2003 Explorer V8 Won’t Start

[Pupped]

I just picked up a 2003 Explorer Eddie Bauer V8 with 112,000 miles on it. It’s in nearly new condition and has been good for a couple weeks, yesterday I started noticing signs of low ATF and sure enough when I got it home and up on ramps I could see the fluid dripping from the drain plug. I then discovered the whole transmission fluid situation and was going to get the supplies today and I came out and it won’t turn over. It’s been on the ramps overnight, and the fuel was saying “7miles until empty” when I got it home. I then noticed that there was a light on inside, tried to jump at using a box which failed, so I hooked it up to a charger and sure enough when I plugged the charger in it indicated that it was drained and started charge which I left for a few hours. I came out and it wouldn’t start all the lights come on and it sounds like it’s starting, but it doesn’t fully start running. so then I thought maybe it was low gas so I went and got 2 gallons of gas and put it in and tried again. Nothing. I tried to start the battery light and the check engine light are on and it says “check charging system.” On the LED. I hooked up a code reader and didn’t find anything wrong. I’m kind of loss. I thought maybe it was because it was in a tilted up position maybe which doesn’t really make sense but maybe there’s something I don’t know about.

 

[fosterzcj]

Do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition on? Running it that low on fuel could cause the fuel pump to get hot especially depending on how long you were cranking the vehicle before giving up. Fuel systems work best on level ground and I'd never let a vehicle go below a quarter tank. If the vehicle is on its original pump it'd be 20+ years old and may have crapped out.

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[410Fortune]

50/50 test
Does it fire with a little ether past the throttle body?
If yes then you have a fuel issue
If no then it’s likely spark issue