2003 Explorer 4.6 slow to start

[sjtbaker]

My '03 Explorer, 130,000 miles, has recently started to crank longer than usual before it starts, on occasion taking a 2nd attempt to get it started, but usually starts immediatley on 2nd attempt. It has yet to fail to start at all. It almost cranks like it is flooded. I haven't noticed any difference while driving it.
Thanks for any advice.

Steve B

 

[matt0248]

You may have a leaking fuel pressure regulator, or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. Both will cause a loss of fuel pressure after the vehicle sits for a long time. Then it will take longer to crank and build up useable fuel pressure.

 

[sjtbaker]

You may have a leaking fuel pressure regulator, or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. Both will cause a loss of fuel pressure after the vehicle sits for a long time. Then it will take longer to crank and build up useable fuel pressure.

Thanks for the reply and advice. I do believe I have a bad fuel pump. Is the pressure regulator in the tank on the 03s? I have access to a nearly new fuel pump from an '07 Exlporer with the same engine. Would you happen to know if they are interchangeable?

 

[tower]

How old are the plugs? My 4L would do that when I needed new plugs.

 

[sjtbaker]

I left out some very important information. I did have the fuel pressure checked and while running the pressure is around 65 but drops off almost immediately to nothing when engine is shut off. I called a local dealership to ask about a pressure regulator but all they could come up with was a fuel dampener. Is the regulator on the fuel rail?

 

[biswrest]

sjtbaker did you ever find the solution to this problem?

 

[sjtbaker]

I never got a definitive answer but have been told by most folks that it is a bad regulator or check valve meaning I will need a new fuel pump. Due to economic circumstances I haven't been able to put a new fuel pump on it but have been driving it over a year now and the problem is no better or worse. I just have to give the key a few turns to build up pressure to avoid wearing out the starter.

 

[biswrest]

Thanks sjtbaker my truck has the same problem I don't don't know about the pressure dropping, but it does it on cold starts. I just changed the fuel filter tonight to see if that makes any difference,then I suppose my next step is to get the pressure checked. Did you check the pressur yourself?

 

[mcfoss1]

Mine does the same thing. Most of the time just turn the key to the on position and let it sit for around 3 sec. It should crank right up. This allows it to build fuel pressure.

 

[sjtbaker]

I had the pressure checked at a local garage. biswrest Did the fuel filter help?

 

[biswrest]

I started it twice this morning and it fired right up. I was surprised I thought for sure it wasn't going to help. I'm hoping that was it.

 

[mcfoss1]

What did you do different biswredt?

 

[biswrest]

mcfoss1, I put a fuel filter in on Saturday evening. A pain in the butt, it took me 2.5 hours but it has seemed to have fixed the problem. Sunday it fired right up everytime I started it. The hard part was getting the main line off filter. It finally came off all, I had to do was jam the plastic tool in as far as I could with a screwdriver and pull the thing off. That was after monkeying around with it for a while. I am hoping that's it.

 

[biswrest]

the fuel filter did not work, have any of you guys tried changing the fuel pressure injector damper?

 

[biswrest]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322730 finally I changed the pump this weekend using this thread, it went pretty smoothly. Truck starts right up now