1999 ford explorer v6 sohc intermittent dying at startup

About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
you gave it alot of gas.
If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
condensation out of the exhaust.


Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
fuel pump relay switch.


I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.


Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.


I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
manifold.

Do a Google search on the IAC (idle air control) valve - could be
causing your problem.

On 23 Nov 2006 06:53:53 -0800, wrote:

>
>
>About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
>ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
>you gave it alot of gas.
>If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
>condensation out of the exhaust.
>
>
>Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
>through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
>intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
>you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
>appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
>fuel pump relay switch.
>
>
>I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
>properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
>
>
>Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
>since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
>
>
>I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
>manifold.

If you pumped gas from a gas station tank that was just about empty you
likely put some water/sludge/sediment into your gas tank. That's why
you saw the condensation in the exhaust. A can or two of drygas will
get the water out but you could be having problems from the other stuff
that may have gotten got into your system. This can affect the filter
and the injectors. A fuel system cleaner may help. Probably nothing to
do with the pump.

Ken

wrote:

>
> About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> you gave it alot of gas.
> If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> condensation out of the exhaust.
>
>
> Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> fuel pump relay switch.
>
>
> I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
>
>
> Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
>
>
> I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> manifold.
>

Thanks for the tip.

I checked it with an ohm meter after your post. It appears to
be within the range listed on the Haynes manual. Although, I
do think it is related. After reading about the IAC, I think when
it is stalling, it is not maintaining rpms above 1000, which it should
do when it is cold.

I am going to park it outside tonight to see if I can recreate it
again.
I have also put in some more injector cleaner, just in case it was a
clogged injector. Although I am not sure the stuff really works.
Big Shoe wrote:
> Do a Google search on the IAC (idle air control) valve - could be
> causing your problem.
>
> On 23 Nov 2006 06:53:53 -0800, wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> >ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> >you gave it alot of gas.
> >If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> >condensation out of the exhaust.
> >
> >
> >Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> >through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> >intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> >you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> >appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> >fuel pump relay switch.
> >
> >
> >I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> >properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
> >
> >
> >Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> >since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
> >
> >
> >I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> >manifold.

Big Shoe wrote:
> Do a Google search on the IAC (idle air control) valve - could be
> causing your problem.

I agree, its probably the IAC valve. It's easy to remove and clean or
replace if you need to.

I agree it might be the IAC. you might have luck cleaning it, I didn't,
just replaced it while we were at Advance and everything is fine. It's no
big deal!

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>
> About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> you gave it alot of gas.
> If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> condensation out of the exhaust.
>
>
> Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> fuel pump relay switch.
>
>
> I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
>
>
> Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
>
>
> I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> manifold.
>

If the iac doesn't fix it check the upper and lower intake gasket.

There rubber o-rings and they get rock hard when cold and leak .

The rest of the story might just be a big coinkadink , unless you think
everything that happens in life is related.

Condensation just means its colder and more humid and that will, you guest
it, make the gaskets harder and leak more



> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>
> About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> you gave it alot of gas.
> If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> condensation out of the exhaust.
>
>
> Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> fuel pump relay switch.
>
>
> I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
>
>
> Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
>
>
> I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> manifold.
>

Well, I pulled off the IAC and cleaned it. Lots of carbon in it.

Hopefully that fixed it. It is parked now for the weekend, when I get
back
I will see whether or not I can recreate it. Unfortunately this is the
wife's car, and
she probably will not want to chance that it will leave her stranded.
I tried to explain
to her how to drive it like a stick shift. Keep the RPMS up and just
put in neutral when
you get to a stoplight / stopsign. But she did not buy off on that
idea.

See how it goes next week. The idle did seem better after I cleaned
the IAC. On the
SOHC engine, it really is easy to get at. I also have the blank radio
display problem and
have been trying to fix that. Lots of pointers on the internet about
that.

I appreciate all the feedback.


Cedartown Electronics wrote:
> I agree it might be the IAC. you might have luck cleaning it, I didn't,
> just replaced it while we were at Advance and everything is fine. It's no
> big deal!
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> >
> >
> > About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> > ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> > you gave it alot of gas.
> > If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> > condensation out of the exhaust.
> >
> >
> > Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> > through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> > intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> > you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> > appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> > fuel pump relay switch.
> >
> >
> > I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> > properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
> >
> >
> > Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> > since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
> >
> >
> > I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> > manifold.
> >

Well, it looks like it must have been the IAC. I pulled it and
cleaned it and have
not been able to recreate the problem. So the problem with the gas may
have been
nothing / a coincidence. Thanks for all of the advice.

Last time I had an intermittent problem with my previous 94 ford
explorer, I took it
to the dealer paid my consultation fee and they told me they could not
figure it it, bring
it back when the problem happened again. I am sure I would have been
given the same
spiel this time.


Ollie wrote:
> If the iac doesn't fix it check the upper and lower intake gasket.
>
> There rubber o-rings and they get rock hard when cold and leak .
>
> The rest of the story might just be a big coinkadink , unless you think
> everything that happens in life is related.
>
> Condensation just means its colder and more humid and that will, you guest
> it, make the gaskets harder and leak more
>
>
>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> >
> >
> > About 2 weeks ago purchased gas at a location where the station just
> > ran out of gas. The next morning the explorer would not start unless
> > you gave it alot of gas.
> > If you kept the RPMS up, then it would run. Noticed alot of
> > condensation out of the exhaust.
> >
> >
> > Eventually changed the fuel filter, and have ran about 2 tanks of gas
> > through the car. It will now start and run normally, but on an
> > intermittent basis it will not start and idle after it is cold. If
> > you give it more gas, then it will run. Once it warms up, then it
> > appears to run fine. This is intermittent. I also swapped out the
> > fuel pump relay switch.
> >
> >
> > I believe when this problem happens, the fuel pump seems to be
> > properly pressurizing the system when you turn the key on.
> >
> >
> > Is it fuel injectors, or fuel pump? It would not seem to be the pump,
> > since the engine runs fine at higher RPMS.
> >
> >
> > I was also reading that this engine had a campaign for the intake
> > manifold.
> >