Hi All,

 

I have a Ford Mondeo MK4 Petrol. The car was all good no sound no warning suddenly when I parked and started it only cranked didn’t start… I jumped with cable and all was ok… again same happened after 3 days, this time I tried manual jump start by pushing again was fine… 

 

so thought it’s a battery issue and changed battery (There was a black box attached to battery not mine guess previous owners not sure can it be a reason we detached thinking this could drain battery)… the car worked fine for 10 mins, I parked again like just for 5 mins and started again same issue didn’t start again, only cranking… the battery was checked by halfords and it was good… so didn’t have any idea why this happened… 

 

The mechanic checked and said mobilizer issue key program was done and it started, I again drove for 30 mins stopped multiple times and started was working fine. Reached home parked and started after 1 hour again didn’t start just cranking, one two times started but in second stopped…
 

Left with hope and after 30 mins I tried, it started fine… 

 

couldn’t understand what’s the issue here, any help would be much appreciable please… 

 

no error code on mechanics big ob2 scanner, no dashboard lights… 

Edited November 23, 2025Nov 23 by Sasi

I tried again starting now, not working again but this time the car shakes a lot…

It’s shocking the car again started ran for an house again parked tried in 15 same issue didn’t start left it to cool again started in an house started fine, could someone help me to identify the issue please… thanks  

This is hard to understand. I assume that English is not your first language and some of what you are saying is getting confused in the translation.

 

Sorry I will try to summarise my issue here,

 

when I cold start the car, it works absolutely fine, post driving for 20 to 25 mins if I turn off the engine and start immediately it works fine but if I leave it off for two to three mins and try starting it doesn’t start, only cranks. If I leave the car idle for an hour and try again it starts fine. Guess they call this hot start issue.

 

Any help to diagnose the issue here please.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah!!

OK, now I understand. I would suspect either the coil pack and/or it needs new spark plugs.

@TomsFocus may well have some other suggestions.

Thanks for the response, just a beginner query…

 

If it’s spark plug or the coil pack will it not show any error code on OBD? And how it starts in cold state alone please just checking to understand… 

 

OBD was able to identify when I tried to remove sensors and also bulb faults… but no other error codes when all intact…

I can't work out exactly what's going on here either unfortunately.

I did have a diesel car that wouldn't start first time when warm.  Never did find the fault.  Battery, cables and alternator all tested good.  Suspected starter motor but didn't want to pay for one on an old car so sold it after a couple of months and bought another car.  Not that that helps here...

Ohhh god, anyone else here who could help on this please…? 

Spark plugs and the coil pack won't show codes on the OBD unless the engine was running. Then you might get a 'misfire' detection.

I've seen a very similar starting problem like this on a Fiesta Mk6 and replacing the coil pack solved the problem.

Just had another thought.  Crank sensor might be worth checking.

With these symptoms and no codes, I am fairly sure that no one can say exactly what the problem is.  There will have to be trial and error in a case like this.

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

There will have to be trial and error in a case like this.

Judge Judy is on the case 🤣

Thanks a lot guys for your responses…

The engine starts fine post an hour or two every time, post cooling down it works absolutely fine…  I tried again OBD still no error codes. 
 

@TomsFocus Many forums called out crank position sensor but all called out it didn’t help. 
 

Second major one I noticed was fuel pump, few mentioned it did work for them.

 

on both I don’t understand how temperature plays a role, mainly crank position sensor. 

 

But will try both and let you know what happened guys… 

 

thanks a lot… 

5 hours ago, Sasi said:

I don’t understand how temperature plays a role, mainly crank position sensor. 

Heat can affect Sensors including the Crankshaft Position Sensor and the Heat Soak a few minutes after stopping can be higher than when running.

The easiest way of checking it is to connect a Scan Tool like FORScan and read Live Data for RPM. If the Sensor is not working there will be no RPM showing when the Engine is cranking.

Another way that might work is to spray some kind of Freeze Spray on the Sensor.

Thanks @Tizer for the details.

 

I noticed something different yesterday…

 

yesterday was a dry and warm climate. The car started fine every time, I stopped and started, no issues at all. Drove more than 100 miles without any issues. 
 

Today morning was freezing and the car was covered with ice, i pour look warm water to clear the ice and started it, it just started for a second and again stopped till night the same condition. It’s cranking and not starting…
 

Not sure does it help, thought of checking…

 

I have ordered a scanner hopefully should arrive tomorrow and I can provide further details. 
 

Meanwhile If you have any suggestion based on above to be checked please let me know.

 

the ob2 scanner still shows no error code

 

@unofix , @TomsFocus

@unofix I checked the coil pack it does have resistance across while the spark plugs have oil on them and when I checked engine oil it shows completely empty.

 

I planned to replace the spark plug and check actually… any thoughts please.

4 hours ago, Sasi said:

and when I checked engine oil it shows completely empty.

You have no oil in the engine ? 🤔

If that is true then the engine will be scrap by now.

I still say that you should put 4 new spark plugs in, and fit a new good quality coil pack......... and put some oil in !!

Cool I have ordered this now awaiting coil pack, spark plug, oil and oil filter.

 

but a quite a odd one, yesterday I tried to pour five litres of petrol and started the car and it started and I filled the car more than half a tank drove for may be 6 or 7 miles (parked and started several times to check it was fine) but again after parking for an hour tried starting no start… tried again pouring petrol still didn’t start…

 

couldn’t understand the issue at all.

@unofix , @Tizer , @TomsFocus

 

Thanks all for your help. The culprit was fuel pump, easiest way to find out was tapping below the petrol tank get it started.

Cause: just to find out mileage, I drived till the tank became empty multiple times, this was the cause... don't let the petrol go till empty several times this could lead to it.

Thought this could help others.

Thanks all for your inputs.