I recently took a roundtrip roadtrip to California from New Mexico and back. Bronco (1988, 302 EFI, AOD) ran great and climbed hills great...kept up with rush hour traffic great. I love this truck.

Problem is...I would stop after driving for about a full tank of gas (approx. 400 miles)...so by this point the engine is nice an hot and running great. Well...after pumping gas, I goto start my engine and it turns over really, really slowly...if at all. So I tried the KOEO method of priming my fuel pump...didn't work - it still turned over slowly and struggled to fire. Truck runs like a dream when it is running though...even through ~120F Baja California. I didn't have to let it cool off to start it, I would just shuffle the gas pedal to get it going...but all that did was help it turn over...I have a hunch it may be the starter because the starter fires...that means the related relays and solenoids are working.

First I thought my battery terminals may have been disconnected by some unforseen force after driving 400 miles..but they were okay, and I just bought a new battery before the trip...I know that isn't faulty. I pulled the codes and got 33. Which in my experience should have nothing to do with hard to start when warm.

Is there a logical way to troubleshoot this down to one or two things? I don't have deep pockets and I would like to get this fixed before I make this drive again. I have been getting mixed opinons...from my starter to my battery cables...to my fuel pump...to my timing...to my CTS...to my EGR valve (I doubt this one). I was hoping some Ford experience may pay off here. Thanks!

 

I had the same problem, the only way I could get my truck started was to push the gas pedal down which chocked it and it would start. It was my CTS, it was acking like it was cold and spraying wayyyyyyyyy to much gas and flooding it.

Way to check; when it happenes again, pop the hood and smell the right by the TB, see if you smell pure gas, also do that by the tail pipe.

Adam

 

It could be vapor lock, in those high temperatures.

 

that sounds like a hot starter problem. when the starter gets hot it takes more energy to make it turn the engine.how old is the starter? maybe its time for a new one

 

I have a problem sort of like this, i will drive my Bronco into town (about 15 miles) and turn it off then try to turn it back on like 5 minuets later and it wont turn over, or it wont even turn...i got out and taped on the diode by the battery and she usually fires right up....we have replaced it several time and it doesnt help. We also have replaced the starter, alternator, battery, and all the cables.

 

I just re-read your initial post and saw that it was turning over slowly when hot. It's not vapor lock, then.

It's one of two things, most likely. One easy, and one not so easy. The easy one is the starter. It's not uncommon for this to happen. It is pretty common on some GM products that have the starter too close to the exhaust, but it can happen to any starter. I would replace your starter, that will probably fix the problem.

The second thing is that it needs a valve job. It turns over fine when cold, but sluggishly when warm, that is an indicator of worn heads (and possibly the entire engine). But this is less common than the starter problem. Do the starter first, it's a 15 minute job that you can do in the parking lot of the auto parts store (that's where I did mine, so I wouldn't have to come back later for my core deposit).

 

hey j bronco i dont see how a worn engine would have any effect on engine cranking speed. could you explain your theory behind these statements. i still say it is an over heated starter. it is true it is more common on gm products but it can happen to any vehiclr

 

I agree, when starters get old, heat really affects them. Heat is a starters enemy.

 

odd like i say i have same problem but sometimes after driving it for a while i get home and turn it off then turn it right back on its fast turnover. Other times its really really slow, sounds like something is grinding too. Could my problem be the starter? we JUST replaced it

 

I am not sure specifically why, but it happens. It happened to me. I had a car with a worn engine that started fine in the morning when cold and ran, but after it warmed up it cranked real hard and usually wouldn't start at all.

At any rate, I agree that it is probably his starter. A quick and cheap swap to find out.

 

Thanks for all your replies...I replaced the battery cables and fixed a ground wire - now it starts up like a dream hot or cold! Thanks!