2003 Expedition hard start when hot...
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
2003 Expedition hard start when hot...
What would you do?... The truck has 70k on it and recently it started having a hard start condition when hot. It will take 5-7 seconds of cranking until it starts. This only happens when hot. I just picked it up from the dealer and they say nothing wrong. No codes, good battery, good fuel pressure, good key. It still has the original plugs and cop's, so maybe it is time to change them out? Maybe one is getting weak after a heat soak? I would like to get a little more time out of the plugs and cop's, since we drive this truck only about 7500 miles per year. The extended warranty (7 year / 100k) is up at the end of next May (seven years). So, what should I do? The last thing I want is for it to not start for my wife and our two-year old at the worst time. I would rather be a bit more pro-active, then re-active. I did a search and all the items that may be wrong are fine. Any thoughts would be great.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,318
Likes: 5,128
From: 0,0,1
By my calculations 70K in 6 years is 11,666 miles a year, not 7,500.
Now let me ask you a question. Since the last thing you want is for it to not start for your wife and your two-year old at the worst time and you'd rather be a bit more pro-active, then re-active...then I ask you, why if you suspect the plugs as a possible culprit would you wait to change them?
Now let me ask you a question. Since the last thing you want is for it to not start for your wife and your two-year old at the worst time and you'd rather be a bit more pro-active, then re-active...then I ask you, why if you suspect the plugs as a possible culprit would you wait to change them?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
By my calculations 70K in 6 years is 11,666 miles a year, not 7,500.
Maybe he bought it with some miles already on it.
Maybe his family's driving habits have changed.
Maybe the space aliens rolled the odo forward one night.
I'd bet on coils and/or plugs. Fuel/air filters are easy to change but dealer should have checked/caught that (I'm an optomist). Did your dealer actually run diagnotics or report "dunno, it started for me"?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Thanks for the helpful replies...
I have owned the truck since new and our driving habits have changed. It has always been well maintained and taken care of. The truck averages around 13 mpg (lots of in-town driving) and gas is a bit expensive in southern california these days. Times are tough and we had to cut back, which means we are putting more miles on our Mariner. I am just trying to make a good educated guess as to what the problem is. The dealer kept the truck for a few days and could not replicate the problem, as usual. They said no codes after they put it on the machine. Replacing plugs and coils is a bit expensive and would rather not put the money out if others on this site pointed me in a different direction. I know that 70K is a good time to do the plugs and I might as well change the coils at the same time. I am not a big fan of throwing new parts in to try and solve an unknown problem. That is what the dealer does, not me. So, thanks for the help all the helpful comments.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
A 2 yr old, I can only imagine that your driving habits have changed.
With a warranty still intact it doesn't make much (any) sense to start doing stuff yourself. Maybe a different dealer? It's my impression that a dealer can do so much more than just looking for a code with their diagnostic computer. It would sure seem that a weak coil or high resistance in a plug could be detected. But then you report hard-start only when hot so the mech would have to get your engine up to temp before any testing.
Any other symptoms?
I'm thinking plugs wouldn't be covered by the warranty, how about the coils?
I just put plugs/coils on my Expy and had about $200 into it.
With a warranty still intact it doesn't make much (any) sense to start doing stuff yourself. Maybe a different dealer? It's my impression that a dealer can do so much more than just looking for a code with their diagnostic computer. It would sure seem that a weak coil or high resistance in a plug could be detected. But then you report hard-start only when hot so the mech would have to get your engine up to temp before any testing.
Any other symptoms?
I'm thinking plugs wouldn't be covered by the warranty, how about the coils?
I just put plugs/coils on my Expy and had about $200 into it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
My question is "How often has this "hot no start condition" happened to you?
As dumb as it sounds, get the battery checked, make sure cables are tightened and get starter checked. My guess is that the starter is going bad (you obviously won't see starter problems testing on a bench because it will need to be very hot, before it starts failing) .
As dumb as it sounds, get the battery checked, make sure cables are tightened and get starter checked. My guess is that the starter is going bad (you obviously won't see starter problems testing on a bench because it will need to be very hot, before it starts failing) .
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Dealer says fuel pump...
Well, the dealer thinks it is the fuel pump. It was replaced under warranty and cost me $100. By the time I would of pulled the tank and bought the pump, it was well worth it to have them do it. It has been two days, but it has been cool. I will post again in a few weeks to see if this fixed the problem.
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,318
Likes: 5,128
From: 0,0,1
Is this the same dealer that first tested it and said you had "good fuel pressure"?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I guess they guessed right...
Well, it has been a few weeks now and the truck is starting fine. They did initially say everything was fine a while back, but I pushed a bit. I am not sure if they actually tested anything, or they just started changing parts. The ESP is still in effect through the end of May 2010, so the fuel pump only cost me $100.00. Maybe they made an educated guess? Either way, it is fixed. I have a pretty good relationship with my Lincoln/Mercury dealer and I really think that helps out. It took over the weekend to get it fixed and they got me a loaner car. All in all, I am glad it is fixed. Again, the truck has 70K on it, but I think I am going to wait a bit to do plugs and COP's. It will be another 4 years until it hits 100K, but the warranty will run out before then. If anyone has a hard-start condition, after a heat-soak, I would look at changing out the fuel pump.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JWA
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis
9
Apr 16, 2019 08:27 PM
FordCamping
Modular V10 (6.8l)
18
Jan 17, 2017 11:24 PM
JeffHWV
Modular V8 (4.6L, 5.4L)
6
Jul 15, 2016 11:17 PM
vze2sgxa
Modular V8 (4.6L, 5.4L)
20
Aug 8, 2008 06:32 PM
