No Start..Unless battery disconnected for at least 1 day

[leepersc]

Hello ghents,

Another 1997 Explorer (V6) random no start thread. This one is different though.

-Have fuel at rail, pump working, clean fuel filter.
-Have spark
-Throws engine code for 02 sensor though.
Just RANDOMLY cranks but no start. The ONLY solution is to disconnect the battery, let sit overnight, then it starts just fine the next day.

I am stumped.

Thank you all!

-Scott

 

[leepersc]

Any ideas ghents? Crazy stuff here...just never know when i'm gonna get stranded.

 

[turboplz]

I'm wondering if perhaps you have a leaking injector. Have you checked them to see?

Next to that, I would start checking your sensors one by one. When you say that it will randomly crank sometimes, what exactly do you mean? It randomly starts? Randomly turns over, but sometimes it won't?

 

[leepersc]

Thank you for the reply! I have not checked any of the injectors..will do. Sorry, I should have clarified:

It will always crank, just not turn-over. Just continues to crank but no start. Then I disconnect the battery and wait....more than a couple of hours. Then it starts. Weird for sure. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the ECU. Seems like I have to wait long enough for the capacitors or whatever in the ECU to discharge, then it will loose memory and then start. JUST A THEORY regarding the ECU.

This beast is starting to nickel and dime me badly. Just cannot afford to make a change from a 'paid-off' vehicle. Thanks for the input, buddy!

Scott

 

[turboplz]

Typically, not always, a bad ECU will not throw any check engine codes. Best bet to rule out the ECU though is to hit up your local junk yard and pull the ecu out of an explorer in the yard with the same catch code as yours.

Try this next time it cranks but won't start. Push the gas pedal all the way down to the floor, then crank the engine over for about 30 seconds while still holding the pedal down. If it starts up after doing this, then your engine is flooding out with fuel from a leaking injector (or multiple injectors).

Next to those steps, I would check as many other sensors as you can with a voltmeter and reference chart for your engine.

Does it seem to do this when the car is sitting for a long time (like first thing in the morning) or on hot restarts?

Oh! Also check, double check and triple check all of your engine grounds!!! Those ground are crucial and cause major headaches when trying to track down any electrical type gremlin!

 

[hjerrett]

I have encountered this once before but on a Mazda RX-7, had a bad ECU. Took forever to narrow it down because it was very intermittent. I could drive for weeks wtihout an issue then I would take it to the store or whatever and it wouldn't start when I came out. Disconnecting the battery for about 20 mins fixed it on that car. If I have those symptoms ever again I will start with an ECU swap.

 

[2000v8]

try to unplug the coolent temp sensor and try to start it and see what happens if it is bad it will give it to much gas and it wont start

 

[leepersc]

Just giving an update and solution to this problem: Random No-start PROBLEM finally SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys, after dropping an a$$-load of cash fixing issues, replacing and checking battery connections, related to the no-start or not, I finally have permanently solved this problem. After troubleshooting everything from fuel to spark, replacing the started I trashed after about 2 thousand cranks trying to start it, with NO 'check engine' codes showing, I gave in and took it to a mechanic. Called a tow truck, after my Explorer was jerked up and onto the flatbed, it started....I almost had a stroke right there! Nevertheless, I had given up. It was going to a 'Professional' no matter what. Got the fuel pump replaced (I had already determined fuel pressure was not up to spec.), fuel filter etc., and a couple bad of O2 sensors, (in order to pass emissions testing), this pain in the a$$ finally started and ran. Got it home and everything was good for a little over 1 year. I do recall having 1 or 2 no-start episodes which were immediately solved by disconnecting the battery for a couple of minutes.

A couple of days ago BAM, no start again. No matter what I tried it was the same-old cranking but no start. I was extremely pissed and almost took my gun outside to put it out of its misery for good!! Back to the web hoping for a solution....Finally, found a post HERE that was new. Indicated I should check the CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. Went outside, crawled underneath and gave the sensor a whack with a ratchet. INSTANT start! Tested the sensor via a tutorial with a DVM found on this forum, the sensor was shot. Or at least was no longer trustworthy and on its way to death. Ordered the sensor for $21 that night. Next day same issue. Gave the sensor a whack and it started right up. Just replaced the sensor and viola, PROBLEM SOLVED. Sorry this is so LONG WINDED!!!! Just wanted to share and hopefully save someone the same headaches I had. Figures, just a $20 fu&*ing part was all it took to fix. NEVER would have figured that one out on my own. Good Luck all!!!!!