Risk
This condition can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.

Recall number 97V019000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Tempo won't start

Which Ford Tempo years have won't start problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1994 (7 complaints), 1993 (6 complaints) and 1992 (3 complaints).

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