unknown problem

[crazyfoolreal]

Today I left school and my explorer started fine. After about 5 minutes of driving I parked and turned it off. When I tried to start it back up, it started then sputtered and turned off. This happened several times. Then it just stopped cranking all together. Me and a few others reset the fuel pump then tried jumping it a few times. Nothing happened so I returned a few hours later and put oil and coolant in because they were both low. I reset the fuel pump again and jumped it. After a while it started back up. Now it is making a weird noise like a ticking.

 

[live2_4x4]

I think in order to be more helpful we will need more info. ie does the ticking occur when it is at idle, on the gas, uphill, parked or moving. With this info you will undoubtedly recieve a lot of good advice. I'm no mechanic but with a little common sense(and I only have a little) and the advice of the great people on this board I have done all my own repairs since buying my ex.

 

[crazyfoolreal]

the ticking is all the time now it sounds like a belt most likely but I want to know possibly why didnt the car start because it did the smae thing yesterday only yesterday there was no ticking.

 

[live2_4x4]

A belt shouldn't make a ticking noise unless a piece is breaking off and hitting something on the way around. What you are hearing may be a lifter, caused by the low oil. As for the why it would not start, when you turned the key on could you hear the whine of the fuel pump turning on? if not you could have an intermittant problem with your fuel pump relay or the pump itself. If the fuel pump turned on and does so consistently you may have a problem with the fuel pressure regulator or injectors or it may be as simple as a clogged fuel filter. ( I am chasing an intermittant starting problem myself). The place to start is with a fuel pressure test. check the pressure at rest and running also you could try pulling computer codes to see if that will narrow the searck down any.
Good luck.