Explorer won't start even when boosted

[Turdle]

Prestone coolant for GM/Ford cars. Replacing cats on a truck this old can't be worth the money. Cats are expensive and one alone would be worth more than the truck

View attachment 449057

Good to 20 below

 

[410Fortune]

Cats are $65-90 each and can be clamped on or welded on, pays to shop around. Some exhaust shops charge triple
For converters and then they recycle your old ones and get even more profit. Maybe call a few places and get some quotes when the time comes to replace them.

The primary converters are required for the engine to run properly and for most emissions counties. Secondary converters are only federally mandated and not required everywhere. Places
Like California and Denver will require all oem emissions equipment to be in place and operating

You need to get the actual trouble code because it could be many things causing the code. We do not just jump to the conclusion that converter is completely plugged, that is a very rare situation. Cat converters can also be cleaned, or so I have heard, I have never tried

Have you tried listened for the fuel pump?

 

[98FordLove]

Cats are $65-90 each and can be clamped on or welded on, pats to shop around

You need to get the actual trouble code because it could be many things causing the code. We do not just jump to the conclusion that converter is completely plugged, that is a very rare situation. Cat converters can also be cleaned, or so I have heard, I have never tried

Have you tried listened for the fuel pump?

Where do you find new cats for that cheap? I was quoted $1400CAD a piece here about 6 months ago. That doesn't even include labour.

I haven't listed for the fuel pump no. It's been so cold out but it's much warmer today and is only going to get warmer the next couple of days. Depending when my mechanic looks over it, it may just start right up due to the weather.

Good to 20 below

I did not know this. But how come my Honda started up, and that is Honda coolant. Can't see the freezing temp being that different than 20 below.

 

[Josh P]

Okay good to know, thanks. But you're honestly not suggesting I put all the money into new cats on a 28 year old truck are you? It's just not worth it.

Ebay has good deals on Chinesium grade replacements. My roommate got 4 cats for an 08 Jeep Wrangler for $200 shipped to the door. Find something like that, if they don't make something vehicle specific, cut them off the manifolds and have a shop weld them in your vehicle. Only thing critical about that method is getting the same exhaust pipe diameter.

 

[98FordLove]

Ebay has good deals on Chinesium grade replacements. My roommate got 4 cats for an 08 Jeep Wrangler for $200 shipped to the door. Find something like that, if they don't make something vehicle specific, cut them off the manifolds and have a shop weld them in your vehicle. Only thing critical about that method is getting the same exhaust pipe diameter.

Thanks I will look into that. Hopefully it's not the cats but just in case. We'll see what it is fuel pump, cats or fuel filter.

 

[EB4X]

Trudeau is a member of the climate change cult like "my" governor in California....hence Canada also has very stringent smog laws, which equals very very expensive extra duty cats; I'm all for cleaner air, just not environmental extremism.

 

[410Fortune]

This might get you going

Catalytic Converters at Summit Racing

Replace a bad catalytic converter or eliminate on-going catalytic converter problems with top brands at Summit Racing. Shop now!

www.summitracing.com

 

[sehaare]

Willing to bet that once the vehicle is in the heated shop and warms up, it will fire off like normal. Extreme cold like you're experiencing (is the -50C windchill or actual air temp?) can cause fuel line issues on top of the fact that the fuel/air mixture doesn't combust as well during start-up as in warmer temps. I live in MN and my Explorer sits outside. When it gets extremely cold, I won't let it sit for more than 4-6 hrs without starting it and letting it warm up. This is the third Explorer I've owned over the years that had to sit outside in the winter and on the absolute coldest days, I've even gotten up out of bed in the middle of the night to start them. Can't remember a time when they failed me when I needed them. Unnecessary wear and tear on the engine? First two reached 200K miles before rust took them. Current one brought up from AZ 12 yrs ago has 196K miles, no rust and no chain rattle that I can hear. I know the environmentalists would have a fit with my wasting gas, but in my mind it keeps everything under the hood "loose" for easier starts.

don't want to hijack this post but have you tried the plug in heaters that stick to the bottom of your oil pan? I've used these on my old explorer and set them on a timer that came on 5 hours before I wanted to start the SUV. It will heat up your oil and continue on to heat up the block and entire engine compartment in the process. It will also shut off automatically if it gets too hot. I've come out to see the snow melted off the hood. Worked better than anything else I have tried. I also had a trickle charger on the battery plugged in all night and that kept the battery fully charged and warm.

 

[Variform]

I'd have the cats tested before relying on computer say so..
Use to swap VW spark plug wires around on coworker's 70s bug.
He in turn would unplug O2 sensor being the only circuit accessible to him..
Throttle position sensor error code would set as it was in the same circuitry..

proper diagnostics can save folks a bundle..

https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-to-Test-a-Bad-Catalytic-Converter

 

[410Fortune]

He he he see what happens when your engine is exposed

 

[98FordLove]

Ebay has good deals on Chinesium grade replacements. My roommate got 4 cats for an 08 Jeep Wrangler for $200 shipped to the door. Find something like that, if they don't make something vehicle specific, cut them off the manifolds and have a shop weld them in your vehicle. Only thing critical about that method is getting the same exhaust pipe diameter.

Wow thanks, sounds like your friend got a good deal. I will see what I can find on ebay if it's my cats. When I was quoted for new cats over a year ago, they wanted $1400CAD for just one.

 

[EB4X]

/\ "Universal" just means that it can be welding on to FIT many vehicles...it does NOT mean it will be COMPLIANT/ achieve Canada's strict catalytic emission standards.... are Canadian muffler shops required to check part numbers before welding onto vehicles like here in California? What about smog tests ?

 

[98FordLove]

I got the call from my mechanic couple hours ago. He said he started the truck and it started right up with no problems on the first try. So glad to hear this, so no repair bill, woohoo.

It is -25C today as opposed to -50C four or five days ago. But still doesn't make sense on how it just starts now. The truck has been sitting outside his shop in the cold for the last 36 hours. So it's not like it's been sitting inside his shop with the heat on.

So something tells me that something was frozen 5 days ago preventing it from starting. Frozen gas tank? Frozen coolant? Maybe moisture in the fuel lines that turned to ice?

So it's still going to be -35C the next couple of days. So I won't drive it home until Friday. Maybe I leave it there until the weekend just to be sure. I'll stop by his place tomorrow and make sure it starts fine. Because the last thing I need is to bring it home and then it doesn't start and then I have to tow it all the way back there again after waiting 3 or 4 days.

 

[XLTrunner]

I got the call from my mechanic couple hours ago. He said he started the truck and it started right up with no problems on the first try. So glad to hear this, so no repair bill, woohoo.

It is -25C today as opposed to -50C four or five days ago. But still doesn't make sense on how it just starts now. The truck has been sitting outside his shop in the cold for the last 36 hours. So it's not like it's been sitting inside his shop with the heat on.

So something tells me that something was frozen 5 days ago preventing it from starting. Frozen gas tank? Frozen coolant? Maybe moisture in the fuel lines that turned to ice?

So it's still going to be -35C the next couple of days. So I won't drive it home until Friday. Maybe I leave it there until the weekend just to be sure. I'll stop by his place tomorrow and make sure it starts fine. Because the last thing I need is to bring it home and then it doesn't start and then I have to tow it all the way back there again after waiting 3 or 4 days.

Are you talking wind chill with these temps? I don't see temps like this when Googling weather in the Calgary area. Wind chill has little bearing on how your vehicle starts as compared to actual temps. Only thing it really impacts is, if it's sitting outside, the fluids will cool down quicker to actual temp. Could deplete the battery charge a little quicker, too. We've had windchills in the -25F/-30F the past five days, but actual overnight temps have only been in the -7F/-10F range. Truck has been fine in these conditions.

 

[98FordLove]

/\ "Universal" just means that it can be welding on to FIT many vehicles...it does NOT mean it will be COMPLIANT/ achieve Canada's strict catalytic emission standards.... are Canadian muffler shops required to check part numbers before welding onto vehicles like here in California? What about smog tests ?

Oh I see, good to know this, thank you. From what I know Canadian muffler shops aren't required to check part numbers before welding. I've had stuff welded twice to previous cars and a current car and I was never asked about part numbers.

 

[98FordLove]

Are you talking wind chill with these temps? I don't see temps like this when Googling weather in the Calgary area. Wind chill has little bearing on how your vehicle starts as compared to actual temps. Only thing it really impacts is, if it's sitting outside, the fluids will cool down quicker to actual temp. Could deplete the battery charge a little quicker, too. We've had windchills in the -25F/-30F the past five days, but actual overnight temps have only been in the -7F/-10F range. Truck has been fine in these conditions.

Yes temps with windchill. When it was -51C last Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun, without windchill it was -40C. I do have a battery trickle charger that I have on my battery on both my cars and I plug it in when it's cold so my batteries don't deplete at all. I'm still puzzled what froze on the truck that prevented it from starting. Hopefully this is not a sign of my fuel pump on it's way out soon.

 

[Variform]

you might want to add a couple of ounces of Denatured Alcohol or 99%-100% Isopropyl Alcohol to full tank of fuel..
they both are a major ingredients of higher priced brand name gas dryers..

Do Not use Rubbing alcohol as it already has been saturated with water..
you will see 50%, 70%, & 90% Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol all of which have varying percentages of water added..

 

[XLTrunner]

Just to get a comparative idea, -40C equates to -40F...and, that's damn cold! Your vehicle needs to be in top-top shape to start in that kind of weather. Just putting a battery tender isn't going to necessarily allow the vehicle to start. It will certainly help it to turn over, but I'm guessing your fuel line or fuel pump froze. I drove thru Calgary a year ago last October and don't recall if an ethanol blend gas is required? Here in MN, that is the case and it contains 10% ethanol (alcohol) minimum. Supposed to offer some protection against freeze-up, but some still add a gas treatment such as Seafoam to the tank at fill-up.

 

[Variform]

Here in MN, that is the case and it contains 10% ethanol (alcohol) minimum. Supposed to offer some protection against freeze-up, but some still add a gas treatment such as Seafoam to the tank at fill-up.

imo Seafoam is snake oil as it is mainly Oil, with White Gas and a smidge of Alcohol
Seafoam's MSDS listed ingredients
40-60% Pale Oil (CAS 64742-54-7),
25-35% Naphtha,
10-20% Isopropyl Alcohol "IPA".
https://www.greenpartstore.com/assets/images/bulletins/2011/seafoam_msds.pdf

Pale oil, a light machine oil sometimes used in electric grid transformers for cooling.. a lubricant
Naphtha aka white gas or Coleman lantern fuel, a solvent.
Isopropyl alcohol, a good gas dryer..


HEET® Gas Line Antifreeze Line is at least 100% Methanol

https://sds.fmpco.com/images/fmp_msds/584402_HEET_Gas_Line_AF.pdf

while

Iso-HEET® Gas Line Antifreeze is ≥75% Isopropyl alcohol and insignificant amount of Ethylbenzene

https://cdn.vamac.com/Resources/MSDS/GoldEagle-IsoHeet_00001_SDS.pdf

I use Denatured alcohol for starting kerosene pressure lanterns, gas dryer, fiberglass resin thinner, and medicinal purposes finding it quite handy to have around for far fewer $ than dedicated gas dryer..

 

[sehaare]

Yes temps with windchill. When it was -51C last Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun, without windchill it was -40C. I do have a battery trickle charger that I have on my battery on both my cars and I plug it in when it's cold so my batteries don't deplete at all. I'm still puzzled what froze on the truck that prevented it from starting. Hopefully this is not a sign of my fuel pump on it's way out soon.

I'd recommend that you get an oil pan heater. Not the dipstick kind, but the kind that are a patch with adhesive on it that sticks to the bottom of your oil pan. I had a VW Diesel car for 10 years in Northern Illinois that I drove over most of the upper midwest for work. Most people know that diesels hate the cold and are really hard to start in the winter and won't even warm up if they are just left idling. I added the oil pan heater so that I wouldn't get stranded somewhere (and carried a long extension cord and found a plug at 99% of the hotels I stayed at). When I was at home I plugged the oil pan heater into a timer that turned it on 4 hours before I wanted to drive the car. It worked so well that I put another one on my 98 explorer as well.

The heater will heat up your oil pan and maintain the temp by shutting off if it goes above the designed temp. With the oil pan hot, it also heats up the block and entire engine compartment. I would come out some mornings and all the snow was melted off the hood of the the car. Not matter how cold it got the diesel and the explorer always started. Plus with the oil and engine warm you got the bonus of your heater already being warm.


keep your trickle charger on 24/7 and put the oil heater on a timer and unless your fuel lines are freezing toward the rear of the car you should be good to go as far as cold weather is concerned.