My 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac cranks but won't start.

[LarryW38]

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac cranks but won't start. I read all the suggestions but none solved my Problem. My wife and I are in our mid 80's. We have 3 cars and a 2 car garage. My Sport Trak sits out in the brutal Las Vegas weather I keep it covered with a Lifetime guaranteed fitted Sport Trak cover. I hadn't been driven or motor started for over 2 months. I brought it new and it has less than 40,000 miles on it. I took it to a local mechanic because the dealer I bought it from does not work on any vehicles over 10 years old. The garage that I took it to has tried everything he can to get it to consistently start. He has changed the fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel module. He has had the truck for 2 months. I joined this forum hoping someone might have a suggestion that might work. Any ideas?
Larry in Las Vegas

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Your thread was moved into the stock 2006 - 2010 section. Do you see a check engine light when you turn the key, and hear the fuel pump prime?

 

[LarryW38]

Welcome to this forum! Your thread was moved into the stock 2006 - 2010 section. Do you see a check engine light when you turn the key, and hear the fuel pump prime?

I did have a check engine light that came on when it wouldn't start. That's when I had it towed to a shop that had worked on my other cars. They got it to run long enough to smog the vehicle. They still have my truck and have had it for close to two months without getting it to start every time. Since they smogged it I was able to re-register it. Thanks for the reply, Larry

 

[wollimann]

I joined this forum hoping someone might have a suggestion that might work. Any ideas?
Larry in Las Vegas

Maybe the crankshaft position sensor is bad or the harmonic balancer is gone in two parts.
If there is enough fuel pressure at the fuel rail, the engine become air to breath and a spark it should start.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Scan the computer for trouble codes.

 

[94Eddie]

Is your vehicle a V8 or V6 model?

 

[LarryW38]

It is a V 8 limited edition

 

[Fbird]

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac cranks but won't start. I read all the suggestions but none solved my Problem. My wife and I are in our mid 80's. We have 3 cars and a 2 car garage. My Sport Trak sits out in the brutal Las Vegas weather I keep it covered with a Lifetime guaranteed fitted Sport Trak cover. I hadn't been driven or motor started for over 2 months. I brought it new and it has less than 40,000 miles on it. I took it to a local mechanic because the dealer I bought it from does not work on any vehicles over 10 years old. The garage that I took it to has tried everything he can to get it to consistently start. He has changed the fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel module. He has had the truck for 2 months. I joined this forum hoping someone might have a suggestion that might work. Any ideas?
Larry in Las Vegas

There are 3 things needed to run. Fuel, spark and air. Just because the installed a NEW fuel pump does NOT mean its good. Same with the fuel module!!! Sounds like you have a parts changer ...NOT a mechanic. Seems he is ADDING more uncontrolled problems thanhe is fixing. Mine turned out to be the fuel pump. Crank but not RUN. Considering there is no test port on this system you have to guess. A modified start routine showed it was NOT getting enough fuel pressure on the FIRST turn of the key. The TPS sensors are known to be problematic sometimes (air management sensor). Only BLIND recommendation I would give you is if it doesn't start...STOP. turn key off, turn key ON (not to crank...just ON), thurn key OFF. NOW try to start. This will get you around a faulty fuel pump leakdown issue...THATS all it will do BUT may shed some light on the issue at hand. (considering there is NO test port on the fuel rails) arghh

 

[LarryW38]

There are 3 things needed to run. Fuel, spark and air. Just because the installed a NEW fuel pump does NOT mean its good. Same with the fuel module!!! Sounds like you have a parts changer ...NOT a mechanic. Seems he is ADDING more uncontrolled problems thanhe is fixing. Mine turned out to be the fuel pump. Crank but not RUN. Considering there is no test port on this system you have to guess. A modified start routine showed it was NOT getting enough fuel pressure on the FIRST turn of the key. The TPS sensors are known to be problematic sometimes (air management sensor). Only BLIND recommendation I would give you is if it doesn't start...STOP. turn key off, turn key ON (not to crank...just ON), thurn key OFF. NOW try to start. This will get you around a faulty fuel pump leakdown issue...THATS all it will do BUT may shed some light on the issue at hand. (considering there is NO test port on the fuel rails) arghh

Thanks FBird I will pass this on to the shop that still has my Sport Trac. Larry

 

[94Eddie]

It is a V 8 limited edition

As Fbird stated, a starting issue almost always is tied to a lack of fuel, air and/or spark. If the shop you are using doesn't have the ability to diagnose the problem then you are likely going to waste a lot of money replacing parts that are not an issue. You need to find a shop that knows how to properly diagnose problems through using diagnostic tools and not guessing on replacing parts. Modern diagnostic tools, scanners etc. can allow a problem to be identified quickly and accurately if a technician knows how to use them.

 

[LarryW38]

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac cranks but won't start. I read all the suggestions but none solved my Problem. My wife and I are in our mid 80's. We have 3 cars and a 2 car garage. My Sport Trak sits out in the brutal Las Vegas weather I keep it covered with a Lifetime guaranteed fitted Sport Trak cover. I hadn't been driven or motor started for over 2 months. I brought it new and it has less than 40,000 miles on it. I took it to a local mechanic because the dealer I bought it from does not work on any vehicles over 10 years old. The garage that I took it to has tried everything he can to get it to consistently start. He has changed the fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel module. He has had the truck for 2 months. I joined this forum hoping someone might have a suggestion that might work. Any ideas?
Larry in Las Vegas

Update to forum

The shop called that my truck was fixed and ready to pick up. I picked it up Tuesday Jan 21 2025. It started right up and I drove it home. Drove it every day and it started and ran just like new until yesterday 30 Jan. In traffic the engine quit. I coasted to the right lane, set my flashers, placed it in park and tried to start the engine. On the 3rd or 4th try it started and I drove it home without incident. Here is what has been done: Replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pump control module and relay. All Ford parts except the relay. Tested and inspected wiring between fuel pump, fuel pump control module and pcm. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, I can’t take it on the road if I can’t trust it. Larry in Las Vegas

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the inertia switch.

 

[LarryW38]

Check the inertia switch.

Thanks BrooklynBay, I googled inertia switch and got a wealth of information that I will pass on to shop that is working on my truck. Since I gat it back, it has started every time, first try. After it quit on me in traffic this week, I haven't taken it on the road.

 

[wollimann]

Since I gat it back, it has started every time, first try.

Fuel pump, fuel pump control module, fuel pump relay, fuel filter, every thing was changed
and it starts up fine while the engine is cold.
Maybe there is a temperature related issue with the fuel pressure and temperature sensor
located on the fuel rail. It controls the fuel pump speed.

Fuel Pressure Sensor/Switch: Service and Repair — 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4WD V8-4.6L VIN 8 Service Manual | Operation CHARM

Detailed repair manual for the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4WD V8-4.6L VIN 8.

charm.li

I don't know if this sensor is bad that this will cause the engine to quit, but i think it would throw trouble codes.

On the 3rd or 4th try it started and I drove it home without incident.

Engine would like to run, seems no problems with ignition. Think it is a fuel dilivery problem.
It is hard to find those intermittent issues in times of so many sensors inside,
but with a professional scan tool it should be possible to find that "gremlin".

I can’t take it on the road if I can’t trust it.

Hope you will get back your trust, thumbs up.

 

[allmyEXes]

I would hope that the Mechanic is more of an Automotive Technician and has hooked up a good Snap-On type scanner and taken a look at everything while it is running.
I still didn't see mention of if the Crankshaft Position Sensor has been changed or not. They are known to sometimes work even when they
are going bad.
I'm more of an old school Mechanic, so that is all that I have to add.