Having touble starting- interesting problem

[Afboy143]

Hey guys,
Buddy of mine has a really interesting problem arise on his explorer. He has had trouble getting his truck started. He would turn the key to start the car and it wouldn’t start so he’d turn the key back, wait, try again and the truck would start. Weird.

Well then it got worse. He’d have to try a few times with the above procedure and eventually it’d crank up. NOW the truck won’t even start. You hear it trying to crank, but it won’t turn over. An interesting point to make is once it starts, it’s golden. No hiccups or anything. The battery and terminals are new. The motor is getting gas because we checked the fuel like and there was pressure. Any other ideas? Does it sound like a fuel issue???

 

[Rudy602]

Sounds like a fuel issue to me - just because it has pressure doesn't mean it has enough pressure and if you can get a sample at the motor, put it in a glass jar and have a look at it. I got some bad gas once that just wouldn't burn. If the filter hasn't been changed recently you could start there, it's cheap and that'll give you an upstream sample. Some filters trap water and when full don't allow enough gas to get through. If that doesn't do it, get a guage and check the pressure. Someone who knows more about this fuel system might be able to help.

 

[dogfriend]

You hear it trying to crank, but it won’t turn over.

You hear the starter relay click, but no crank? If so, it might be a bad starter relay (the round thing on the inside fender wall) or it might be a bad starter.

 

[budwich]

You hear the starter relay click, but no crank? If so, it might be a bad starter relay (the round thing on the inside fender wall) or it might be a bad starter.

I think the poster needs to clarify his "words". IF the starter is turning and engaging the motor AND the motor itself is turning .... then this is usually referred to as "turning over". I interpret his "words" as meaning "there is no firing" when he refers to "not turning over".

 

[Afboy143]

I think the poster needs to clarify his "words". IF the starter is turning and engaging the motor AND the motor itself is turning .... then this is usually referred to as "turning over". I interpret his "words" as meaning "there is no firing" when he refers to "not turning over".

Sorry- let me try this again

Okay, so you turn the key and the truck cranks as if it wants to start but it can't which kind of led me to a fuel problem. The truck wants to start, but something is stopping it. My friend would turn the ignition all the way off after trying, waited a second, then cranked it again and she started. Over time it got worse to the point where we are now where it cranks, but it won't fully turn over and start. The engine tries to start, but it seems shes choked to where something is preventing it. Does this seem right?

An example I can think of is when I changed my fuel filter. When I was done, it took a good 10 seconds of the truck cranking before that fuel got to the engine and allowed her to fire up. Same case here- turning key, cranking, but no fire.

 

[budwich]

So if you are currently in a "no start" and the engine is turning, there are the usual checks... check for fuel pressure, check for spark. IF possible, try shooting some quick start in thru the air intake. IF you still have no start, then there is likely an electrical issue. HOWEVER, you haven't indicated what year of truck or engine. Lastly, a "permanent no start" should be checked with a compression test on both sides to determine mechanical "sanity".

 

[Rudy602]

fuel, spark, and compression, right? I'm old fashioned and not osha approved, I want to see that sparkplug fire, so I'd pull one and check it [ scrape the rust off an area on the exhaust manifold down to bare metal and hold the metal body of the sparkplug against that bare spot with something insulated like a 12" piece of wood, don't touch any metal, don't stand in any puddles, etc.] The key thing is what says fuel to me. I like the starting fluid idea, it should fire on that even with bad gas or bad pump...just a little though, it's not good for the motor. If it hasn't had a fuel filter lately it's a good place to start. I want to see the spark and the fuel, If the compression were bad you would probably have had symptoms - running rough,etc.