Alaska cold start & Check Engine Light

[foxak]

I have a 98 XLT V6 4.0L SOHC. It is normally parked in a heated garage. Back in Dec. it sat outside overnight with temperatures at -10 degrees. When I went to start it, it had a hard time and the idle would rev up and down. Held my foot on the accelerator to help it out. After warming up for 10 min. or so, the CEL came on and it ran just fine. Took it to my mechanic. When I picked it up he said it was a "random misfire". Couldn't fine anything. A week or so later after driving for 5 min in -5 temp (and it sat INSIDE the garage), the CEL came on. Took it back in, codes PO174 and PO171 show and this time he cleaned the MAF sensor. (Guess certain model years are prone to problems with MAF sensor.) CEL comes back on a week later, now this time he replace the MAF sensor. When the explorer sat outside for 8 hours in below zero temp, again had problem with the engine idle running up and down when I started it. The check engine light comes on. After the engine is warmed up, it runs fine. It is just with these frigid cold starts.
I haven't taken it back in .........
Any ideas? Thanks

 

[foxak]

BTW, I have 50,000 miles. New airfilter in Dec priro to all this happening. Had new fuel filter, spark plugs and front bank O2 sensor at 42,000 when CEL came on in Jan. 2004 with cold temps.

 

[Glacier991]

Check (search) the thread for O-rings and those error codes.

 

[foxak]

Could my problem be with the 00M12 recall for the Manifold gasket? I just read all the posts on this recall and it sure sounds like my problem with the cold start. I have 50,000 miles on the '98 so I think it might be worth a shot at warranty work.

 

[AlaskanJack]

yep sounds like you have the same prob we have with our 01. Before we left Alaska in Oct we were having this prob but since we had over 75k on it we couldn't get it warranteed. Now that we are down here in Washington still have the same prob even at 45 degrees

 

[Glacier991]

"Could my problem be with the 00M12 recall for the Manifold gasket?"

<smile, s'why I pointed you in that direction.

 

[foxak]

Out of warranty period

Just found out I am out of the warrany period for the ONP OOM12.
Any long term harm/foul if I don't get the o-rings replaced any time soon?
This forum sure has helped me better understand what was going on and for that I am thankful.