Explorer not starting

[castana]

Hi, this is my first post on the forum, so apologise in advance that it is for a problem.

I have a 2001 4.0 right hand drive Explorer bought in the UK and taken by me to Spain. It is an Australian model, but think the differences between these and UK stock models are simple cosmetic differences.

I took the car for a short journey on Sunday morning and parked up. On return about 30 minutes later the car refused to start. It is cranking over, but not firing. As the fuel level had been low I thought it had run out of petrol, but on getting some fuel, the car spluttered a few times and died, then nothing.

The immobiliser light flashes on enter as normal, turning the key the PAT lights constant and then goes out on key recognition. Before checking this forum, I thought the PAT light was flashing on cranking but can't remember. Anyway, when I went back, I disconnected the battery for 30 minutes and reconnected. I now notice the PAT light comes on and stays constant on cranking. I had a mechanic check, and he says there is no spark and that it needs to go for diagnosis for electrical problems.

I don't want to spend big bucks on the car as it is not worth much, and want to check here first if there may be any obvious solutions before paying for diagnosis which seems to throw up endless possibilities to be checked and paid for.

 

[Flick75]

I'm no expert by any means, but if its still turning over, but just not starting, it sounds like a fuel issue of some sort. Maybe the fuel filter is clogged or the fuel pump is not running. You could check your fuel pump fuse to make sure it's good.

There's probably a number of other things it could be too, but those were the first two that popped into my head upon reading your post. Good luck with it. I hope someone chimes in that may have better suggestions.

 

[lvis82]

i would check fuel. see if you can hear the pump prime when you turn the key then check fuel pressure.

 

[castana]

I can hear the fuel pump priming when I switch it on. The mechanic had pulled the spark plug leads to check for spark and there was no spark - so I am suspecting electrical rather than fuel.

Is there any way the PATS cuts off the spark?

 

[2000StreetRod]

engine no start procedure

Reviewing my Engine No Start Procedure may give you some ideas.

 

[castana]

OK, got some more fuel into the car and used a battery booster pack in case the battery was undercharged from cranking.

The car started but spluttered. Kept doing this, would start up to 2000 rpm then splutter to a stop.

I assume this means there is now a spark which must have been missing from a battery strong enough to crank but not for the engine management system.

Now I have the continuous starting then spluttering to a stop. the car is sitting on quite a steep slope, with the engine downhill - would this be anything to do with it?

Any other suggestions on the latest?

 

[castana]

In above post, T H E is being changed to pizza and E N G I N E being changed to vroom vroom by forum!!!!

 

[99SportX]

T h e anti-theft system will prevent t h e vehicle from starting so make 100% shizzle that t h e THEFT light is NOT flashing while cranking before doing anything else.

The fuel pickup is at the back of the tank so if you are on a steep slope and the fuel tank is low it will be difficult to get it started. Move it to level ground if possible or beer it up more.

 

[lvis82]

i m telling you man, check the fuel pressure. mine did the exact same thing and i dismissed the fuel pump because i could hear it prime, checked and replaced many parts(waste of time) when i could not find any other problem and re-checked the same stuff over and over again(circuits, relays, sensors, etc) i checked the fuel pressure with a harbor freight fuel pressure gauge and it was only putting out 10 psi.put a brand new fuel pump in and haven't had a problem since. good luck and plz check the fuel pressure, i don't wish what i went through on any body.

 

[castana]

Problem resolved on this. Much kudos to 99SportX. Lesson to be learnt here folks. There was more than a 1/4 tank of fuel in the car. Don't park these on a steep slope, and if you need to make sure the engine points uphill because of the fuel line at the back of the tank. And if you need to free wheel the car to level ground remember that you will virtually zero steering and brakes without the engine running!

Thank you 99SportX.

 

[99SportX]

Glad you got it dude. This is one of the major faults of the explorer. I think the problem is more of an issue with the 4 door explorer/mounty than it is with the 2door sport due to the longer tank.. I have never had the problem with my sport and I run my tank pretty low but I have experienced the issue with a mountaineer. I was able to start it, but it bogged for a little bit just as I got to level ground.

 

[castana]

Thanks bro. You saved me many $ as I know mechanics will plug in to diagnostics and start replacing everything. I knew there must be a simple fix! The fuel gauge was reading empty, but when I got her levelled out there was well over 1/4 tank! Anyway, the wife had parked it like that, so now I will know (or she will know!) for the future.