Five times since last summer my 2004 Tribute has left me sit. In each occasion it attempted to start but seemed to not be getting gas and then just stalled out. It will crank and crank all day (new battery a year ago), but it just seems to not be getting gas for it to turn over. Now most people suggest that it's a bad fuel pump (or going bad). But the pattern remains the same. It stalls out on me only when I'm starting it and then it will not start until the next day. Every time but one, it fired right up on the first attempt the next day. The one time it didn't, it waited and fired up for the tow truck driver on his first attempt, after I had tried multiple times.
I changed the Air Control Valve back in January but that wasn't it.
I did notice this last time that I didn't hear the fuel pump prime when I turned the key (before turning it to start). I'm not sure if I noticed that previously.
The dealer and a local garage say the same thing....if it's running we can't help you. But if it doesn't start have it towed in and we can look at it.
For anyone out there who might know, does this sound like a fuel pump issue? Can they go bad slowly? If so, why don't I have any other issues like stalling or misfires while driving? This is an issue only on starts.
Also, is it possible to get an error code from the board that might help? I've heard that once a Tribute starts the codes get erased. Is this true? Also, is there a diagnostic tool that I could use when this happens again?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Apr 25 2011, 08:25 AM
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