Won't start

[Maverick265]

THis is my project car so I dont drive it that often maybe once a month or so. Last weekend I was having issues with getting my 2000 Explorer started. I have been having problems with a short somewhere that drains my battery. I got stuck at a gas station and had friend jump we and I was on my way. Later that night it wouldn't start. We tried to jump it with no luck. I had it towed to my house later. So I charged the battery up and put it on today and to my surprize it started. It was ideling at 1500 RPM though. It ideled for a few minutes while I backed my other car out of the drive so I could move the Explorer out of the garage so we could get some plumming work done. Once I put it in gear it stalled out and wouldn't start again. I can smell gas when its trying to start. Any ideas? Its got about 113K miles on it and I was possibly thinking it was the fuel filter.

 

[Midwest Dually]

Have you checked to see if your alternator is working correctly?

 

[Sedition]

If you can smell unburned gas then I'd say that you may be having spark issues. Things to check would be plugs, wires and coils.

 

[Maverick265]

Yea its got 112k miles on it and doubt its ever had a tune up. I think that will be a good place to start. Thanks,

 

[Maverick265]

If you can smell unburned gas then I'd say that you may be having spark issues. Things to check would be plugs, wires and coils.

Wouldn't the check engine light come on though if it was a plug or wire? I started it today on the first try. Stuck it in reverse to pull it out of the garage got to where I just could close the garage door and it stalled out when I put it in park. I tried hooking up an OBII reader to it while it was started but the place that hooked the car alarm messed that all up.