1997 Mercury Sable Logo
Posted on Oct 12, 2010
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

The car just suddenly starts decelerating and comes to a complete stop. When I turn it off and turn it back on, it starts to run fine again. There has been a spacing between the occurrences. When it first started to do so, the next time would come, 3 months later. Now it's more frequent. Please help. I have a 1997 Mercury Sable with 128000 miles on it.

1 Answer

Jesse Walters

Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Mentor:

An expert who has written 3 tips or uploaded 2 video tips.

  • Expert 337 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 12, 2010
Jesse Walters
Expert
Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Mentor:

An expert who has written 3 tips or uploaded 2 video tips.

Joined: Oct 20, 2008
Answers
337
Questions
0
Helped
102173
Points
640

Under demand conditions, (ie uphill), a clogged fuel filter or pump will block itself more with increased particle suction pressure. Sounds like a blocked fuel filter or weak pump, listen for inconsistent pump whirring sounds in the gas tank fill tube. Your pump is in the tank I believe. Filter should be beneath the floor pan. It is cheap to blow them out backwards with a compressor. Beware of residual line pressure while disconnecting. never use a drop light around gas.

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

Truck runs fine then dies while driving then will start back up and run ok.

About 56,700 results (0.76 seconds) Search Results

    GMC Sierra 1500 Questions - Truck suddenly stops running ...

    www.cargurus.com > Questions > GMC > Sierra 1500

    CarGurusJul 11, 2013 - Truck suddenly stops running, acting like it's out of fuel. ... start it and let it run until it dies then check the pressure and shut the key off. ... Was running fine and then turned off as if the ignition was turned of. .... Well mine was a loose battery connection that just shut down the vehicle completely while driving.

    1998 1500 5.2 Shuts Off Randomly - CarGurus

    www.cargurus.com > Questions > Dodge > Ram 1500

    CarGurusAug 29, 2011 - I let it sit for a second then tried to start it back up and it wouldn't start.... 2006 ram 1500 randomly dies while driving 13 answers ... truck started outrunning fine but would randomly die. wait a few ... Used GMC Sierra 1500".

    GMC Sierra 1500 Questions - started stalling and dying ...

    www.cargurus.com > Questions > GMC > Sierra 1500

    CarGurusJul 28, 2008 - The truck starts and dies. Have to give a little gas to keep running.While driving have to 2 foot it so it won't die. Wants to die when I come to a ...

    Engine Dies and Then Starts Right Back Up

    www.justautorepair.com/chevrolet/blazer/stalls-starts-up
0helpful
1answer

My 1998 Chevrolet Malibu is giving me trouble. It runs smoothly most of the time but often the engine will quit running while decelerating suddenly for a sharp turn of a full stop. How do I fix.

Save yourself some money , Take it to a ASE repair shop an have it diagnosed ! don't just replace parts have it hooked up to a diagnostic scan tool !
0helpful
1answer

Suddenly loses power no noises coolant light and temperture light comes on

probaly lost fuel pressure, from fuel pump going out, or relay went out. Need more info such as, did engine stop running completly, or did it start back up etc. post back please.
0helpful
1answer

Car running rough at random when accelerating and also idle drops suddenly when slowing down and often completely stalls out when I stop. Smells strongly of gasoline when it stalls/almost stalls but I

This could be a lot of things. one of the tests that you need to run is shift it into nuetral when you are stopping and see if it still drops RPM and wants to stall. This will eliminate or conclude that it is a transmission issue. If it is still doing this then it could be a vacuum leak or fuel delivery issue.
0helpful
1answer

Power steering very stiff after rapid deceleration

i think it might be ur rack and pinion going bad

1helpful
1answer

Obd2 system rediness status won't clear so I can run the smog test due to replacing the battery.

takes a long time to run the rediness test since there are 6 different tests to complete...

PROCEDURE 1
EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK MONITOR
Inspection Conditions
Engine coolant temperature: 30°C (75°F) or less (The engine is stopped before the test drive is started).
Atmospheric temperature: 5 - 30°C (41 - 113°F).
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Fuel remained in fuel tank: 30 - 50% is recommended.
Time required: 16 minutes or less after started the engine.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position. Well be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start.
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 89 km/h (55 mph) or more.
While keeping the accelerator pedal opening degree constant, keep the vehicle speed at 89 km/h (55 mph) or more and travel for 16 minutes.
Return the vehicle to the shop, then turn the ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position.

PROCEDURE 2
FUEL TRIM MONITOR
Drive Cycle Pattern
Inspection Conditions
Engine coolant temperature: 100°C (212°F) or less.
Atmospheric temperature: -10 - 60°C (14 - 140°F).
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Time required: 30 minutes or more.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position). Will be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start.
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 89 km/h (55 mph) or more.
While keeping the accelerator pedal opening degree constant, keep the vehicle speed at 89 km/h (55 mph) or more and travel for 30 minutes.
Return the vehicle to the shop, then turn the ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position

PROCEDURE 3
CATALYTIC CONVERTER MONITOR
Drive Cycle Pattern
Inspection Conditions
Atmospheric temperature: -10°C (14°F) or more.
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Engine coolant temperature: Not set.
Time required: 16 minutes or more.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position). Will be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start.
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 89 km/h (55 mph) or more.
Travel for 300 seconds or more while keeping the vehicle speed at 89 km/h (55 mph) or more.
Decelerate until the vehicle speed is within 80 km/h (50 mph) or less.
While traveling at 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph) for 10 minutes or more, fully close the throttle at least once in 2 minutes and decelerate for 10 seconds or more.
Do not repeat deceleration too often.
Vehicle speed may go below 56 km/h (35 mph) after the deceleration.
Stopping and braking are permitted. (If stopped or drive at 56 km/h (35 mph) or less for more than 5 minutes the monitoring may be stopped. In this case please restart monitoring from the beginning.)
After completing the above deceleration, bring the vehicle speed back to 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph) and keep it in the range until starting the deceleration again.
Repeat the above deceleration at least 5 times.
Return the vehicle to the shop, then turn the ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position

PROCEDURE 4
HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR MONITOR
Drive Cycle Pattern
Inspection Conditions
Engine coolant temperature: 100°C (212°F) or more.
Atmospheric temperature: -10°C - 60°C (14 - 140°F) or more.
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Time required: 16 minutes or more.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position). Will be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start.
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph).
While keeping the accelerator pedal opening degree constant, keep the vehicle speed at 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph) and travel for 16 minutes or more.
Stopping and braking during this operation are permitted. Keep the accelerator opening degree constant for 1 minute or more after each acceleration.
Return the vehicle to the shop, then turn the ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position

PROCEDURE 5
EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) SYSTEM MONITOR
Drive Cycle Pattern
Inspection Conditions
Engine coolant temperature: 100°C (212°F) or less.
Atmospheric temperature: 5 - 60°C (41 - 140°F).
A/C switch: OFF.
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Time required: 16 minutes or more.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position). Will be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start.
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph).
While traveling 16 minutes or more at 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph) with engine speed 2,000 r/min or above, fully close the throttle at decelerate for 5 seconds or more until the engine speed reaches 1,000 r/min or under.
Do not repeat deceleration too often.
Stopping and braking are permitted (Rapid deceleration and sharp steering are not permitted).
After completing the deceleration, bring the vehicle speed back to 56 - 80 km/h (35 - 50 mph) and keep it in the range until starting the deceleration again.
Repeat the above deceleration at least 8 times by fully closing the throttle valve.
Return the vehicle to the shop, then turn the ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position

PROCEDURE 6
OTHER MONITOR (Main Components, Sensors & Switches, Wire Breakage & Short Circuit)
Drive Cycle Pattern
Inspection Conditions
Engine coolant temperature:
100°C (212°F) or less (Except engine coolant temperature sensor monitoring).
30°C (86°F) or less (Engine coolant temperature sensor monitoring).
Atmospheric temperature:
5°C (41°F) or more (Except engine coolant temperature sensor monitoring).
-10°C (14°F) or less (Engine coolant temperature sensor monitoring).
Condition of A/T: Selector lever D range.
Time required: 21 minutes or more.
Drive cycle pattern: One trip monitor (from start to ignition switch to "LOCK" (OFF) position). Will be completed while traveling with the following drive cycle pattern.
Test Procedure
Engine: start
Accelerate until the vehicle speed is 56 km/h (35 mph) or more.
While keeping the accelerator pedal opening degree constant, keep the vehicle speed at 56 km/h (35 mph) or more and travel for 16 minutes or more.
Return the vehicle to the shop.
After stopping the vehicle, continue idling for 5 minutes, and then turn the ignition switch to the "LOCK" (OFF) position. Moreover, the vehicle should be set to the following conditions for idling.
A/C switch: OFF
Lights and all accessories: OFF
Transmission: Neutral
2helpful
1answer

Vehicle: 2000 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.9L, Automatic Transmission, 171,000 miles. Vehicle will stop running, just shut off, after about 10 minutes of driving. Then after 5 minutes of waiting it will start again...

the first suspect is the igniton switch. when this happens, take the ign key and just barlely turn it, either way, not enough to go off/on just a little tweak, it the lights come back on or flicker, that ign switch will need replacement.
Not finding what you are looking for?

136 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Mercury Experts

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Thomas Perkins
Thomas Perkins

Level 3 Expert

15088 Answers

Arnie Burke
Arnie Burke

Level 3 Expert

7339 Answers

Are you a Mercury Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...