Ford Fairlane Problems

The main fuel filter for this vehicle will be under the car, approximately beneath the part of the floorpan where the rear seat is located. The filter will be an inline unit and to remove it you need to remove the fuel line from each end of the filter and undo the bracket that holds the filter in place.

But here’s a warning: Often, there will be residual pressure inside the fuel line that may cause fuel to spray everywhere when you disconnect the lines. So wear eye protection, or de-pressurise the fuel system by removing the fuse for the fuel pump and cranking the engine a few times before disconnecting the filter.

It won’t be the distributor or the spark plugs. If it happens when you turn the key to the start position to crank the engine it could be the starter solenoid.

It sounds to me like a fault with the transmission ECU. By turning the engine off and restarting you are rebooting the computer, which suggests it's a fault with the computer.

That’s often a sign that the battery has lost its punch, so start by checking the battery condition. Also check the battery terminals and clean them if necessary. If the battery is fine and the terminals are clean you could look at the starter itself.

No one knows but I’d say it is very, very unlikely. The feds get a lot of money from LCT takings.

Not sure what work you did on the front-end, but it's always worth starting with the wheels and tyres when you have a vibration of that type. That's the most likely cause of the problem.

If it is a cracked head it should be running poorly and you should be able to see evidence, like a milkiness, in the coolant. Check the radiator for leakage, it could have a holed core or a split tank. Check all the connections for the heater etc., check the heater core for leaks.

It could be anything from a faulty computer to a sensor malfunction or even a dodgy wiring connector. It's best to get it checked by a dealer as you say you will do.