My 95 Explorer Is Dead At A Gas Station..help!

[JayTye4k]

So I drive my car to get gas tonight. Cranks up just fine. Once I pull up to the pump and pump my gas it doesn't want to start back up at all. I turn the key and the battery sounds like it's good but once it cranks it just putts out right away. I try giving it gas and it doesn't help at all. doesn't even bring the rpm up at all. Is this my alternator or what? I'm in a pretty bad situation with no ride to work tomorrow as I type this. Somebody, anybody please help!

 

[ExplorerDMB]

sounds like a bad fuel pump. You need to see if your getting fuel pressure. Also, it's not your alternator cause granted your vehicle runs off your alternator when it's running, but the battery would give it enough juice to start and retain a idle for awhile. Does the vehicle "click" or does it turn over fine, just doesn't start? Also, pushing the gas pedal doens't do anything with a fuel injected vehicle. Your actually leaning out the mixture if anything at all (and that's usually only appropriate on a Throttle Body Injection system)

-Drew

 

[JayTye4k]

Thanks Drew

You could be right here. It turns over fine it just starts puttering immediately and "feels and sounds" like the fuel isn't going through properly, almost like there is no pressure. If it is a fuel pump or bad pressure, what is something like that going to run me $$? Hopefully not too much.

 

[calylove]

Too bad about the ex. Fuel pump is pretty easy and prob. around $150. My experience however is that they don't just go immediately they usually fiddle out. You might find that it runs tomorrow, but I would think about replacing it asap. Also you may want to replace the fuel filter, which is much cheaper and easier. Look on here for more info. Good luck.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check your fuel pump relay, and PCM relay. You might also want to check your inertia switch, and fuses.

 

[marragtop]

When you turn the key to the ON position, you should hear the fuel pump prime for a second or 2. If you don't hear that, it could be the fuel pump, FP relay, PCM relay, or inertia switch. The relays are easy to replace, and the inertia switch is easy to check. Make sure the connector wire on the bottom of the inertia swich is on tight. If none of that works, try tapping(banging) on the gas tank. Sometimes that will cause the pump to start working again (although it will probably stop again).

If you do hear the fuel pump priming, then check the fuel filter. I suggest you also check the fuel pressure. One last comment.... since this happened at the gas station, is there a possibility you put some bad gas in?

 

[JayTye4k]

News

So this morning I went back to the gas station and low and behold it started up. Once I pulled it into the street, I noticed that right away ot started jerking and puttering as I turned the wheel???? Yes. Keeping the wheel straight it was fine, but as soon as I turned it the jerking was so bad that it almost cut off on me again. I managed to pull it into an auto shop. Once I turned the EX off and tried to start it again, it started doing the same things as it did last night. I noticed what looks like power steering fluid on the engine and it looks like it hasn't been there long. What does all this mean?? I'm trying to make sense out of all of it..Would my power stearing pump cause it to cut off like that and not start?? Surely the fuel pump wouldn't cause the car to putter and shake while turning. :fire:

 

[BrooklynBay]

When you turn the wheel with the engine off, it will put some back pressure on your pump. This will cause fluid to shoot out of the bleeder hole on the top of the P/S cap. This could happen on any car, so it's nothing to worry about.

 

[JayTye4k]

So the mechanic told me that:

I had air in my power steering pump. They had to drain it

I need need a "back EGR" sensor

also

My air intake sensor was bad

Total cost: $401.00

Is this a huge rip off or what? Please help me asap!!!

 

[BrooklynBay]

First of all, if you had air in your P/S system, all you would have to do is turn your steering wheel back, and forth a couple of times to bleed it out. As for those 2 sensors, they are cheap parts that you could easily replace yourself in less than a half an hour. I wouldn't trust them from what you have just mentioned. I would suggest that you have your codes pulled to see exactly what is wrong. You could just be replacing good parts, and not getting to the heart of the problem. AutoZone could read your codes for free.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

find out what codes are in it

-Drew

 

[JayTye4k]

Follow Up

Thanks for the info guys. So after paying 401.00 for the repairs..a week later I am still having the same problems. Once I turn the explorer off, it will not always start back up..it tries and tries but the engine never catches. I have to wait 30 minutes to an hour before it will start. What in the hell could be the cause of this???

 

[Turdle]

First, you got ripped, take it back there, have them check your fuel pump, and relay
Do you hear a electric motor running for a bit when you first switch on the key?
Just switch on, don't crank, listen for the fuel pump. You shoild hear it run for 1-2 seconds.
if the relay swap doesn't get it, 99 percent it is your fuel pump.

 

[JayTye4k]

sometimes I hear the pump come on when I turn the key halfway, other times I don't hear anything. How difficult is it to replace the fuel pump myself? Do I have to raise the explorer all the way up to access it?

 

[Turdle]

Try the relay trick first, might get it.
To replace the fuel pump, you must drop the fuel tank. It sounds worse than it really is, unles its full. It should be drained.

 

[JayTye4k]

Where is the relay that you mention? Can I just try replacing it?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The relay is under the hood. What did the mechanic repair?

 

[JayTye4k]

They ran the codes and said that the EGR valve was bad, the air temp sensor was bad and some of the wiring for a sensor was bad so they had to rewire it. This cost me $410.00. This problem with my car not starting is intermittent but I never know where I will be when it does happen and that is what is so annoying about this. I don't want to have the fuel pump replaced if that isn't the problem. The engine rotates but will not start and if it does, it shuts off immediately. Sometimes it will start minutes later and other times it takes hours. :fire: I am desperate to fix this but I'm running low on cash at this point

 

[BrooklynBay]

Another thing to check is the continuity of your inertia switch. Maybe that is causing your intermittent problem. I've never seen one fail, but it is still worth looking into. That is the part that has a reset button on top. It has a ball that moves around inside of it. In the event of a crash, it shuts off the fuel pump.

 

[JayTye4k]

Thanks-where is that switch located? Can I reset it without causing any problem?