How to test fuel pump 2000 Mercury sable

Thanks for your reply. This same thing happened last year when temperatures dropped. Car will start with use of starting fluid and will start again while engine is warm. once it cools down,you must use starting fluid to start again. Engine light on with code P1237. This doesn't seem like a fuel pump problem,because engine starts up fine after warming up?If it was fuel pump would it start like this? Last year i replaced fuel pump relay did not help while weather was still cold. Car sat till spring and started ok in warmer temperatures and started fine all summer.just trying to save some money on repairs. Need to use car this winter. It seems odd that it would start using starting fluid if the fuel pump has failed. What is your opinion of what's happening? Thanks

i just went through about the same thing with my ford truck,and it's a 2000 model.it started a couple of years ago,but i never used starting fluid,because after a couple of tries it would start.then it did real good for 6 months,no more problems.then it started again,but got worse.then i noticed while sitting in the truck,when i turned the key to (ON,NOT START) i didn't hear the fuel pump come on in the tank at all!when you turn the key to on,the fuel pump comes on for 2 seconds(HUMMING SOUND)THEN IT TURNS OFF.THIS PRIMES THE FUEL LINE.if it don't prime or come on,it ain't starting.once it starts,the fuel pump comes back on and runs until you turn the vehicle off again.well,i got kinda lucky,it QUIT in my driveway,never came on again.i took the bed off my truck,removed the fuel pump and it had the date and a FORD part number stamped on it.7-24-2000!!it was the original pump from when the truck was built.i was shocked!it lasted 15 years and 303,000 miles.you have a FORD fuel pump in your car also,same car as a taurus,ford makes em.anyways,what happens is the little motor in the fuel pump gets a bad spot in it,from starting and running,then if it hits that bad spot,it won't prime.you can tap on the bottom of the tank and it will start sometimes,but it will finally quit after so long.this may or may not be your problem?that code you are getting is the FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE CODE.these modules gave a lot of problems on the ford and chevy trucks,because the wer mounted under the truck near the spare tire on the rail.the bottom of them are metal and would rust out big time and short out the circuit board inside it,keeping the fuel pump from coming on,but i think yours is mounted behind the back seat on the pillar.i didn't have one,but your car does!besides going to a shop and hooking up to all these scanners and testing equipment(cost money)just listen for the pump next time or every time.the FPDM part number is Part Number( 601-005)google to see what it looks like.also i would change the fuel filter Motorcraft/Fuel Filter Part Number: FG-1060. it is under vehicle, passenger side, below seating area, passenger side of fuel tank, mounted on chassis in fuel line.good luck with it.post findings.sorry,i got long winded!

I think now that it is pump. When I use starting fluid it primes pump and it starts and restarts until it cools off again.Thanks for explaining how it works .

it very well could be the pump.just make it a habit of the sound of it coming on.most are a very light humming sound,some are a little louder than others.if you haven't changed the fuel filter in a while,i would change it at least once a year.you would not believe the black crap that will run out of it!!another thing,there should be an EMERGENCY FUEL PUMP CUT-OFF SWITCH(inertia switch)mounted in the trunk.this is a FORD safety feature in case you get in a wreck,it cuts the fuel pump OFF in case of a fire!this is not your problem,just wanted you to know about it.if it were tripped it would cut the power off to the fuel pump and not start again until red button pushed down/reset.lots of folks have had their cars towed to the DEALER on the count of this switch,not knowing about it.google this part number to see what it looks like(Part Number:> SW4177)good luck with it.