I have a 2005 Escape (3.0) 4WD. It has 121,000 miles on it. Every once in a while, so far only when the engine is warm, it doesn't want to start on the first try. It seems to fire and then not catch. On about the third try it starts and runs like nothing is wrong. It starts normally when the engine is cold. The check engine light is not on. Where I live, there is no such thing as fee code readings. Most places here charge for one hour ($50.00) to read the codes, weather they find anything or not. Anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be? Thanks.

 

could be a lot of thingd........bring the maintance up to par, ie. change airfilter, fule filter, clean, MAF, TB IACV

 

I ran into the same problem with my 01. I did change out the Throttle Position Sensor, for the most part the problems gone. Like others have said could be many different problems. Try this the next time it happens. Just barely put your foot on the gas petal, like maybe 1/4 inch, just enough that you have slightly moved the throttle. See if it doesn't start up right away the next attempt. That's what lead me to the Throttle Position Sensor. I'm still not positive that was the problem, but I think I've only had it not start up once in the last 3 weeks since I've replaced the sensor. At 145,000 miles I figured it wouldn't hurt to replace the sensor anyway.

Interesting though the first sensor they sold me was the wrong one, and boy did my Escape run really strange, and shifted gears really weird, even though the part on the outside looked like the right part, it was in the wrong box.

 

I'll try it. I also found that if I dont let go of the key as soon as it fires, it will crank at few more times and start. I am also going to clean the IAC. Thanks.

 

Dan,
One of the side benefits of changing the TPS is, it seems like the Escape accelerates so much smoother than before. Maybe it's like a placebo effect of replacing a part. But I compare how my Escape runs to my Ford Fusion, and since I replace the Throttle Position Sensor, everything feels so much smoother. I got mine at O'Reilly for $25 bucks, and once I got the right part, like I said I think only once since I replaced it on November 21, has it not started on the first try. Don't want you to go waste any hard earned money on a part that may or may not be the problem, just a side note.

Oh and it's one of those super easy, 5 minutes to replace parts, got to love that!

Take Care!

Scott