Strange starting issue.

[Darrman]

I have been noticing lately that I am having a little issue starting.
Sometimes when I cold start the truck, it will crank for a couple seconds before starting, however when it does start it runs great. Its only on cold starts, and does not do it everytime.
I had a issue a couple weeks with the TPS, I cracked it changing out TB's, so I got a new one. I checked for codes before, came up with a 125, which was the Tps voltage, and checked again after installing the new one, now its perfect, no codes at all.
I am thinking its the IAC, I clean it often, but it may be on its way out. However with no codes, how can I be sure?
Thanks for any help!

 

[marragtop]

Next time, turn the key to the on positon and back off. Do this 2-3 times and then try and start it. This process makes sure that everthing is fully primed. See if that makes a difference.

 

[glfredrick]

Next time, turn the key to the on positon and back off. Do this 2-3 times and then try and start it. This process makes sure that everthing is fully primed. See if that makes a difference.

I was going to suggest the same thing. After time, the injectors start leaking into the cylinders during down time, which does two things (1) tends to wet the plugs making for hard starts (2) needs to build up fuel system pressure in order to properly fire injectors.

 

[Darrman]

I will check this out, I am going to be resealing the lower intake here soon due to a oil leak I found this weekend while changing the rear seal.
However do you know of a way to check the IAC to see if its working right?
Thnx

 

[glfredrick]

I will check this out, I am going to be resealing the lower intake here soon due to a oil leak I found this weekend while changing the rear seal.
However do you know of a way to check the IAC to see if its working right?
Thnx

There really isn't a check for the IAC except to pull it off the manifold and clean it with choke cleaner spray. It is a simple valve and spring arrangement that often gets carboned up and rarely ever actually breaks. Most guys just clean them once in a while.

 

[Darrman]

I clean it and the tb and the Maf every 2K miles, sounds crazy but they are city miles, so it does get dirty. I hope its not the injectors, as the truck still only has 104K miles on it.
I may also need check my plug wires, they are about 3-4 years old, the plugs are about 6 months old, Bosch +4's.

 

[glfredrick]

I clean it and the tb and the Maf every 2K miles, sounds crazy but they are city miles, so it does get dirty. I hope its not the injectors, as the truck still only has 104K miles on it.
I may also need check my plug wires, they are about 3-4 years old, the plugs are about 6 months old, Bosch +4's.

I'd dump the Bosch plugs. While they are great in some of the imports, they don't run well at all, long-term in the Ford Explorer due to the way the coils fire. One side of the coil fires through the center post of the plug, the other side fires through the ground (simply stated). This is called the lost spark system. The best plug overall for the Fords are the factory Motocraft double platinum. They'll give the best performance for the longest time.