Help needed, Wont stay running at start up with temps around -2

[XLT]

Hey all i am seeking help with my explorer sport. It has the sohc engine in it. THis is my first winter with her and she doesn't like the cold very much. I start have starting issues once temps drop below 20 degress F. But today it was -2 and my truck did not want to stay running. The starter cranks no problem and the truck starts right away but wont stay running. THe rpms jump to life and drop back to 0 quickly. If i give it gas it stays running and was able to run at idle on its own after about 1 minute of hold the gas so rpms were around the 1500 to 2000 rpm range. I did search but i couldnt find anything that seemed to help me out to much. Also the vehicle is update on most tune up related parts except maybe fluid changes excluding the oil though. Otherwise the truck runs great and never had any problems. I drove it 2 miles today after and let it sit for an hour and when i came back she fired up no problem and stayed running. I also poured in a bottle of heat incase if there was any water in there but i dont think that is the problem. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tbars4]

...:scratch:...What are you doing to keep the block and fluids warm overnite???

 

[Burns]

Get a block heater. Your truck is too cold to start and run at that temp. It runs good after its warmed up because its no longer at -2deg.

Here is a thread to check out:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229747&highlight=block+heater

 

[XLT]

I imagine that a block heater would surely help. Currently my truck stays outside overnight. I thought maybe it would be something wrong becuase i have owned a 1993 explorer and a 97 f150 that had to remain outside overnight and never had troubles with either of those. Also my g/f owns honda civic that is parked right alongside me and she as well didnt have any problems today starting. But i will have to look into maybe a block heater. Thanks for the link.

 

[corkey]

i live in a very predominately cold in the winter area, and i would say get a block heater as well,
as -2 is cold enough , it is not really that cold,, but i see the big difference it makes at -15 to -40 to keep the Ex plugged in at night , and the heat works better too just after startup, block heater gives it a bit of a start ,

 

[JDraper]

If you're having to keep your foot on it, you might have a sticking IAC (Idle air control) valve or a bad ect (engine coolant temperature) sensor. Either one of those will cause hard start problems if they are on the way out.

BTW at -2F the truck shouldn't have problems starting and continuing to run, even without a block heater. It might be a little cranky, but it should start and run on it's own.

 

[XLT]

Alright thanks JDraper. Maybe i will try cleaning the IAC and see if that does anthing. I was wondering if it could have been that. I should have also said when i started it i heard a high pitch holwing come from the engine bay as well which went away once the truck could idle on its own. Yeah its only december and we are already seeing below 0 temps but hell it does get colder then that here in Wisconsin. I will take a look at it in the morning and report back if i have problems. Like i said i even had some rough starts in only 20 degree weather as well. Thanks for all who contributed ideas.

 

[gijoecam]

Get a block heater. Your truck is too cold to start and run at that temp. It runs good after its warmed up because its no longer at -2deg.

Here is a thread to check out:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229747&highlight=block+heater

If you're having to keep your foot on it, you might have a sticking IAC (Idle air control) valve or a bad ect (engine coolant temperature) sensor. Either one of those will cause hard start problems if they are on the way out.

BTW at -2F the truck shouldn't have problems starting and continuing to run, even without a block heater. It might be a little cranky, but it should start and run on it's own.

Exactly! The engine may crank slower due to the thicker oil it's trying to pump, and the lower voltage from the cold battery, but there's no reason it shouldn't run just fine once it fires, regardless of how cold it is outside.

 

[JDraper]

Alright thanks JDraper. Maybe i will try cleaning the IAC and see if that does anthing. I was wondering if it could have been that. I should have also said when i started it i heard a high pitch holwing come from the engine bay as well which went away once the truck could idle on its own. Yeah its only december and we are already seeing below 0 temps but hell it does get colder then that here in Wisconsin. I will take a look at it in the morning and report back if i have problems. Like i said i even had some rough starts in only 20 degree weather as well. Thanks for all who contributed ideas.

Just fyi, cleaning the IAC doesn't always work. I've had luck cleaning one, and had to replace 2 others when the cleaning didn't work. Sometimes it just needs to be replaced. The high pitched how may be air flowing through the IAC when it's just opened slightly (when it should be closed) creating the noise.

 

[XLT]

Well yesterday i took the iac off and cleaned it up. I hate not having a place to work on my truck now that i am away from college and have to do everything out in the open. Well i tried it today and seemed to start up no problem and did not even thinking of dying on me. It was also a little warmer today with the sun out temps right around 8 degrees. I will wait and see what happens over the next couple of days but if it was the iac do you think it should be fine if i just cleaned it or should i look at replacing it?

 

[Burns]

If it keeps working at the -2 I would personally leave it alone. If it works. It works. However if it gives a problem again I would just get a new one.

 

[MNgopher]

-2 F is not "too cold" for an Ex to run and start properly, even without a block heater. My Ex spends lots of time outside in the winter with no place to plug in a block heater. After several days of weather never going above zero, it starts and runs fine (though it makes noises that would make southerners cringe...)

Best bet is the IAC as you found. My '99 F150 did exactly what you described. Putting your foot on the throttle for a minute was the only way to keep it running when it was below zero. One new IAC later (after 170,000 miles the old one didn't owe me anything), the truck starts like a charm, even being parked outside with no block heater at temps exceeding -15F.

 

[gavin]

I will agree that -2*F is NOT too cold for the truck to start and keep running.

several years back, for about a week it was consistently -20*F. My Bronco2 with it's crapping-out 2.9L started up GREAT, every time.

it's starting to get cold again here in Alaska... surprisingly hasn't gotten below 0 during the day yet, but NEVER a problem starting my truck since I bought it ~5yrs ago.

If it will not stay running when cold, there is something wrong.

Although it sounds like you may have fixed the problem by cleaning the IAC.

 

[XLT]

Thank you every one. Once again i was able to fix another one of my problems becuase of this forum. I just went out side and tried my truck. It has been sitting since about 1:00 this afternoon and right now it is about -8 outside and she started up no problem and even kept running. No signs of dying even. So it was just a dirty IAC after all. Thanks again all!