ago in Ford by
So I am struggling with my car. Here’s the story - I bought my 2005 FORD FREESTAR about 3 months ago. My brother is a mechanic and said he thought everything was fine. I bought the car in Michigan where I’m from and drove it to New Orleans where I live. About 1.5 months ago, my bag was stolen and it had the original key (as far as I know it was original).

I had popalock come and make a new key. They did, the car started so everything was fine. I got about 10 city blocks and the car stalled out & wouldn’t start again. I had it towed to firestone. Because it had stalled after the new key was made they suggested that popalock look at it again. She did and they ran diagnostics and said the car is fine & ready for pickup. The car stalled again after about one mile. then, I had it towed to the ford dealership. They made a second key, charges me a pretty penny for diagnostics even though I’d just had that done at firestone & said that there isn’t anything wrong with the car & it was ready to go.I asked him if they test drove it and he said yes so I went to get it. Y’all I couldn’t even shift out of park or it would stall. Ford seemed baffled & claimed it was just fine until I got there. I don’t believe that they test drove it but either way, they at least were able to drive it dhe 20 feet from the service area to the front door but it just stalled a few times in a row when I tried to leave. It was a Friday just before they were closing. They kept the car over the weekend and on Monday they said it was ready. I was trepidatious as I spent a lot of money from all the towing, locksmith, and two mechanics.

The car started and it drove, I haven’t had anymore trouble with it. They told me that they didn’t even do anything else to it, they were gone for the weekend and he said when they started it on that monday & test drove it it was fine. It made me really really nervous that they hadn’t done anything to it but it was now starting. That was 1.5 months ago & it’s run perfectly since. Until yesterday. The car stalled just as I got on the off ramp from the highway (lucky me!). I coasted to a safe spot and tried a few times but it would still start. I thought I had run out of gas as I did let it get very low, which was very dumb. I was close to a gas station so I bought two gallons & put them in. Still no starting.

I think it started finally like the 4th-5th tome but it stalled as soon as I tried to take it out of park. I had it towed to my house and here I am. The car won’t start, the engine doesn’t engage but the lights & stuff come on. I’m just hoping someone can enlighten me or offer advice on possible solutions! I’m bummed out that two mechanics have verified that the car is fine, and yet this is happening again. The car stalled the day I got the new key. A couple of notes in case the information is relevant:

-Car keeps stalling after new key made
-I lost the original key 6 weeks ago
-2005 Ford FREESTAR automatic
-When the problem started, the car would start when I’m park, and it would let me reverse, but anything past Park and Reverse it stalled.
-When it’s stalled, it will try to start a few times and then it stops even turning the engine on.
-2 mechanics have recently verified that there aren’t any problems so they’re both wrong? Why are professionals struggling to resolve the issue.?
-Why did it start again after being great for 6 weeks, did running out of gas trigger a car apocalypse?
-How do I get my car to start and not stall.

Any information about why the car was fine until the new key was made I’d appreciated. I don’t know much about cars but I’m not stupid, I can’t be the only person this has happened to and if so how can I fix it??

4 Answers

+1 vote
ago by
Does the key have or need a chip? If it does I might need programmed.
ago by
It does have a chip. I guess I thought that it would’ve been programmed by the locksmith and/or ford already? Is there anything I can do? It’s now not starting at all, the lights come on & radio but not Tu e engine. When I had someone unhook the battery it then started but stalls when I try to shift out of park. Should I unhook the battery again to see if that’ll help it start?
+1 vote
ago by
The issue may or may not be related to the key. Needs to be checked for what is not there when it won't start. Spark or fuel not happening when it should. Security system may be the cause but you need a scanner to see if it is active when trying to start it. Intermittent problems are the worst as you must recreate it the exact condition when diagnosing the problem.
+1 vote
ago by
The ECM is underneath the windshield cowl on the passenger side. I’ve seen them get water intrusion in there and corrode their connections. They can cause all kinds of weird intermittent problems. Not saying that’s what it is but worth a look.
+1 vote
ago by
As an automotive locksmith I am almost 99% confident that this is nothing to do with the key. I think the best place for you now is to go to a ford dealership since no one can actually solve your problem.

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