Advice Please: Starting Issue 2000 EB 5.0 V8 AWD

[expojat]

Hello Everyone,

I recently purchased this explorer, actually only two weeks ago.

In the last day or so, my explorer has been cranking more then normal before actually starting. It doesnt happen everytime, usually just after its been sitting, it will just crank for a few seconds more then normal and then fire up (never has failed to start)

I did have the battery die on me a week ago, (needed to be charged as when purchased from the dealer it had been sitting for a long time and was jumped but never charged) at that time I pulled the battery and fully charged it. I ran a multimeter test on the battery and all the voltage read outs (under load etc) were at or above standards. When I have had this cranking issue, all the lights have been fine and like i said it does crank over.

I do not have much history on the vehicle other then it being fully serviced recently, however I havent pulled the plugs yet.

I have also thought about (was going to do this eventually anyways) cleaning the IAC, TB, Etc

I did a search, and am thinking it might be related to the fuel pump relay? Or even possibly the fuel filter?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tom G]

Turn the key to run, pause a few seconds, then turn the key to start.

That gives the fuel pump time to bring the pressure up.

 

[bryanhbre]

I have had that same problem with 2 different ford vehicles, the most recent was my 2001 mountaineer. It had a brand new battery installed last year but when it started getting colder it would take longer than normal to start. Same as you, just a few more cranks than normal, but one day after a large cold snap it took a while to get it started. No problems cranking but it just wouldn't fire. The last ford vehicle I had that did that was the same scenario, somewhat cold out (around freezing) and I tried charging the battery, it was getting fuel, and I called a friend and he suggested spark plugs. Sure enough, I changed 2 just to see what would happen and it fired right up. Anyway, I just changed the plugs in the mountaineer last week and they were most likely the originals, pretty bad shape. We've had the truck since it had 60K on it or so, it has about 91K now. Plugs were the problem, have had absolutely no problems since and it fires up right away every time. Plugs are cheap, might as well change them out anyway.

 

[expojat]

Thanks Tom and Bryan.

Tom you might be on to something here, as I may have quickly cranked the key, as it doesn’t happen every time.

Bryan, I am definitely going to replace the plugs and wires soon. I went to the local auto parts store to try to find a fuel pump relay but they didn’t have any in stock, after closer inspection I saw that the fuel pump, horn washer etc, had the same part number (relay). I ended up swapping the horn relay with the fuel pump.

Like I said plugs and wires are next on the list as well as the fuel filter. I’ll check the plugs though as they may have been a part of the so called service that was performed (to which I have no specifics) however I did notice the air filter was new.

 

[Cobraguy]

Good advice Tom. You can actually cycle the key several times and see if that primes the fuel system. Turn it to the on position...no crank...for about 3 seconds, turn it off, then repeat. After about 3 times, crank it. You should hear the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds each time you are in the on position. If you don't then you need to address that problem. If this works for you, you probably have a check valve in the pump that's bad. Could be a leaking injector too. Does it start up fine after you've driven it?

Changing the fuel filter should be a given anytime you purchase a used vehicle...just so you know it's been changed and can put it on a scheduled maintenance program.