Strange issue with 98 Explorer when trying to start

[King$nake]

So last week I overheated my truck because of a leaking radiator. I pulled off immediately. The truck couldn't have been overheating for more than 20-30 seconds before I got off the freeway and shut it off. At the time, I was able to put water in it and limp it home before it overheated again.

Fast forward to today. I get my new Radiator installed with my Dad. When I go to start the truck after the install, my truck just turns and turns over. It's cranking, but not starting. After a few tries, it starts right up and runs normal. I was able to drive it around the block, etc. without any problems. I parked it, turned it off and then restarted it, started just fine.

Then I let the truck sit for a few minutes, then try to start it again. Same issue as before - it turns over but wont start. I ended up killing my battery from trying to start it so many times. I recharge the battery, it starts again. I let it idle for a few minutes, turn it off and walk away. About 15 minutes later I try to start it again, just turns over but doesn't start (I can hear the starter working its ass off trying to get it going, lol). I haven't been able to start it since. I've given up for now because I don't want to kill the battery again.

Please help,

Joe

 

[rileyrs]

is there fuel pressure?
can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn on the battery?

 

[King$nake]

is there fuel pressure?
can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn on the battery?

Ya I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the key. I was thinking that if fuel pressure was an issue that it wouldn't start at all?

 

[rileyrs]

not really, in my 93, it used to be that, sometimes the pump would prime, and sometimes wouldnt.
when it wouldnt, it wouldnt start.
when it would prime, it would fire right up.

 

[King$nake]

not really, in my 93, it used to be that, sometimes the pump would prime, and sometimes wouldnt.
when it wouldnt, it wouldnt start.
when it would prime, it would fire right up.

hmm, interesting. How difficult is the fuel pump to replace? Also is it just coincidence that this started happning after I overheated my truck?

 

[rileyrs]

well it turned out it wasnt a problem with the fuel pump.
it was actually a battery problem, after cleaning the terminals it worked for a few weeks. and then i had to replace the battery, and that fixed the problem completely....
but if your pump primes every time, then this probably isnt your issue.

 

[King$nake]

EDIT: My Fuel Pump is not coming on every time I turn the key. When I do hear the Fuel Pump (took me around 15x key turns to hear it come on) then the truck starts. Every time I hear the pump work, the truck will start right after. But for some reason the pump isn't working every time I turn the key? wtf

 

[corkey]

could be the relay, they go bad sometimes,
when they go bad they work when they want to ,

 

[rileyrs]

ah, so this does sound a bit like my problem in my 93.... anyway, ya if the battery is giving it enough power, id go for the relay first, since its cheap and easy.
see what happens after that.