2005 Explorer No-Start

[TheConciseMechanic117]

Alright, so I’ve scoured the posts so far and found great info, but I’m left scratching my head... my wife’s 05 explorer won’t start.

Quick history...

Timing chain rattle led to full timing service. Car cranked at first, but had an oil leak. Fixed that, cranked and ran fine for a few minutes then died and wouldn’t start back up.

Now, I’ve checked compression (140 or so across the board). I have spark across all the wires/plugs. I have 65 psi from the fuel rail consistently. Doesn’t bleed down overnight. Fuel coming out looks clean and good. I double checked timing just for kicks. It’s correct. I changed the intake manifold gaskets (they were old anyway). Pulled the injectors and cleaned/tested while the manifold was off. All good there. Resistance checked: also good.

So basically, I have an engine with good compression, spark, and fuel... but she won’t fire up. Any ideas? Have I missed something specific to this engine? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tshaw88]

when the timing was done, was it you that serviced the timing? and was the motor removed from the car when the chains were done? im currently doing timing chains and cassettes on my 2005

 

[TheConciseMechanic117]

when the timing was done, was it you that serviced the timing? and was the motor removed from the car when the chains were done? im currently doing timing chains and cassettes on my 2005

It was me, and yes I removed the motor and used the Ford timing tool. Not my first rodeo with timing a motor. I heard the rattle at startup and immediately parked and swapped the timing set the following weekend.

 

[Tshaw88]

this is my first time timing, its been interesting. made a rookie mistake and undid the cam bolt without having the cams locked down and messed it all up. then the tensioner tool blew apart on me so im waiting for a new one lol. i swapped my motor out 2 years ago, had the same crank but no start issue and it was the fuel pump relay but you have fuel. where was the oil leak coming from when you first put it back in?

 

[Tshaw88]

i know you said you double checked the timing, both cams had notch at the end with the notch below the shaft centerline? if a cam is off 180 degrees it wouldnt cause the valves to bend but it would cause a no start problem

 

[TheConciseMechanic117]

i know you said you double checked the timing, both cams had notch at the end with the notch below the shaft centerline? if a cam is off 180 degrees it wouldnt cause the valves to bend but it would cause a no start problem

The tool blew apart, that’s some bad fortune lol.

The leak was coming from the front timing tensioner. I forgot to put the crush washer back on... rookie mistake, lol. Leaked like a syv until I put it back on.

Yeah, so my understanding of the timing on this engine (it’s my first Ford 4.0) was (once the crank was set) was to line up the cams to TDC on exhaust stroke, with the mark down like you said. Manual also stated that the timing tool would not tighten down correctly if it was 180 off, and I didn’t have any trouble with the tool

I’m tempted at this point to just rotate the drivers side cam by 180 and see what happens...

 

[Tshaw88]

granted we cant test this because mines not in the car yet lol. i used a haynes manual for most of it, the crankshaft needs to be positioned at TDC on the compression stroke, on the left cam right behind the sprocket there is a metal nub thing, that should be sticking straight up. and yes the tool can be put on backwards, if you put the hold down bar part into the bracket upside down and then rotate until it fits youll have the cam 180 degrees off lol. and yes it was interesting when the tensioner tool exploded, didnt realize how far that spring could go lol. i just finished timing mine this morning and putting the cover back on as well as valve covers. tomorrow is the rear main seal and pull the torque converter and rad out.

 

[Tshaw88]

if you put number 1 at tdc on the compression stroke and pull the valve covers post a picture of the back of the cams, im curious if ours match now lol.

 

[Tshaw88]

The tool blew apart, that’s some bad fortune lol.

The leak was coming from the front timing tensioner. I forgot to put the crush washer back on... rookie mistake, lol. Leaked like a syv until I put it back on.

Yeah, so my understanding of the timing on this engine (it’s my first Ford 4.0) was (once the crank was set) was to line up the cams to TDC on exhaust stroke, with the mark down like you said. Manual also stated that the timing tool would not tighten down correctly if it was 180 off, and I didn’t have any trouble with the tool

I’m tempted at this point to just rotate the drivers side cam by 180 and see what happens...

well mine did not end well. it ran for about 10 minutes, like crap might i add, then cyl 6 filled with gas, hydro locked and bent the connecting rod into an S lol

 

[TheConciseMechanic117]

well mine did not end well. it ran for about 10 minutes, like crap might i add, then cyl 6 filled with gas, hydro locked and bent the connecting rod into an S lol

Yikes! :/ Sorry to hear that... wonder what caused that??

Looks like we’re in a similar boat. I pulled the valve covers on mine again to verify timing. Perfectly set. So I naturally checked compression and... it’s low on cylinders 2, 3, and 6. Both sides of the engine. Not sure why Think it’s time for a rebuilt engine, lol. I’ll use this one for spare parts.

 

[Tshaw88]

cyl number 6 filled up with gas, i did notice i had my timing off by 10 degrees, and im wondering if maybe the fuel injector was stuck open. to be safe i put in a new fuel injector. this is actually the motor i put in two years ago so im now pulling a rod from my motor with the cracked block.

Yikes! :/ Sorry to hear that... wonder what caused that??

Looks like we’re in a similar boat. I pulled the valve covers on mine again to verify timing. Perfectly set. So I naturally checked compression and... it’s low on cylinders 2, 3, and 6. Both sides of the engine. Not sure why Think it’s time for a rebuilt engine, lol. I’ll use this one for spare parts.

 

[Tshaw88]

took longer than i would have liked between waiting for parts and the snow, finally back in and running. swapping the rod from the old motor seems to have worked out well, motor sounds good, little worried i may be burning coolant but still need to take her for a drive and get any moisture out of the exhaust where shes been sitting so long. hoping i dont have coolant leaking into the cylinders.