2000 4.0 SOHC won't start

[Texas97x]

My daughter's Explorer was running fine, has 187,x.. miles on it. It was last driven a few days ago and was parked in the driveway. I went out to start it and it will crank but the fuel pump is not priming. It is colder today than it has been for weeks. I checked the fuel pump shutoff and it has not tripped. I can hear the relay click when I turn the key to run. No theft light so it is not that. Could the fuel pump have just crapped out like that with no warning? Running fine, pull in and turn it off then nothing?

 

[Mbrooks420]

If you are hearing the relay, but no pump action I would suspect the pump. Might try banging on the tank with it energized. Sometimes this can get them to start working. It’s no kind of fix, but can help you get it in the garage to change a little easier.

 

[merc225]

Have you taken a fuel pressure reading at the fuel rail with the key switch on?

 

[Kipp A Murray]

Open the gas cap and put your ear down by it while someone else turns on the key this will allow you to hear the pump easier . If you still don't hear the pump I'd say that's probably it.

 

[koda2000]

Could the fuel pump have just crapped out like that with no warning? Running fine, pull in and turn it off then nothing?

Absolutely. If it warms up outside (or if you flip the ignition key between ON/OFF enough times) the pump may begin running again, but the next cold day it will cut out. The problem is that the bushes in the pump motor wear down and the brush springs weaken with age. Then the brushes don't contact the motor's armature. This usually happens on a cold day because the springs are a bit more contracted than on a warmer day. This is the way most of the fuel pumps in my Explorers/Mountaineers failed producing intermittent starting, failing to start on cold days after running fine all summer.

BTW - All my fuel pumps started giving me trouble between 170k-200k miles. Your's is right in that range.