03 Crown victoria LX. Had her for ten years.

Please be kind in advance, as I am not mechanically skilled.



~260K on the O. Had an issue six months ago where she'd crank and not start. I didn't need the vehicle to commute, so she sat for two months before I started on it. I replaced both terminals, put in a new battery and alternator. Didn't help much; looked like fuel. Had her towed to a shop.

Shop diagnosed a bad pump. Got a new one with fresh assembly. Ran like a kitty afterward.

My girlfriend's son borrowed the car as we left the state for vacation. Coming back, he mentioned the car died a couple of times on the highway. He'd pull over, and it'd start right up like nothing happened. Never once happened to me in ten years though.

To be safe, I installed a new air filter and put in a new fuel cap. Haven't checked the fuel filter.

This week, it happens to me. Engine sounds great, running well, then just dies. Power steering off, Check engine and Battery illuminated at that exact moment. Electrical all OK. Car starts up again just fine.

Then yesterday, I'm coming home from the lake, and she dies on me TWENTY times. I'm like, f*ck, just get it home. She's downstairs safe now.


I'll be installing some new plugs. Outside of that, I've heard a range of things; lots of mentions of the MAF sensor. And of course I'll check the filter.

Just hopin you nice fellas can lend some wisdom.

I'm leaning toward fuel filter.

I've had my 07 CVPI die on me twice. Once at a red light. Once while backing into a parking spot. I cleaned the Mass Air Flow Sensor and haven't had a problem since. When is the last time your fuel filter was changed?

Is the check engine light on? Have you scanned for codes? Spark plugs usually will cause a noticeable ignition misfire when going bad.
Check long and short term fuel trims and MAF reading on the scanner.

Might as well change the fuel filter if they hadn't when doing the pump. At worst it's a maintenance item anyway at best it was restricting fuel flow noticeably. You may also check the fuel pressure new parts can fail and if they do are often checked last. Another thing to check is the connector to the maf. Also the intake air temp is integrated into that maf as well.

Thanks! Will replace filter and MAF and get back if need be!

No check engine light; don't have a code reader.

Swap that Fuel filter,it’s a Yearly maintenance thing.Hope u get it,take and pull your fuel relay fuse and let the car die out and then swap it,unless u wanna taste some fuel.

Parts cannon kinda guy. I get it. But before spending on a new MAF, clean it with a Mass Air Flow cleaner first. A dirty or obstructed MAF can cause a check engine light, dips in RPMs at idle, and stalling. If the problem persists after cleaning it and changing the fuel filter, then replacing MAF could be your next option. You could also look for corrosion at the connector to the MAF.

I'd consider getting a code reader. Even if you're not mechanically skilled as you say, it'll help in narrowing down problems now and for the future. Here's the one I decided on:

https://www.amazon.com/THINKOBD-500-Scan...382&sr=8-11