Hi.

If my '97 XLT (4.0 OHV) sits for a day or two it has trouble starting. It cranks fine but does not seem to be getting fuel. I can hear the fuel pump pressuring up the system when I first turn on the key. If I keep cranking the engine sooner or later it will start. When it does start it runs a little bit rough for a few seconds then runs fine. It seems to have more trouble when parked slightly uphill than when parked slightly downhill.

I'm suspecting that perhaps there is a check valve somewhere and the fuel is slowly draining back into the gas tank. I cannot find any check valve in any diagrams (I have the Ford service manual on CD). Is it built into the fuel pump?

Any ideas what else would cause this? Thanks.

 

1. Connect a fuel pressure guage to the fuel rail, watch it pressurize when you turn key on, 30-35psi
2. if low pressure before startup, possible bad FPR or fuel pump
3. monitor pressure, if it drops on startup, possible bad FPR or partialy plugged fuel filter.
4. check vacuum line on FPR, if wet with fuel replace

 

Thanks for the reply. What's a fuel rail? I found mention of it in my Hayne's for earlier Explorers but no description or picture of it

The fuel filter is new and there is no gas in the vacuum line on the fuel regulator. Now to try to find a fuel pressure gauge that fits onto I-don't-quite-know-what...

 

The fuel rail runs from the FPR to the front of the engine, looks like a 1/2inch tube, you will find a schrader valve(looks like a tire valve) halfway and this is where you will check the pressure.

 

Thanks aquanaut. I went to Pep Boys and got a newer Hayne's manual but haven't had a chance to look at it yet. I talked to 3 employees and none knew anything about fuel pump pressure testing gauges. I found two gauges that said they were only for carburated engines. Where do I get a test gauge for this purpose and is this something that auto parts stores usually rent or loan?

 

there are quite a few listed on the net, but look here
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/I...D:100000185912

 

OK, thanks.