Please Help - 04 V8 Explorer Won't Start

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Mar 19, 2018 | 10:52 AM

enigma9o7

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Please Help - 04 V8 Explorer Won't Start

I've tried everything I can think of and would really appreciate some advice. 2004 Eddie Bauer 4WD 4.6 V8, around 130k miles and has been maintained per schedule and normally a very reliable vehicle, this is my first breakdown in 4 years of ownership.

It has fuel pressure (280kPa key on / engine off per forscan), no DTCs (besides readiness), has spark and I replaced all the plugs while checking compression just in case (although only a few years old), and am keeping battery fully charged. Compression 180 118 120 112 112 130 165 101 (sequentially).

It turns over and almost starts, occasionally a little sputter, especially if I haven't tried starting in a while.

This all started just on a normal drive, stalled and wouldn't start again, towed home. Spent the past two weekends trying things to no avail and still stuck. Out of ideas. Please help.

Mar 19, 2018 | 12:49 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Welcome to the forum!

The one thing I don't see that you've checked is to make sure you have fuel injector pulse. If you have a noid light set, that can make the test pretty easy. Without a noid light set an oscilloscope would be next best. You might be able to confirm you have pulse using a fast DMM, but I'd be hesitant to really trust DMM results.

Does Forscan have the ability to monitor the Crankshaft Position Sensor and Camshaft Position Sensor values which cranking the engine? In the absence of those, can you monitor the engine RPM using Forscan? In your 2004 a dead Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor can cause stalling and/or a no-start condition. I think the CKP sensor is also what the PCM uses to determine engine speed, so if you don't get an engine speed reading over Forscan, the CKP sensor may be the issue.

-Rod

Mar 19, 2018 | 11:16 PM

enigma9o7

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Thanks, I really appreciate the reply. I don't have a noid light or scope, but I looked up noid light and see a $40 set online at harbor frieght so am prepared... although since plugs smelled like gas when I pulled them, I think injectors are working, but still worth checking.

Seems forscan software won't let me see the available sensors unless I'm connected to vehicle and I'm not gunna go out right now, but I expect all those things will be available to monitor, so I'll check out those things tomorrow at least. Thanks so much. I hope it's the CKP sensor!

Mar 21, 2018 | 06:41 PM

enigma9o7

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Unfortunately, forscan can't monitor crank or camshaft position sensors. But there are several places to read RPM; all three work. While cranking I get just over 300rpm and hit around 650 during the few second sputter that only happens after it's been sitting a while. Don't suppose you think it's worth just replacing either of those sensors as a test? I'm grasping for anything now...

I ordered the noid light online. My dad suggested spraying gas into the throttle body (kinda like using starting fluid). To either confirm t's not a fuel related problem and/or maybe get it running long enough to get a code out of the computer? That's the only other idea I have besides the noid light at this point....

Mar 21, 2018 | 07:16 PM

steve(ill)

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when you turn the key "ON, but not crank, can you hear the fuel pump run for 3 seconds ? Leave the key "ON" ... the THEIF light is on the dash for 3 seconds... it then goes out when computer recognizes the CHIP key.. light go out ?

Mar 21, 2018 | 07:26 PM

steve(ill)

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does your 2004 have a fuel pressure spud ( Schrader valve) on the fuel rail above one valve cover ? My older 2002 has one....... you can use a small Phillips screw driver and push the center pin to get a "squirt" out and prove you have fuel pressure.

Mar 22, 2018 | 12:56 PM

enigma9o7

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LED behaving normal, doesn't appear to be a key/PATS issue, checked that earlier. Will double check I can hear the fuel pump.

I'm pretty sure there is supposed to be a shrader valve on fuel rail cuz before I bought the forscan dongle (which I bought specifically to check fuel pressure for this problem, although of course useful elsewhere) I was trying to figure out what adapters needed to put a mechanical fuel pressure gauge. But I never actually looked for it, which I'll do and poke it in to be 100% sure. Fuel pressure (per forscan) does increase while cranking, from around 280kPa to like 360kPa iirc. Somewhere I read minimum fuel pressure for this year only is supposed to be 60psi which I'm not quite reaching, but 40psi before even starting just "seemed" ok to me but maybe it is a low fuel pressure issue... Other year 3rd gen' explorer's have lower minimum fuel pressure spec...