I have an 01 Ex. Eddie Baur. The vehicle is only used a few times a month so it sits a lot. A few weeks ago I went to drive it and I had to keep turning it over and over and finally it started up. It was rough for a few seconds and then cleared and it drives perfect. A few days ago my wife and kids got stranded at the mall. The engine was turning over but it would not fire. I drove down to the mall and when I got there, of coarse it fired right up. Yesterday I used the car all day with no issues. Today we left to go get a Christmas tree and it fired right up in the driveway of our houe but I stopped and got gas and the car would not fire again. I ended up pushing it to an open parking stall and after about 5 minutes of turning the ignition off and on and cranking it fired right up again and we went home. Could this be my transponder key acting up? Or some switch that is not working right? The Tranyy was redone about a year ago, all new plugs and coil packs. I'm at a loss. One last thing, I can tell when its not goin to start because it will begin to fire and then the car will die almost like its flooded. After that initial fail the car has problems starting again. I am at a loss, is there a way to test the key? It's the only one I have. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you -Jason

 

Off the top of my head I would suspect the fuel pump (unless you know of some reason why you are thinking the transponder). Get a fuel pressure gauge and see what it reads when it acts up.

 

Yep, key or fuel pump.

 

I was thinking the fuel pump also but why does it run s well once it is started. I would think if it was the fuel pump then the car would not run at all??

 

The fuel pump has a check valve to keep the fuel from flowing back into the tank and draining the fuel line when it's off. If this check valve leaks and the fuel line drains, it takes time to re-prime the fuel line and get fuel past the air to the engine. That's why you can have trouble starting it, but not have trouble once it is running.

 

AWWWWWW. That makes sense. I will be having the fuel pump checked out this week. Thanks for your help. I'll post back what the mechanic finds. Thanks again

 

I would think if it was the fuel pump then the car would not run at all

 

Okay so I just got it back from the mechanic. He said he couldn't find any problems. Said the air filter was clogged dirty. I had him clean it (k&N) and also had him changed the fuel filter. There were no stored codes and his testing of the fuel pump checked out. I mentioned that the maybe the check valve was going out in the pump he seemed to think if that was the problem he would be able to replicate it which he could not. Also mentioned that I recently had the tranny rebuilt. I've read that if the torque converter isn't reinstalled properly, it will cause startup problems. He didn't seem to think that was it either. He was definately leaning toward the air filter. I guess I'll wait to see if it happens again. He has a fairly good reputaion in this area.

 

I am having a simular issue with my 03 expedition. starts fine and runs great. but at some point could be less than a minute or several minutes later it shuts down? will immedietly restart, if you cycle the key. if not it just cranks. fuel filter is new and pressure is holding steady at about 56. wondering if this might be a key/transponder issue?

 

The 2003 Expy has the PATS type "E" control function. It has a starter interupt capability so if your transponder was not working you wouldn't be able to crank it.

 

UPDATE:

Went to startup this morning and wham! Cranked but no start. I have figured out that if I cycle the ignition "off to crank" over and over rapidly at some point it will fire up. I'm wondering if this is the check valve in the fuel pump acting up as mentioned above. So for the record, the new air filter and fuel filter have not solved this. Is there a way to troubleshoot the fuel pump better? Should there be full pressure in the fuel rail with the vehicle turned off? I'm wondering of the mechanic checked that? Bet not. I'm still also wondering if it could be the key but I do not want to spend $90 buying a new key if its not the problem.

 

Im new to the expeditions, but it sounds like it could be a fuel pump relay. It will fire the pump sometimes, but not all the time. I am not sure if you can hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds, if you have the door open and listening to it, but on most rigs you can. Most rigs, when you turn the key on, it will start the fuel pump. If you do not start the engine, it will turn off the pump after a set amount of time or will turn off after it reaches a set PSI.

If the fuel pump is audible on Expeditions do this: Turn the key on and listen for the pump. If no sound, try starting it. It probably will not start. Now turn it off and turn the key back on. Do this till you hear the fuel pump run. As soon as you hear it run, turn the key all the way and try to start it. If it starts, you know you have a fuel pump problem. Either in the pump, or something that sends power to the pump, a relay for example.

I would run out and see if the fuel pump is audible on ours, but I have not giving the rig to my wife yet (Christmas Present).

 

When this first started I was listening for the pump while my buddy cycled the iginition on and off. I could definately hear the pump turning on every time. I was thinking the same thing I will try again tomorrow and see If I can verify that I don't hear the pump turn on when it's having the no start issue.

 

Yes, pretty much. The pressure will go down some over time, but for the off times you've mentioned, there shouldn't be a noticeable loss of pressure.

 

Just wanted to post another update. I messured the fuel pressure with engine off today and it was 0 psi. Engine running = 30 PSI. I went ahead and got a new pump $180 and swapped it out. So far everything appears back to normal. I have not been able to replicate the issue with the new pump, I'm going to assume this problem is fixed. The car starts up like brand new. Thanks for the help guys!


PS Next time you change out a pump, make you remember to put the new gasket on the tank where the fuel pump seats to the tank. Then you won't have to do the whole thing twice.