Hello everyone,

New member to this site.........looks to me like a good one with lots of knowledgeable people. With that having been said I will start with my problem(s). I recently cleaned the MAF sensor and the next day my truck would not start cold. Turning the ignition key and cranking for short bursts finally got it going. After it has been running it and shut down it will start fine. Now I use just a small amount of starting fluid and it starts easier. The check engine light is on but the code is PO117 (the other problem). I just replaced the ECT sensor but did not fix that problem. Any suggestions about either of these matters would be appreciated. Thanks again and look forward to learning from this site.

roadwarrior

 

Have you changed the fuel filter.
Put isopropyl alcohol in the gas if you do not have ethanol in your gas.

How cold?

 

Thanks for the reply. Have not but will replace the filter. As far as "cold" I mean first thing in the moning, not temp......we are usually in the 40's.

 

Hey there! Let's get some more information from you, to try and help you solve your problem. If your truck has a P0117 code it is a 1996-1997 Mass Air engine, I am guessing. How about some more info, mileage, any after market stuff added on, all emission controls in place?? And why did you clean you Mass Air sensor? You must be having a specific peoblem. Can you clear the DTC(diagnostic trouble code)?? If you replaced the ECT, the code will remain until it's cleared, at least that's how my 1996 7.5 works. Let us know, and good luck! Dale

 

Hi Dale,

Thank you for your reply. I will add some more info here and hopefully that will help some. By cold start, it is not temp, just first thing in the morning. The reason I cleaned the MAF sensor was I had this problem before and cleaning the sensor seemed to fix the problem. Not so this time. I am able to clear the error code and the truck idles and runs fine, just won't start cold (above). So I give a quick shot of either and away it goes. No extra equipment or high performance stuff, pretty much a stock 460. I can't figure out what that code means exactly. Someone awhile back thought I might have a vacuum leak so I but a plenum gasket but haven't tackled that one YET! The hard starting has been going on for sometime now, one day started fine, the next morning..........hard starting..... Any further help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Greg

 

If you do a search on that DTC P0117, for a Ford vehicle, it will say something like the sensor sensed less than a particular value of voltage, it seemed to me on first thought that maybe the ETC connection was loose. How does the truck start when it is warmed up? Any other symptoms?

 

Starts great when it is warm. It sometimes has a high idle after the check engine light comes on again. When I erase the code, the check engine light is off, it still is hard to start cold, first thing, but then it runs like a new truck. Quite frustrating. No other issues. The plug for the ECT looks good but will check again.

Thanks.