Hi, new here. Hope someone can help me out.

My 2002 Explorer XLT just spent 7 days in the Dealership to diagnose intermittent failure to start.

It happened to me in the past, in 2004, and a different Ford Dealership replaced the fuel pump. He told me that if I would have waited a bit more, it would have started eventually, but they replaced the fuel pump anyway.

So, last year, it happend again, and wouldn't start for 3 days. My garage mechanic comes over and boom, it started for him, I'm sure he thinks i'm a bit loopy!

Happened again 2x in the summer, but within an hour, it starts.

Last episode was November 9th. I was in a parking garage in downtown Chicago, with my 12 yr old daughter. The parking garage attendant tested the batterty, said it had charge but was low. tried to jump me. Didn't work. Another person, with a tow truck and all, came also, he tried jumping me, didn't work.

So now, there I was, stranded, I need a flatbed to get me out, but, a flatbed will shear off the top of my truck once they get the truck up on the flatbed.

So, i was quoted $275.00 by a dude who would push me out, which I told him wouldnt work either, because my vehicles tires lock when towed on a regular tow, so putting it in neutral and pushing it would yield the same results. He insists pushing me out will work, what do I know, I"m just a dumb broad right?? I KNOW it won't work. I witnessed my truck 2x being towed on a regular tow, in neutral, and the tires lock. Nobody is going to drag my truck around with locked tires.

Anyway, long story a little shorter, it started after about 2 1/2 hours, and I took off. IT has started 50 times since, but I cannot take the chance of being stuck like that again, not with winter coming.

It will crank, but not turn over.

so, 125 bucks later, the dealer said I need a starter and a battery, Loose starter relay and terminal is corroded. Also, new battery and fuel filter.

600 plus tax.

Being a single mom, and times are tough, I just can't do that. My mechanic said he can, and I told him I'd get the parts.

Dilemma is this:

EFI = Electronic Fuel Injection
MFI = Multiport Fuel Injection
SFI = Sequential Fuel Injection

how the hell do i know what type of FI I have?????

Its a 2002 Explorer 4.0 XLT. That's all I know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

it is a EFI 4.0 sohc is it a flex fuel or not if it is you will have flex fuel on the truck someplace

 

When it doesn't start does the starter turn the engine over it just doesn't fire, or does the starter not even turn the engine over?

-Rod

 

Cranks and sounds like it wants to start, but never quite turns over. Doesn't start and sputter out or anything like that, just cranks. In other words, the VROOOOM never happens!

 

yea i would say that the starter is wore out replace it and solenoid

 

Forgive me, like I said earlier....dumb broad here. What is a solenoid?

 

Since the starter turns the engine over, the solenoid is not the issue. You either have a compression, air/fuel ratio issue, or spark issue. Chances are pretty good compression isn't the cause, next thing you need to determine is if you are missing spark or fuel. If you have spark but no fuel pressure, it could be that the inertia fuel cutoff is open or you may have a failed fuel pump. If the pressure is low, then it could be a restriction in the line (fuel filter) or weak fuel pump. If you have proper fuel but no spark, it's pretty common for the crankshaft position sensor (CKP) to fail.

-Rod

 

but a weak starter will drag not turning the engine over cant be inertia fuel cutoff because she said nothing about having to reset it and she said she needed a new fuel filter and a crankshaft position sensor could have a short in the harness or just could be going out slowly i have heard of this but never seen one but out of the hunderds i have put on they all have just went out all at once

 

If you used punctuation I might have an easier time understanding what you're saying regarding the starter. I'll agree that it's unlikely the inertia switch is the issue since it has started since her first issues. However, a weak, dragging starter would not explain what she explains in post #4.

Still, she needs to determine what is missing, fuel or spark. I think compression can be ruled out.

-Rod

 

ok she saying that it cranks but never quite turns over and that it just cranks like she said in post #4 so thats telling me that the bendix in the starter is not engaging and the compression thing and your inertia switch idea is just blowing smoke up a fat hogs *** and by the way what the hell is this English class i can tell you where to stick your punctuation but i am going to be nice and leave this in professer shorods hands best of luck with the truck daniboo

 

Wow, I guess some people struggle to read in to the information being SHARED. Labc26, with your comment, "but a weak starter will drag not turning the engine over cant be inertia fuel cutoff" I'm not sure if you intend for a period after "drag" or if you meant for it after "over" as that will change the two sentences. Since in post #4 she said it sounds like it wants to start, but "the VROOOOM never happens" that to me sounds like more than a click because of a solenoid or a "whirrr" if the Bendix doesn't engage. If you interpret this to be different, by all means share. These forums are a tool for people to share information and ideas, more than one person can be correct (hence my prior comment that the inertia switch is not a likely problem after you pointed that out).

To provide accurate suggestions beyond this point, Daniboo, we're going to need to understand if you don't have spark or fuel. If there is an auto parts store nearby, often they have a tool rental program. They may have a fuel pressure gauge with the Ford adapter as well as an inline spark tester. The inline spark tester will be a bit tricky to use since your 2002 probably has Coil on Plug (CoP) ignition, but it is possible. If the parts store also has the extender for the spark tester, that will help.

-Rod

 

that 4.0 does not have coil on plug ignition. she said Cranks and sounds like it wants to start, BUT NEVER QUITE TURNS OVER. that tells me that the engine never turns over, but the starter motor runs.

 

There is a failure to communicate here...

First is a problem with terminology, the lady does not understand the intricacies of garage mechanics..

I believe what she describes is a crank, no start condition..

That would eliminate the battery and starter issue..

It eventually starts, that eliminates the inertia circuit.

She needs a real mechanic that can diagnose the difference between fuel and spark failure..

At time of failure, a Fuel Pressure Gauge Must be connected to verify proper pressure from pump and that the FPR is working.

Next the spark has to be confirmed as happening.

Without these 2 diagnostic tests we are just guessing.

 

Okay. I wasn't sure if the V6 uses CoP like the V8, where most of my vehicle-specific exposure lies.

I've seen several descriptions for won't start - doesn't crank, doesn't fire, doesn't start - so it's often a guessing game as to what the exact symptoms are for someone's verbal description. More often than not from another forum I've seen "doesn't crank" to be used in the same context as "doesn't fire." It's too bad a "common definitions/terminology" page wouldn't be of use. I tried a "common acronym" sticky on another forum and found, not surprisingly, that no one used it.

Daniboo, where are you!?! I hope we didn't scare you away.

-Rod

 

Rod, that is why it is incumbent on us to ask the proper questions before throwing out glib comments and inaccurate information...

I believe that not performing the basic diagnostics, cost $$$$, time and increases the aggravation level..... Philip

EDIT: Has anyone recovered any codes?? Pending maybe, and or FF info.