Problems starting ... please help

[JSterling]

Hello all,

I am experiencing some starting problems with my '98 XLT.
I go to start it up and sometimes it just cranks to the point I think it should turn over but it won't. After a couple of times of trying to start it, I'll push down the gas pedal and hold it and it will eventually start up. The weird part of it all is that it seems to only do this when it has sat overnight -- I experience my starting problems only in the morning -- and not every morning either. I am not getting any indications via the gauges that something is wrong. Also, after I have it started, I can turn it off and start it back up a few minutes later with no problems. I can drive it to work and it'll start just fine after work also.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

John Sterling
'98 XLT Stock

 

[TPLYNCH]

Follow the advice in this thread. Dead Link Removed

It may be your fuel pump.

 

[JSterling]

Thanks

Thanks ... I'll look into that.

JSterling

 

[wewalker3]

Sounds similiar to the problem I had with my '97 4.0L SOHC. Problem starting cold but ran well once warmed up. The problem turned out to be the intake manifold gaskets -- both upper and lower. Both failed and caused vacuum leaks. It runs fine once they were replaced.

I just got off the phone with Ford as I am trying to get them to foot the bill fot this job. Apparently a lot of them are failing. It took 2 1/2 months for my dealer to get the gaskets. I was told that Ford redesigned them. Add to that that me dealer had about 10 Explorers ahead of me also waiting on parts.

If anyone out there has more information about this that I could use as ammo to get Ford to chip in, I'd appreciate it.

 

[JSterling]

Not starting once again !!!

Hello all ...

This has been an on going problem for my '98 XLT. Getting quite frustrating !!

My first post on this was in May 1999. When my X wouldn't start back then, it turned out to be the Crankshaft Position Sensor. After getting it fixed, it ran fine until the next summer.

Summers of 2000 and 2001 - my X had sporadic starting problems. Usually if I had problems, it was in the morning. After letting it sit for a while, it would start up and not have any more problems that day and for a while ... until - boom - it wouldn't start some morning. Once the temps went down (fall/winter/spring), it would start just fine. So, I figured it was a sticky fuel check valve.

Now, it is the summer of 2002. In July, it started the whole "won't start" thing. And yes, it was in the morning. Had it towed to the shop. $600 later, I had a new fuel pump AND the truck worked great --- DA DAH DUMMM --- until this weekend (8/24/2002).

It's the same M.O ... cranks and cranks - but won't turn over. Sometimes it would turn over by pushing down on the gas a couple of times (out of frustration really) ... but it isn't doing that now.

In early August, it started back up when I let the gas level get down low where the 'check gauge' light came on. Usually meant I have a couple of gallons left. My X wouldn't start right after the light came on. I went and got some gas .. put it in .. a few cranks and it started.

When I had it in the shop when I got the fuel pump replaced, they also did the following: 75k checkup, changed fuel filter, and changed negative battery cable.

From some posts I read, I picked up a fuel pump relay on the way home from Autozone. No luck.

So, anyone have any words of wisdom? I was hoping to diagnose and solve this reoccuring problem myself. Plan to try to start it up by putting some fluid into the injectors ... to at least determine if it's a fuel or spark problem.

Any help, guidance, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

John Sterling
'98 XLT

 

[aldive]

A year ago I too had major starting difficulties. It turned out to be an O2 sensor, go figuer.

Take a look at the thread about it at Dead Link Removed

Hope it helps somehow,

 

[PUR PONY]

I have also had problems startin gmy truck over the past 2 years.... it always happens when its cold..... i go and crank it over and just when it starts i let go of the key and it will stall... then it wont start til 3 days later. You can sit there and crank it over til the battery is died.

I do however dont remember this happening til I installed my MSD DIS-4 box... which just died on me and i had to return it.....

I have no clues what it is.... this has happened about 3 times in the last 2 years.... it always seems to be when i play with something on the engine. last time all i did was remove the supercahrged just to clean it, bolted it back on and it wont start- its like what the hell.... i didnt play with anything else but some bolts!!!!!!