Mountaineer won't start

[companyman]

Ok..long story short..a client/friend's 09 mountaineer that I've worked on a bit (replaced battery/radiator/thermostat/brakes etc) called me for help her 09 mountaineer with 180K won't start. She said she parked it and it just wouldn't start back up. I go and look at it and it turns over and stays turning over for a few seconds even after letting go of the key but no start. No humming from the pump (hard to hear over the silly seats auto adjusting) She says take it home for a grand (no rust, new tires/brakes) and I say ok figuring it's just a fuel pump. Well tow it home and I'm finding zero schrader valve and not much info on the web on these creatures. She's a V6 4.0. Any ideas on how to diagnose this issue or should I throw 500 on the windshield and call it a life lesson? It was rear ended about a year ago if that helps with any diagnosis issues. Thanks in advance..I'm a newbie to the ford thing.

 

[Rcflyer330]

I would start with checking the fuel inertia switch in the passenger foot well if you havent already. Also in your description you say its a 4.0 v8 the 4.0 is the v6 and the 4.6 is the v8. Could you make sure its the v8 or the v6 for clarity?

There is no fuel schrader valve but if you have an obd2 scanner with live data you should be able to get fuel pressure data from the pcm.

 

[companyman]

You are correct...sorry it's the V6. She told me it was a V8..I should have done my home work.

 

[companyman]

Ok..pressed the fuel shutoff switch per the manual and still just cranks no start...what would be the normal testing done before tearing into the fuel tank removal massive job? I did spray some starting fluid into the intake and it fired right up...Thanks for the help.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Check fuel pump relay.

 

[companyman]

I switched it over with the other relay in the box..no luck. Is an 05 explorer fuel pump in the same location as this one..I would feel kind like cutting a hole in the floor today if I could do it that way.

 

[Explorer_PL]

I am not sure, but I bet it is. Some things did not change much between those 2 generations.
There is a post here from someone who did that.
Can you disconnect the fuel line at the rails and crank it ? See if anything is coming out.

 

[imp]

He said: ".......still just cranks no spark."

If that's a fact, why are we all fussin' over the fuel pump? Did I miss something? imp

 

[companyman]

Yeah..I meant no start..sorry. I'm gonna tear into the fuel pump tomorrow and hope for the best

 

[companyman]

After reading up on the fuel inertia switch...is it supposed to stick down after you press it? This one just presses down like a fuel bulb would on a lawn mower, down and it rises back up?

 

[michael loibl]

I believe it should stay down, maybe you would be able to push it slightly further down than the position it locks a.m., and but it should be significantly lower than flush with where you would stick your finger in. You may be onto something here, I would Be anxious to hear if it starts and runs while you hold that button down

 

[imp]

After reading up on the fuel inertia switch...is it supposed to stick down after you press it? This one just presses down like a fuel bulb would on a lawn mower, down and it rises back up?

@companyman
turn on the key, ign. on. then depress inertia switch down as far as possible. You should hear the pumpo run 2 secs. imp

 

[companyman]

Update..The inertia switch stayes up to the top..tested her and she sends 12v through so I wacked a hole in the floor behind the passenger seat, replaced the fuel pump and she runs like a dream. Now to patch her up and trade her in on something without a timing chain that's gonna self destruct any day ( I hate the internet) Thanks much people. If I keep her around you'll no doubt hear more from me.