2004 Tribute Starting Issues

Tribute_guy04
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:47:50 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

ES V6 Auto 84,000 miles

Five times since the summer of 2010 my 2004 Tribute has left me sit. In each occasion it attempted to start but choked out as though it wasn’t getting gas. It will then crank and crank (new battery a year ago), but it just will not turn over. Every time but one, it fired right up on the first attempt the next day. The one time it didn’t, it fired up for the tow truck driver on his first attempt after I had tried multiple times before he showed up.

It runs perfectly other than this problem. It fires up strong. It runs strong. No hesitation. No misfires.

I changed the Idle Air Control Valve back in January when it died on me, but that wasn’t it. Once again, I came back the next morning and it fired right up.

I did notice this last time that I didn’t hear the fuel pump prime when I turned the key (before turning the key to start). I’m not sure if I noticed that previously. Does this sound like a fuel pump issue given that it only occurs when I go to start it?

The dealer and a local garage say the same thing… They would need to keep it until they can duplicate the problem. I don’t see this as an option since the problem doesn’t happen that often.

I’ve never had it in for diagnostics but I’ve heard that the codes are deleted once it starts. Is this true?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

44 posts - 13 participants