2000 X AWD 5.0 cranks but no start after new exhaust/cats installed

[Stickman1966]

So I had replaced the two catalytic converter lines exhaust coming from both banks into the muffler brand new Max flow flomax maximum flows whatever the **** they're called yeah brand new installed. when I to go start my truck, it will turn over but won't start. It's never done this before. shortly after I purchased the vehicle for $1,500, I purchased it knowing that it was not running good missing and my OBD backed that up by saying the number two and number three hole we're missing. so I narrowed it down to fuel injectors replaced all the fuel injectors and my truck ran like a dream. like brand new I'm telling you. this truck only has $135,000 mi on it and I was getting 25 mi to the gallon I took it on several road trips I'm going to guess I probably put about 700 mi or so on this rig when it started running crappy again. and I'll make this part of the story short I did a bonehead move and I cut the two catalytic converters out closest to the motor + knew I ****ed up so that explains why I had the new exhaust put in + that's where I was at to this point. my rig has fuel in it I replaced the O2 sensors the two closest to the motor at the two catalytic converters that are brand new the other two downstream O2 sensors are existing and they're in. I've replaced the camshaft positioning sensor and I thought for sure that was going to be the issue but no. I am super frustrated and I need some help. I'm at a loss. My rig being broke down like this is costing me money work just a lot of things are stifling and suffering because I don't have this running. PLEASE HELP.

 

[crunchie_frog]

did you verify fuel pressure?

 

[Pete Deering]

You need too start from the beginning.
1. Check air filter
2. Check for spark
3. Check for fuel. Spray some carb cleaner in throttle body. Does it fire?
4. Check the live data on your scanner. What are you missing.
Look again under the car, where the exhaust system area, you work on. What's not connected?
5. Did you disconnect a engine ground?

 

[410Fortune]

Good job getting converters replaced not easy on a 5.0 and there are 4 of them… yikes

Battery was disconnected during any welding?

Check fuel pressure could easily be a fuse or intertia switch

Cam sumynchronizer is used for timing not for initial start and crank, that would be the crank sensor.
A bad crank sensor will result in no spark

FYI the 5.0 should start even with no exhaust hooked up… Loud, but it’ll start

Messing with oxygen sensors battery should actually be disconnected
These are heated sensors and the circuits carry a lot of power any short can blow fuses or worse

2000 has a security key, the theft light should go off when cranking the starter

Air fuel spark … the basics

 

[Stickman1966]

Yes thanks for getting back to me you guys on some possibilities I haven't narrowed down to the crankshaft positioning sensor. And to the one member who explained to me about the camshaft positioning sensor and what it's for you are absolutely correct and it was my mistake in ordering that sensor but fortunately for me and my O'Reilly's here where I live they ordered me the crankshaft positioning sensor LOL so I'm about to put that on right now. And do everybody else who was kind enough to get back to me with a possibility thank you very much and that explore has fuel it's getting fuel sensor so I will keep you guys abreast of my success hopefully thanks again

 

[Stickman1966]

Good job getting converters replaced not easy on a 5.0 and there are 4 of them… yikes

Battery was disconnected during any welding?

Check fuel pressure could easily be a fuse or intertia switch

Cam sumynchronizer is used for timing not for initial start and crank, that would be the crank sensor.
A bad crank sensor will result in no spark

FYI the 5.0 should start even with no exhaust hooked up… Loud, but it’ll start

Messing with oxygen sensors battery should actually be disconnected
These are heated sensors and the circuits carry a lot of power any short can blow fuses or worse

2000 has a security key, the theft light should go off when cranking the starter

Air fuel spark … the basics

The way I see it and how I've narrowed it down it has to be the crankshaft positioning sensor. Makes the most sense because if it's not then it's the CPU and I hope and pray that it's the censor I'll let you know

 

[Turdle]

The way I see it and how I've narrowed it down it has to be the crankshaft positioning sensor. Makes the most sense because if it's not then it's the CPU and I hope and pray that it's the censor I'll let you know

If you follow this procedure, it'll get your truck started. Make no assumptions, follow the steps

How to: - Ford Explorer Engine No Start Procedure

This procedure diagnoses a No Start engine problem. The procedure is based on information from the Ford Service Manual and my personal experience. The numbered steps should be performed in the order listed. 1. Does "THEFT" blink rapidly with ignition key in Off, On or Start? Yes: Verify key...

www.explorerforum.com

I'm going to add. If the fuel tank has less than 1/4 showing, parked facing downhill, there's your problem.

 

[Josh P]

Does the check engine light work and illuminate when cranking?

 

[Turdle]

Does the check engine light work and illuminate when cranking?

That's in the procedure

 

[410Fortune]

Yup beating a dead horse
There is a crank sensor
There is a camshaft position sensor

The crank sensor has no idea what position the crank is in, only that it has started rotating

Getting fuel and getting adequate fuel pressure are two different things

 

[Stickman1966]

did you verify fuel pressure?

Yes I did and actually I just got back from working on my vehicle installing the crankshaft positioning sensor and that wasn't the problem. I am at a loss I'm at a dead end I have no idea what it could be it's getting fuel it's has gas it's not the crankshaft positioning sensors not the camshaft positioning sensor I replaced that also not that it would be but I checked all the relays and all the fuses and everything's fine I've checked wiring + nothing unusual or corroded or broken wires or what not I'm guessing it's got to be the PCM. I don't know what else it could be. I even checked the reset the fuel pump reset and that wasn't tripped. all this happened after I had the new exhaust installed and what they did was I bought the flowmaster flowcats + my muffler guy installed them he didn't unbolt them at the or the manifold he came down a little bit and cut them and then took the old ones out and then welded the new ones in and you did a good job from what I can tell I just haven't been able to hear him yet because ************* truck won't start cranks for days but won't start I feel really helpless right now

 

[Stickman1966]

Yup beating a dead horse
There is a crank sensor
There is a camshaft position sensor

The crank sensor has no idea what position the crank is in, only that it has started rotating

Getting fuel and getting adequate fuel pressure are two different things

well how I checked the fuel pressure was I I pushed the needle in on the valve on top of the supply line and it's sprayed out really good I didn't check it with a pressure gauge or anything like that but it was adequate to me but I also while my dad was cranking over the motor I pulled one of the coil wires on the coil pack and I wasn't getting the spark so that's what or that's why I was looking in that direction I don't think fuel's the problem but at this point I have no ****ing clue I'm at a loss and I'm without a vehicle and that really sucks

 

[Stickman1966]

Does the check engine light work and illuminate when cranking?

I believe so I mean I know all of the dummy lights come on when I'm cranking specifically the engine warning light I'm not sure but I'm going to say yes.

 

[Stickman1966]

If you follow this procedure, it'll get your truck started. Make no assumptions, follow the steps

How to: - Ford Explorer Engine No Start Procedure

This procedure diagnoses a No Start engine problem. The procedure is based on information from the Ford Service Manual and my personal experience. The numbered steps should be performed in the order listed. 1. Does "THEFT" blink rapidly with ignition key in Off, On or Start? Yes: Verify key...

www.explorerforum.com

I'm going to add. If the fuel tank has less than 1/4 showing, parked facing downhill, there's your problem.

okay I just got this reply from you + thank you very much, fortune, I am going to do that or those steps tomorrow morning because I just got back from installing the new crank positioning sensor and that was a mother ****er. two bolts. two stinking bolts and I removed the serpentine belt the upper hose going into the radiator gently pried the AC line out on my way a little bit and I still couldn't get my hand down there to finger thread the bolts started but I went back to my house and with my welder I made a couple specialty tools LOL and that helped me immensely but anyway thank you for the advice and I'm going to take a look at that tomorrow at you.

 

[Stickman1966]

okay I just got this reply from you + thank you very much, fortune, I am going to do that or those steps tomorrow morning because I just got back from installing the new crank positioning sensor and that was a mother ****er. two bolts. two stinking bolts and I removed the serpentine belt the upper hose going into the radiator gently pried the AC line out on my way a little bit and I still couldn't get my hand down there to finger thread the bolts started but I went back to my house and with my welder I made a couple specialty tools LOL and that helped me immensely but anyway thank you for the advice and I'm going to take a look at that tomorrow at you.

also let me ask you this, what would cause no spark at the coil packs besides connectors and the obvious I mean PCM? cuz I'm not getting a spark at the coil packs when cranking

 

[410Fortune]

Crank sensor common reason for no spark
It is not a crank position sensor you are confusing everyone especially the oarts guy when you call it a crankshaft position sensor
CPS
Because the cps is the camshaft position sensor

Again
There is a
crankshaft sensor
And then there is a
Camshaft position sensor

You cannot just guess at these things if you want help

You completely
Blew past the thread about how to diagnose a no start that turdle Posted

No spark:
Does the check engine light illuminate when you first turn the key?
This is incredibly important question when looking for no spark

 

[Josh P]

Does the check engine light illuminate when you first turn the key?
This is incredibly important question when looking for no spark

Post #9 was the response I got for asking the same question. I agree it is a very important question.

 

[Stickman1966]

Crank sensor common reason for no spark
It is not a crank position sensor you are confusing everyone especially the oarts guy when you call it a crankshaft position sensor
CPS
Because the cps is the camshaft position sensor

Again
There is a
crankshaft sensor
And then there is a
Camshaft position sensor

You cannot just guess at these things if you want help

You completely
Blew past the thread about how to diagnose a no start that turdle Posted

No spark:
Does the check engine light illuminate when you first turn the key?
This is incredibly important question when looking for no spark

well when it comes to the crankshaft sensor and the camshaft positioning sensor I've replaced both. and when it comes to the terminology and all of that I'm not even going to get into that I'm just going to say okay thank you for correcting me. I don't understand where you think I blew by a post because I read the post in question + basically it's the process of elimination Dad turtle posted. I haven't had a chance to go back to my vehicle today but I am going to be doing that here shortly and the first thing I'm going to do is check to see if the check engine light comes on when I'm cranking it because evidently that is important. understand if you will, I am no certified mechanic I am a diyer at best, very mechanically inclined + I can adapt to most situations when it comes to wrenching on rigs. this one has me feeling pretty much like a idiot in which I'm not. The thing that has me most confused or questioning it would be this whole problem with my Explorer never existed never replicated my truck never had a problem starting ever until I have the flowmaster cats and exhaust installed by a muffler specialist who did it for no cost to me. the reason why he did it at no cost was because my buddy has a shop and in his shop he has a car lift well I had asked if I could use his car lift because I built his paint booth inside his shop and I've known him for a while and he said he was going to be using it that weekend but he'll make a call and get back to me so he got back to me and said give a hold of this guy he'll hook you up so I did now with that said I have a hard time going back to this guy and ask him what the **** because knowing me if I had paid this man to install the exhaust I would be at his shop saying what the ****? So that's what I have to say to that + thank you again to you and to anybody else who has come up with solutions that is the 100% sole reason why I became a member of this form. if there's one thing I can do is take direction and also retain information JOY that's what I'm doing and I will keep members interested informed thanks.

 

[Stickman1966]

Post #9 was the response I got for asking the same question. I agree it is a very important question.

to answer your question no the check engine light is on when I turn the key to on but when I crank it it goes off I let off the key it comes back on again JOY the engine light goes off while I'm cranking the motor. the anti-theft light blinks continuously on or off.

 

[Stickman1966]

I believe so I mean I know all of the dummy lights come on when I'm cranking specifically the engine warning light I'm not sure but I'm going to say yes.

I'll reply to you also just like I did with Fortune no the check engine light goes off when I crank the motor I turned the key to on it's on check engine light is on I go to crank it and as I'm cranking it goes off and then I let off the key and then it goes on again so to answer your question no it does not illuminate when I am cranking the engine