My 1990 Ford Aerostar won't start in the cold?

Question

1990 Ford Aerostar 
6 cyl 
Two Wheel Drive 
Automatic 
142000 miles

My aerostar sat for a year before i bought it. i have had it less then a year. After a cold night it will not start. It trys to and I usually have to keep trying to start it for a long time. It trys and turns over a couple times until it finally starts. Sometimes i have to try so long to start it I kill the battery and have to recharge it and try again till it starts. The gas gauge doesn't work. I don't know if that has any relating problem. I replaced the fuel filter. I also change the oil when its needed. Other then that i have no idea. I've stopped trying to start it recently cause it's wasting my battery power. So it has sat for a little longer then 2 weeks. I was told to replace the spark plugs, cap, and rotor. But that was only a guess of what to replace, any definite solutions?

I&lt;!771X/-&#92;+26 · Accepted Answer

did you winteriaze it

Anonymous · Answer

Well I would have to say that ' Guess ' is your best bet. It sat for a year before you bought it, and you have had it for at least a half year. Try doing a good tune up. Like : plugs / wires / cap + rotor ( if equiped)/ air filter , even an oil change, and add some gas line a/f . Clean your battery terminals and check your coolant strenght. If you did that , then most likely that van would start on the first try

Carl P · Answer

Fuel filter was a good thing to change, however you may have water or wetness in the gas tank form it sitting so long. In cold weather wet gas is a problem as you never really get all the gas out of the tank. If the van sat for year, Iwould consider either draining the tank (real pain) or to test next fill up drop in some dry gas (from a auto store) to see if it starts better the next time.

redsox_ws · Answer

Can you get the engine to turn over?

I would check the alternator, it may be draining your battery. Or it might be too old and can't get the engine going.

Also, be sure to check the distributor cap and rotor...it might of cracked due to the cold. If it is broken, then the voltage from the ignition coil can't be distributed to the spark plugs.

If the alternator and rotor/distributor cap are fine, try jump starting it using another vehicle and see if the battery will hold the charge..

Other than that, maybe the gas lines are too cold and the gas can't evaporate and cause and ignition..?

That's all I got

Sandra W · Answer

Not a car expert, but I do live in a cold climate and have found more often than not that it is either the battery or the cables that are doing the nastys. My daughter has a Saturn that will not start if it's on an incline over night in the cold and has been told it's an electricle problem. Worth checking I guess..

Anonymous · Answer

Well, somebody gave you pretty good advice.

Replace the damn plugs and wires, they are very important to starting when its cold. 

Then if its hard to start you got a problem someplace.

EDIT

All brands have some problems.
Lots of know-nothings making guesses too.

Junior · Answer

Get a better battery with more crank.

Anonymous · Answer

give it a tune up or buy a can of starting fluid and give it a squirt every morn

tdenis70 · Answer

YOU MOST LIKELY NEED A BATTERY WITH MORE CRANKING AMPS.DEPENDING ON HOW COLD IT IS YOU MAY NEED A BLOCK HEATER ALSO

Xanadu · Answer

Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

OR 

Found On Road Dead. 

FORD= that's what you get.

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My 1990 Ford Aerostar won't start in the cold?

10 Answers