Warm Explorer Will Not Crank

[Dub-C Explorer]

Hi. I have a 2002 XLT with about 72K miles on it... Lately, and with recurring instances since the weather has been 90+, my Explorer has refused to start - won't fire, won't even try to turn - when the car is warm. I have to let the car sit for 30-60mins (depending on the temperature) to get it to crank.

Thought it was a PATS (theft) issue.... changed the halo-key-recognizer thingy with no results. Complete diagnostics on the car give it a clean bill of health.

Could this be a (sticking) thermostat problem? Or, could the starter be bad? Will a hot starter not work? (Do the coils get to hot)?

This is Mom's taxi, and she's had about enough of this... mechanic does not know answer either (of course, it's not happening when HE has it....)

Any ideas?????

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Check the condition of the small wire going to the starter solenoid. Ford issued a TSB about this, and there was a weak terminal on the small side that would fatigue and sometimes break off completely. Easy fix, just solder or crimp on a new connector and you're done.

 

[Pensa]

I had the problem with my X that it didn't want to start after it got warmed up. The problem turned out to be with the battery, it was breaking down when hot. I had never seen a battery do that in all my years of driving.

I don't know if that might be your problem but it might be worth checking as one possibility.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

I had the problem with my X that it didn't want to start after it got warmed up. The problem turned out to be with the battery, it was breaking down when hot. I had never seen a battery do that in all my years of driving.

I don't know if that might be your problem but it might be worth checking as one possibility.

We see that at the dealership quite often, and I didn't believe it at first either. Thing is, when a battery pukes due to extreme heat, usually it's dead forever. They don't come back to life once they cool off.

Two times a year we have a run on battery failures...The coldest days of winter, and the hottest days of summer.

 

[Pensa]

I'm from Indiana originally and worked in auto parts at one time. Cold weather was our busy time with battery's, not so much hot weather.

 

[shadowless127]

when u put the key in the RUN position, do all the power amenities work? if so, then i dont think the battery would be the issue because it would at least try n crank.

 

[Dub-C Explorer]

Actually, everything does work....

When I turn the key, everything does work on the dashboard, though what is wierd is that all dial controls - speed, gas, tach, etc - goup to the MAXIMUM on the dial before settling in at the "real" levels.

I would think if the battery was the problem nothing on the car would work, but everything else does - even the radio, lights - but no crank at all.

I'm starting to think it is a wiring problem.

The sad thing is, as someone who has always tried to support and buy , I've had nothing but problems with this car and my last Oldsmobile, Saturn, Pontiac, Ford Escort.....

The wife is looking at Hondas today. I've promised her, after years of defending "our" cars, that our next will be Jap. Sad.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

So when the Jap car turns out to be a piece of junk too, and costs three times as much to repair, you'll be kicking yourself even more.

Your no crank problem could be as simple as what I mentioned earlier, or it could just be a bad starter. Both of which are relatively inexpensive and easy to fix.