'87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key...

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport.TakeThisOut@optonline.net>
wrote:

 >idle air controller is bad

Thanks for the response. Is an air controller failure an expensive
problem?



 >"end user" <me.TakeThisOut@here.com> wrote in message
 >news:hvv9s0tqrh22i59an3lrakvmkngltqsr6o@4ax.com...
  >>
  >> Hi everyone,
  >>
  >> Hope I can get some idea of what the problem might be... The car has
  >> been running well till today.
  >>
  >> I turn the key, it starts up fine but when I let the key go and it
  >> returns to normal running position the engine stops and sounds like it
  >> is "winding down".
  >>
  >> I can't get the car to my mechanic till Tues and was hoping to get
  >> some idea what to expect when I do.
  >>
  >> Thanks for any info on what might be happening.
  >>
  >> 1987 Taurus wagon 130k, 3L V6.
  >>
  >> Not sure if this has anything to do with it but we had a new radiator
  >> installed about 2 weeks ago and the front axles are scheduled to be
  >> replaced in January.
  >>
  >>
  >>
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

end user opined in news:aspas0hbs8feimb56emekc60jbl84op7ep@4ax.com:

 > On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport.DeleteThis@optonline.net>
 > wrote:
 >
  >>idle air controller is bad






 >

can you keep it running with the accelerator?

If so, that is probably the problem and not real costly



 > Thanks for the response. Is an air controller failure an expensive
 > problem?
 >
 >
 >
  >>"end user" <me.DeleteThis@here.com> wrote in message
  >>news:hvv9s0tqrh22i59an3lrakvmkngltqsr6o@4ax.com...
   >>>
   >>> Hi everyone,
   >>>
   >>> Hope I can get some idea of what the problem might be... The car has
   >>> been running well till today.
   >>>
   >>> I turn the key, it starts up fine but when I let the key go and it
   >>> returns to normal running position the engine stops and sounds like it
   >>> is "winding down".
   >>>
   >>> I can't get the car to my mechanic till Tues and was hoping to get
   >>> some idea what to expect when I do.
   >>>
   >>> Thanks for any info on what might be happening.
   >>>
   >>> 1987 Taurus wagon 130k, 3L V6.
   >>>
   >>> Not sure if this has anything to do with it but we had a new radiator
   >>> installed about 2 weeks ago and the front axles are scheduled to be
   >>> replaced in January.
   >>>
   >>>
   >>>
  >>
 >
 >



--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:05:35 GMT, Backyard Mechanic
<pettyfog.DeleteThis@Yaywho.com> wrote:

 >end user opined in news:aspas0hbs8feimb56emekc60jbl84op7ep@4ax.com:
 >
  >> On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport.DeleteThis@optonline.net>
  >> wrote:
  >>
   >>>idle air controller is bad
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
  >>
 >
 >can you keep it running with the accelerator?
 >
 >If so, that is probably the problem and not real costly
now, i'm no genius, but this symptom sounfs like
a faulty ballast resister. are they still in use?
....thehick<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:05:35 GMT, Backyard Mechanic
<pettyfog RemoveThis @Yaywho.com> wrote:

 >end user opined in news:aspas0hbs8feimb56emekc60jbl84op7ep@4ax.com:
 >
  >> On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport RemoveThis @optonline.net>
  >> wrote:
  >>
   >>>idle air controller is bad
 >
 >can you keep it running with the accelerator?
 >
 >If so, that is probably the problem and not real costly

No, nothing keeps it running. The moment I let go of the key, the
engine stops, pumping the gas has no effect, nothing has any effect.


  >> Thanks for the response. Is an air controller failure an expensive
  >> problem?
  >>
  >>
  >>
   >>>"end user" <me RemoveThis @here.com> wrote in message
   >>>news:hvv9s0tqrh22i59an3lrakvmkngltqsr6o@4ax.com...
   >>>>
   >>>> Hi everyone,
   >>>>
   >>>> Hope I can get some idea of what the problem might be... The car has
   >>>> been running well till today.
   >>>>
   >>>> I turn the key, it starts up fine but when I let the key go and it
   >>>> returns to normal running position the engine stops and sounds like it
   >>>> is "winding down".
   >>>>
   >>>> I can't get the car to my mechanic till Tues and was hoping to get
   >>>> some idea what to expect when I do.
   >>>>
   >>>> Thanks for any info on what might be happening.
   >>>>
   >>>> 1987 Taurus wagon 130k, 3L V6.
   >>>>
   >>>> Not sure if this has anything to do with it but we had a new radiator
   >>>> installed about 2 weeks ago and the front axles are scheduled to be
   >>>> replaced in January.
   >>>>
   >>>>
   >>>>
   >>>
  >>
  >><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

frank-in-toronto opined

 > now, i'm no genius, but this symptom sounfs like
 > a faulty ballast resister. are they still in use?
 > ...thehick
 >


That was my first thought.. and yes, could be, could also be the ignition
switch.




--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

end user opined

 >
 > No, nothing keeps it running. The moment I let go of the key, the
 > engine stops, pumping the gas has no effect, nothing has any effect.
 >

Does the check engine light come on and fuel pump run when you first turn to
"run" position

I have the emission scematics but they dont include ignition

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

most of the time about $40-50 for the part for a do it yourselfer. around
$200-300 for dealer repair
"end user" <me DeleteThis @here.com> wrote in message
news:aspas0hbs8feimb56emekc60jbl84op7ep@4ax.com...
 > On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport DeleteThis @optonline.net>
 > wrote:
 >
  > >idle air controller is bad
 >
 > Thanks for the response. Is an air controller failure an expensive
 > problem?
 >
 >
 >
  > >"end user" <me DeleteThis @here.com> wrote in message
  > >news:hvv9s0tqrh22i59an3lrakvmkngltqsr6o@4ax.com...
   > >>
   > >> Hi everyone,
   > >>
   > >> Hope I can get some idea of what the problem might be... The car has
   > >> been running well till today.
   > >>
   > >> I turn the key, it starts up fine but when I let the key go and it
   > >> returns to normal running position the engine stops and sounds like it
   > >> is "winding down".
   > >>
   > >> I can't get the car to my mechanic till Tues and was hoping to get
   > >> some idea what to expect when I do.
   > >>
   > >> Thanks for any info on what might be happening.
   > >>
   > >> 1987 Taurus wagon 130k, 3L V6.
   > >>
   > >> Not sure if this has anything to do with it but we had a new radiator
   > >> installed about 2 weeks ago and the front axles are scheduled to be
   > >> replaced in January.
   > >>
   > >>
   > >>
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:37:25 GMT, Backyard Mechanic
<pettyfog RemoveThis @Yaywho.com> wrote:

 >end user opined
 >
  >>
  >> No, nothing keeps it running. The moment I let go of the key, the
  >> engine stops, pumping the gas has no effect, nothing has any effect.
  >>
 >
 >Does the check engine light come on and fuel pump run when you first turn to
 >"run" position
 >
 >I have the emission scematics but they dont include ignition

I assume the fuel pump is running since the engine does start without
any problem, but I see no "check engine" light at any point.

This might be a dopey question but does this car even have a check
engine light? I used a flashlight to look at the dashboard indicators
and didn't see one.

When I turn the key to the basic run position I see the oil light and
battery light. I think that is normal since the battery is draining
and there is no oil pressure at that point.

In another forum I have been pointed to a faulty ignition
switch/relay, a bad Integrated Controller Relay Module (makes sense
since this is near the radiator and we had that replaced recently) and
possibly a faulty ignition module.

Tom mentioned the idle air controller but the fact that the engine
stops running pretty much instantly makes me think that isn't it. If
it was an air fuel mixture problem wouldn't it sputter a bit rather
than simply shut off?


1987 Taurus wagon 3L V6<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 10:39:57 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport.DeleteThis@optonline.net>
wrote:

 >most of the time about $40-50 for the part for a do it yourselfer. around
 >$200-300 for dealer repair
 >"end user" <me.DeleteThis@here.com> wrote in message
 >news:aspas0hbs8feimb56emekc60jbl84op7ep@4ax.com...
  >> On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 05:43:07 -0500, "tom" <tjctransport.DeleteThis@optonline.net>
  >> wrote:
  >>
   >> >idle air controller is bad

If the IAC is bad would the engine shut off instantly, or sputter a
bit?

I ask because the engine seems to stop running very fast as soon as I
let go of the key, no sputtering or anything and if it was an air fuel
mixture problem I would think it would run rough before stalling.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key... 

Has this exact same problem with my 87 Taurus (may it rest in peace, my son
totalled it). It was the TFI module that hangs off the distributor. Module
was about $50 from parts store and you will need to buy a special tool ($5)
to remove the module (unless you want to pull the distributor out).

Not a guarantee this is the problem, but sure sounds like it. PS. My Taurus
had 147K miles at the time of it's demise and engine was running fine.

-K
"end user" <me DeleteThis @here.com> wrote in message
news:hvv9s0tqrh22i59an3lrakvmkngltqsr6o@4ax.com...
 >
 > Hi everyone,
 >
 > Hope I can get some idea of what the problem might be... The car has
 > been running well till today.
 >
 > I turn the key, it starts up fine but when I let the key go and it
 > returns to normal running position the engine stops and sounds like it
 > is "winding down".
 >
 > I can't get the car to my mechanic till Tues and was hoping to get
 > some idea what to expect when I do.
 >
 > Thanks for any info on what might be happening.
 >
 > 1987 Taurus wagon 130k, 3L V6.
 >
 > Not sure if this has anything to do with it but we had a new radiator
 > installed about 2 weeks ago and the front axles are scheduled to be
 > replaced in January.
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: '87 Taurus starts, but shuts off when I let go of the key...