Starting Problem

[TownCarTechi]

Hello,

My sons have a 98 Explorer Sport that had a starting problem over the weekend. The engine would crank but not ignite. They drove home from school on Friday around 6pm, and 1/2 hour later it would not start. The temperature was cold last week and stayed there over the weekend and finally warmed up into the 50's yesterday.

I suspected a fuel delivery problem. I checked the fuel pump fuse and it was intact. I checked the fuel pump relay for voltage and it was correct. I listened for the fuel pump to energize with the fuel cap off and it did. I tried to start it last night with still no luck. I then thought maybe moisture might be a concern, so I bought some fuel antifreeze. After letting the car set overnight, I tried again this morning and it started right up.

I'm going to drive it for a few days to make sure it remains dependable, but I have a few questions.

1st, does it seem reasonable that moisture may have been the primary concern? Should I be looking for anything else?

2nd, our driveway has a 10 degree angle. Does it a difference whether the car is parked up or down? I think down might be better.

Thanks for your help.

 

[team]

is the check engine light on? I wouldn't think it would be the fuel pump if it sat overnight and started fine. May be the relay starting to go bad, it would be a cheap try also.
next time it does it take off a plug wire and clip a jumper wire from the boot to a ground and see if you are getting fire.

 

[TownCarTechi]

Hi team, the check engine light never came on. I only reason I left it set overnight was to give the fuel antifreeze sufficient time to gather up any loose water molecules that may have been lying around. I will pull a spark plug if it does happen again.

 

[budwich]

Please clarify "the check engine light never came on".... I don't believe this is "accurate" especially if you were successful at starting it that once.... When it DOESN'T START, then with the key just switched to the "ON / RUN" position, the check engine light should light and STAY ON for as long as the key in ON.... IF this is not happening, you most likely have a PCM relay issue.

 

[TownCarTechi]

Hi budwich, I just went out at lunchtime to confirm. The check engine light does come on when the key is turned to the run position, it stayed on until I started the car and went off when the car started. Hopefully, I'll have the same success when I leave tonight. I didn't see anyone respond to my parking question. Where is the fuel pump located on the gas tank? Front, back or middle?

 

[team]

it is in the gas tank, drop the tank, remove the retaining ring on top and pull it out.

 

[budwich]

I wouldn't quite get that "energetic"... I would keep the tank reasonable full (especially at the current gas prices... ) and wait for the condition to reappear and take more observations OR force the issue and try replicate the problem by having less full in the tank and parking on your "steep" driveway.... then observe. IN ALL CASE, the check engine light is the "starting observation" ... without that coming on at key on, you are heading in the wrong direction by focusing on fuel issue.... so you need to be certain that it does indeed come on ... as opposed to your earlier statement.

 

[team]

I wouldn't quite get that "energetic"... I would keep the tank reasonable full (especially at the current gas prices... ) and wait for the condition to reappear and take more observations OR force the issue and try replicate the problem by having less full in the tank and parking on your "steep" driveway.... then observe. IN ALL CASE, the check engine light is the "starting observation" ... without that coming on at key on, you are heading in the wrong direction by focusing on fuel issue.... so you need to be certain that it does indeed come on ... as opposed to your earlier statement.

he said above that it comes on at key on

 

[budwich]

Yes he said that.... but that is when it is in its current "good starting" condition NOT when it failed to start.

 

[outdoorman99]

hey did you find the fix to this problem? i am having the same intermittant problem. sounds like its common, so there has to be a fix out there.

 

[TownCarTechi]

Hi outdoorman99, welcome to the site. So far the only fix I've done is to add the fuel line antifreeze (methanol) to the gas tank. I'll filled the tank once since then. Neither I nor my sons have had a repeat with the starting issue.

 

[TownCarTechi]

Hi guys, a year later we still have this problem intermittently. The last time it occurred was two days ago. The "CEL" does come on. The engine cranked but did not start in either "P" or "N". I tried the fuel line antifreeze trick again but no luck.

Today I checked the fuel cutoff switch and it was not tripped. I checked fuse "9" and it was good. I checked the horn relay for operation (the horn worked) and then swapped it with the fuel pump relay. The horn worked with the other relay and the engine still would not start. During all the times I tried to start the car, I also pushed the gas pedal to WOT with no luck.

I finally removed the negative battery cable for 15 minutes and then reinstalled. I tried to start the car and when I pushed the gas pedal to WOT, the engine started. I ran the engine for about 2 minutes, turned it off and restarted it again. I then drove the car for about another 5 minutes around the block and parked it at the house. After turning it off for another 30 seconds, I restarted it again with no problems.

All the time during this past year that the engine has started succesfully, the CEL always came on, just like it has today when the engine started.

I suspect that the fuel filter could be a problem. Does this make sense or do I need to look further?

 

[budwich]

the cel must come on.... and then go off a "short time there after" during the crank process. Your description isn't very clear but IF it is staying on solid for a long time during your crank, and doesn't go off, you have timing issues. Please try and describe the exact observations during an unsuccessful start sequence.

 

[TownCarTechi]

Hi budwich, the CEL did come on and then go off under both the no start condition and the normal start condition.

 

[budwich]

Well... I don't think unplugging your battery and then reconnecting your battery has any impact on your fuel filter so I am not sure of that thought (ie. replacing the fuel filter).

However, it would appear that you have a "work around". You might want to test the "work around" again IF you come across the same condition. The work around appears to indicate an electrical "fault" is the source of your problem.... stuck relay, "stuck" sensor, "stuck" controller (ie PCM).

 

[bryanhbre]

i'm having a similar problem with my 01 mountaineer. changed the plugs, didn't seem to help. runs fine when it does start, drove it 400 miles last weekend as a matter of fact. seems to do it more often when it's cold or damp. really annoying.

 

[2000StreetRod]

TSB for incline

There was a TSB issued for similar circumstances:

TSB data for: 1998 FORD EXPLORER
Bulletin Number: 12710
Sequence Number: 6091686
Date: 19990501
Component Name: 071100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Make: FORD
Model: EXPLORER
Year: 1998
Summary:
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE VEHICLE IN A NOISE DOWN POSITION AND LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL.