Can't figure out why my car won't start!

[Jakefrost]

Well, a while ago, I was driving and my 2003 Mountaineer died. I know for sure that it is getting air spark and fuel. I have replaced the crank sensor and the coolant temp sensor since then, and was going to do a timing chain because I thought that was the problem but I got to the chain and nothing was wrong; all of the chains were tight and the marks all lined up. Battery is charged. I have gas. I'm at a loss. Someone please help.

It's the 4.0L AWD.
Cranks but will not start.
No codes or anything.
Everything is reading correctly.

 

[mbrando1994]

Check the following items:

Fuel Pump
Ignition wires
Spark Plugs (I would change all 4-8 of them if you haven't yet)
Ignition module (distributor--whatever it's called)
Check Oil level/color
Check other fluids (coolant, trans, etc)
Could be the starter

You already changed the battery

Honestly I'm going to go with either spark plug or ignition wire, check those and let us know what you find.

 

[Jakefrost]

Check the following items:

Fuel Pump
Ignition wires
Spark Plugs (I would change all 4-8 of them if you haven't yet)
Ignition module (distributor--whatever it's called)
Check Oil level/color
Check other fluids (coolant, trans, etc)
Could be the starter

You already changed the battery

Honestly I'm going to go with either spark plug or ignition wire, check those and let us know what you find.

The day this happened I did coil, plugs and wires. Also, fuel pump runs when I turn the key forward. Oil level and color is correct, starter is okay.

 

[ntex]

You have 2 circuits coming off the key switch one for start and a separate one for run. I would check out the run circuit. Let us know what the culprit is when you find out, this would drive me crazy.

 

[ntex]

I am wondering if some part of the computer died since your not getting any codes??

 

[Jakefrost]

I am wondering if some part of the computer died since your not getting any codes??

Computer couldn't have died. When I have the scanner connected I still get all of the correct readings like TPS and temp sensors.

 

[2000StreetRod]

start with the basics

The basics are:
1. Fuel pressure
2. Spark at the plugs
3. Compression

 

[pzy3339]

given your recent maintenance I would for sure look into the ignition.

it is turning over correct? just no fire?

is this a throttle by wire engine? how do you know it is getting air?

have you pulled a plug to see if it is wet?

 

[Jakefrost]

given your recent maintenance I would for sure look into the ignition.

it is turning over correct? just no fire?

is this a throttle by wire engine? how do you know it is getting air?

have you pulled a plug to see if it is wet?

Turning over correctly. How would I check that it is getting air for sure? And I know the plugs will have fuel on them, there is fuel pressure at the rail. I thought maybe the converter may have been clogged since there hasn't been any exhaust work done in a very long time, but I disconnected the exhaust and still no good. It sounds like it really wants to start but I can't figure out what's stopping it. Ignition should be fine, I did the recent maintenance after it died out on me, thinking that could be the problem, as that hadn't been done in a long time as well.

 

[Joe in NY]

It's a 4.0 with single coil pack and wires you say?

Did you run the wires correctly?

 

[808hawn]

I agree with Joe. Check that the wires are properly seated on the spark plugs. If it checks out, then check that the wires were installed in the correct firing order.

 

[pzy3339]

Turning over correctly. How would I check that it is getting air for sure? And I know the plugs will have fuel on them, there is fuel pressure at the rail. I thought maybe the converter may have been clogged since there hasn't been any exhaust work done in a very long time, but I disconnected the exhaust and still no good. It sounds like it really wants to start but I can't figure out what's stopping it. Ignition should be fine, I did the recent maintenance after it died out on me, thinking that could be the problem, as that hadn't been done in a long time as well.

check plugs are wet, pressure or not no fuel will go through them if they do not get the signal.

did it ever run properly after you replaced the ignition components?

air is not always as easy. if you have a throttle cable then giving it gas while turning over should ensure it gets air. If it is throttle by wire I am unsure if the throttle will open before the engine starts. It may not allow that.

if it will run with the throttle opened but dies if let to idle, that could indicate the idle air control valve is not functioning and is stuck closed.

it is also possible your mass air flow sensor is dirty or not functioning properly, however I believe such a condition should throw a code for either situation. Both of my explorers, totally different engines, will run without the mass air flow even plugged in, just an FYI.

could you further detail the deterioration prior to the ignition work? you say it died on you. Was that a significant change in performance over a short time, or had it been getting worse and worse for a while and eventually would not run at all? Was idle poor yet it ran fine otherwise? Or was performance poor at any throttle position?


Things I would start with......

Double check spark plug wiring is correct. Make sure the ignition pack is plugged in.

Check and clean mass air flow sensor.

Pull the plugs, and see what they look like after a 5 second turnover. Wet?

What have your oil changes been like recently? Any signs of water? Any loss/consumption of oil?

What does your coolant look like? Any oil? Level? Do you have to add frequently?

Compression test if you can.

 

[Joe in NY]

or even easier unplug the MAF and leave it that way. OBDII doesn't need MAF or O2 sensors to run. It has preset tables to follow. They are just used to fine tune the running.

 

[Jakefrost]

check plugs are wet, pressure or not no fuel will go through them if they do not get the signal.

did it ever run properly after you replaced the ignition components?

air is not always as easy. if you have a throttle cable then giving it gas while turning over should ensure it gets air. If it is throttle by wire I am unsure if the throttle will open before the engine starts. It may not allow that.

if it will run with the throttle opened but dies if let to idle, that could indicate the idle air control valve is not functioning and is stuck closed.

it is also possible your mass air flow sensor is dirty or not functioning properly, however I believe such a condition should throw a code for either situation. Both of my explorers, totally different engines, will run without the mass air flow even plugged in, just an FYI.

could you further detail the deterioration prior to the ignition work? you say it died on you. Was that a significant change in performance over a short time, or had it been getting worse and worse for a while and eventually would not run at all? Was idle poor yet it ran fine otherwise? Or was performance poor at any throttle position?


Things I would start with......

Double check spark plug wiring is correct. Make sure the ignition pack is plugged in.

Check and clean mass air flow sensor.

Pull the plugs, and see what they look like after a 5 second turnover. Wet?

What have your oil changes been like recently? Any signs of water? Any loss/consumption of oil?

What does your coolant look like? Any oil? Level? Do you have to add frequently?

Compression test if you can.

When I say it died on me I mean it was running completely fine and I was on my way to go grab food and I didn't hear anything, I had music on loudly, and I lost powersteering and noticed the car had stopped running. It is a throttle cable, and even with the throttle depressed fully it will not start. Immediately after this happened the first thing I tried to fix this was coil, Plugs, and wires. I have double checked that they are all in the proper order.

My oil changes have been every 3000 miles like they're supposed to be, no water, not burning oil.

Coolant level was perfect (drained the system when I was going into the timing cover). Haven't had to add any. No oil in it.

 

[pzy3339]

When I say it died on me I mean it was running completely fine and I was on my way to go grab food and I didn't hear anything, I had music on loudly, and I lost powersteering and noticed the car had stopped running. It is a throttle cable, and even with the throttle depressed fully it will not start. Immediately after this happened the first thing I tried to fix this was coil, Plugs, and wires. I have double checked that they are all in the proper order.

My oil changes have been every 3000 miles like they're supposed to be, no water, not burning oil.

Coolant level was perfect (drained the system when I was going into the timing cover). Haven't had to add any. No oil in it.

Sounds electrical in nature to me. Mechanical issues that sever tend to be violent.

Have you checked all your fuses and relays?

Have you had someone turn over the engine with a plug out and grounded to visibly see the spark? You can leave the plug in and use an old one. Just put one of the spark plug wires on it, ground the plug body to the engine and have someone turn the key. Wear gloves, you can catch a good shock doing this.

Your engine will run a cylinder or two down, one or two bad plugs wont cause this, one or two bad injectors wont cause this.

Sounds like one of these two systems has completely quit.

 

[Jakefrost]

Sounds electrical in nature to me. Mechanical issues that sever tend to be violent.

Have you checked all your fuses and relays?

Have you had someone turn over the engine with a plug out and grounded to visibly see the spark? You can leave the plug in and use an old one. Just put one of the spark plug wires on it, ground the plug body to the engine and have someone turn the key. Wear gloves, you can catch a good shock doing this.

Your engine will run a cylinder or two down, one or two bad plugs wont cause this, one or two bad injectors wont cause this.

Sounds like one of these two systems has completely quit.

I have used a spark tester to make sure that I am getting spark through the wires. I made sure I gapped all of the new plugs correctly also. Tomorrow after I get off of work I will see if there is fuel being injected. When I crank it I can smell the fuel after a bit.

 

[Jakefrost]

Just got done checking a few things.
Spark plugs smell like gas after I crank it over.
Unplugged MAF and it didn't change anything.
I'll check for spark tonight when someone else gets home to crank it while I watch.
ALSO, forgot to say so earlier, but when I crank it over, in the exhaust I hear a poof noise. Exhaust is disconnected because I previously thought possibly clogged converters.

 

[ntex]

Take it for what it's worth,but from everything you describe it sounds to me like a timing issue.I would recheck that the plug wires are on the coil pack correctly.

 

[colintrax]

A wet spark plug means you don't have spark.

 

[Jakefrost]

Take it for what it's worth,but from everything you describe it sounds to me like a timing issue.I would recheck that the plug wires are on the coil pack correctly.

Checked that the wires were on the coil pack correctly, and it cannot be a timing issue. I was literally just in the timing cover going to change the timing chains and guides, but the timing marks all lined up and the chains were all tight.