# 2001 Ford Escape Cold start problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-escape-cold-start-problems/67121>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 14, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-escape-cold-start-problems/67121 "2011-08-14T21:34:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ceeaygee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@ceeaygee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ceeaygee)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-escape-cold-start-problems/67121/1 "2011-08-14T21:34:07Z")

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Hoping someone will be able to solve mystery that has mechanic stumped and me tearing my hair out. Have 2001 escape v6, 130kms. About 3 weeks ago, coolant light would come on when starting cold, then go off after a couple of minutes. One afternoon, car would start, then engine die when trying to shift into gear. Roadside assistance found a collapsed air hose, replaced, and car started. Took to mechanic and had full service. Then, for the next day coolant light started coming on and off - back to mechanic who said they hadn’t bled the coolant lines enough - topped off the coolant. Now, at cold start it takes 6 or more attempts to get the engine to stay running. If it parked for less than 3 hours, starts fine first time. Mechanic says they’ve checked all the vacuum hoses, and topped off the coolant again

I have had some success turning the key to ON 5 or more times before trying to start it - so had the fuel pump replaced on theory it was a check flow valve problem. But it actually seems worse now. It’s not showing any codes, so have no idea what to do now.  
Any help would be so appreciated - can’t keep not knowing if the car will start when I’m driving little kids around

Thanks