Occasional Starting Problem

[mg23]

I am new here and I'm looking for some suggestions on a recent problem that has happened on my 00 Eddie Bauer V6 4.0 SOHC. Approximately 2 months ago i went to start it and it fired up, then died. It did this approx 3 times. On the 4th try I held down the gas pedal and it started and ran fine. I figured it was the fuel filter (maybe clogged), due to the fact I had not changed it in a little while. I changed the fuel filter and things were fine till the other day. My wife went to start it and it cranked over, but no start this time. When I got there I had the same situation, crank but no start. I did not hear the fuel pump whine, when the ignition was turned on. Again I held the gas pedal down and it started right up, not problem. It runs fine after I get it running. There is no hesitation or anything, just this little problem starting. Looking for possible suggestion if you have any. I am thinking I have a fuel pump taking a dump. Thanks.

 

[mwking]

It sounds to me like your having problems with the IAC (idle air controller). If you do a search for this you will find lots of threads on cleaning or replacing it. This is a really common problem and easily fixed. If you take off the black plastic cover on top of the engine the IAC is right in the middle, a couple of bolts and a wire connector and it is out. Try cleaning it according to one of the threads on the subject. If that doesn't eliminate the problem you can replace it they are not too expensive.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I was thinking that it might be the IAC until you mentioned that you don't always hear the fuel pump prime. You might have a bad relay. This is a common problem, and doesn't always mean that the pump is defective.

 

[marragtop]

Yep, start with the fuel pump relay. You can also check the connection at the inertia switch. The last thing you want to do is replace the fuel pump unless absolutely necessary. Lots of horror stories about replacing the FP only to find out it was something else.

 

[mg23]

Thanks, I'll check these out and see where it goes. Like I said this is an occasional thing. It has only happened twice, but fired right up upon the gas being pressed.