1998 Mountaineer V6 stalls after start

I bought this car new and it has only about 35,000 miles on it. It
starts instantly but for the last couple of weeks it will stall
immediatly after starting. It restarts instantly and is runs perfectly
after that. Problem may occur maybe once more later in the day. Air
cleaner was replaced 5000 miles ago, plugs are original. Any
suggestions? Thanks!

Ken

Does it stay going if you step on the gas after starting?

Could be the IAC - clean or replace:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...r_IAC_Fix.html

--
Allan Williams



"Kenneth J. Harris" > wrote in message
...
>I bought this car new and it has only about 35,000 miles on it. It starts
>instantly but for the last couple of weeks it will stall immediatly after
>starting. It restarts instantly and is runs perfectly after that. Problem
>may occur maybe once more later in the day. Air cleaner was replaced 5000
>miles ago, plugs are original. Any suggestions? Thanks!
>
> Ken

Thanks for the reply. Can't say if it keeps running if I hit the gas
because I never tried--as soon as it stalled I turned the key and it
instantly(seem like not even one crank) restarts after the stall and
runs fine with foot off the gas. I'll check and follow the steps in
the link you provided--that's a great link by the way.

Ken

Al Williams wrote:
> Does it stay going if you step on the gas after starting?
>
> Could be the IAC - clean or replace:
>
> http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...r_IAC_Fix.html
>

"Kenneth J. Harris" > wrote in message
...
>I bought this car new and it has only about 35,000 miles on it. It starts
>instantly but for the last couple of weeks it will stall immediatly after
>starting. It restarts instantly and is runs perfectly after that. Problem
>may occur maybe once more later in the day. Air cleaner was replaced 5000
>miles ago, plugs are original. Any suggestions? Thanks!
>
> Ken

wow, driven ten miles a day for ten years.....Truck sits a lot no doubt.
Hoses age, water condenses, unexersised linkages stiffen i suppose....What
ever it prooves to be, it is certainly worth the trouble fixing. Good luck
with your low milage truck- I'm jealous!

Followed the procedures on the link--IAC valve tests good electrically,
connector supplying 12 volts. Took valve off--pretty clean inside but
used q-tip and solvent to clean off anyway and put valve back on.
Checked air tubes etc. (whatever I could get into anyway)--no
obstructions. Checked any tightened anything that could be
tightened--no leaks that I could detect. Took the PCV valve out (what a
pain that was!)--rattles nicely so I cleaned it with solvent and put it
back. No change for better or worse. Just for the heck of it I threw a
can of fuel system cleaner in the gas tank. I'll continue my
testing--when I get to the point wher I can't live with the first start
stall/restart runs perfectly, I'll consider taking it in to be looked at.

Kenneth J. Harris wrote:
> I bought this car new and it has only about 35,000 miles on it. It
> starts instantly but for the last couple of weeks it will stall
> immediatly after starting. It restarts instantly and is runs perfectly
> after that. Problem may occur maybe once more later in the day. Air
> cleaner was replaced 5000 miles ago, plugs are original. Any
> suggestions? Thanks!
>
> Ken

Your symptoms don't exactly match the IAC issue, but it can't hurt. If this
is the SOHC engine (and I assume it is) then other things to look at would
include:
- intake manfold gasket leaks (many have had complete failure of both upper
and lower gaskets - mine did but it basically didn't run at all until it was
fixed)
- MAF sensor (google explorer MAF for a cleaning procedure)

You may also want to verify you've got all the recalls / extended warranties
on the SOHC which include (from memory) - throttle body, timing chain
tensioners, upper intake gaskets, cruise control switch.

--
Allan Williams



"Kenneth J. Harris" > wrote in message
...
> Followed the procedures on the link--IAC valve tests good electrically,
> connector supplying 12 volts. Took valve off--pretty clean inside but used
> q-tip and solvent to clean off anyway and put valve back on. Checked air
> tubes etc. (whatever I could get into anyway)--no obstructions. Checked
> any tightened anything that could be tightened--no leaks that I could
> detect. Took the PCV valve out (what a pain that was!)--rattles nicely so
> I cleaned it with solvent and put it back. No change for better or worse.
> Just for the heck of it I threw a can of fuel system cleaner in the gas
> tank. I'll continue my testing--when I get to the point wher I can't live
> with the first start stall/restart runs perfectly, I'll consider taking it
> in to be looked at.
>
> Kenneth J. Harris wrote:
>> I bought this car new and it has only about 35,000 miles on it. It
>> starts instantly but for the last couple of weeks it will stall
>> immediatly after starting. It restarts instantly and is runs perfectly
>> after that. Problem may occur maybe once more later in the day. Air
>> cleaner was replaced 5000 miles ago, plugs are original. Any
>> suggestions? Thanks!
>>
>> Ken

Problem persisted. Took IAC valve out again. Really cleaned inside
this time--blasted with solvent, allowed to soak, moved the spring and
cup/retainer back and forth. Then using a tiny screwdriver and very
fine sandpaper cleaned the two contact pins in the electrical connector.
Next morning, car started normally. I went out, made several stops,
started normally each time. Looks encouraging.

Al Williams wrote:
> Your symptoms don't exactly match the IAC issue, but it can't hurt. If this
> is the SOHC engine (and I assume it is) then other things to look at would
> include:
> - intake manfold gasket leaks (many have had complete failure of both upper
> and lower gaskets - mine did but it basically didn't run at all until it was
> fixed)
> - MAF sensor (google explorer MAF for a cleaning procedure)
>
> You may also want to verify you've got all the recalls / extended warranties
> on the SOHC which include (from memory) - throttle body, timing chain
> tensioners, upper intake gaskets, cruise control switch.
>

I had this problem a number of times with my '99. I could clean the
valve and get good results, usually for not very long. I finally
started replacing the valve when the problem occurred. The new ones
seemed to last a lot longer before giving a problem again.

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:29:52 -0400, "Kenneth J. Harris"
> wrote:

>Problem persisted. Took IAC valve out again. Really cleaned inside
>this time--blasted with solvent, allowed to soak, moved the spring and
>cup/retainer back and forth. Then using a tiny screwdriver and very
>fine sandpaper cleaned the two contact pins in the electrical connector.
> Next morning, car started normally. I went out, made several stops,
>started normally each time. Looks encouraging.
>
>Al Williams wrote:
>> Your symptoms don't exactly match the IAC issue, but it can't hurt. If this
>> is the SOHC engine (and I assume it is) then other things to look at would
>> include:
>> - intake manfold gasket leaks (many have had complete failure of both upper
>> and lower gaskets - mine did but it basically didn't run at all until it was
>> fixed)
>> - MAF sensor (google explorer MAF for a cleaning procedure)
>>
>> You may also want to verify you've got all the recalls / extended warranties
>> on the SOHC which include (from memory) - throttle body, timing chain
>> tensioners, upper intake gaskets, cruise control switch.
>>

Thanks. How much does the valve cost?

Big Shoe wrote:

> I had this problem a number of times with my '99. I could clean the
> valve and get good results, usually for not very long. I finally
> started replacing the valve when the problem occurred. The new ones
> seemed to last a lot longer before giving a problem again.

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:35:51 -0400, "Kenneth J. Harris"
> wrote:

>Thanks. How much does the valve cost?
>
>Big Shoe wrote:
>
>> I had this problem a number of times with my '99. I could clean the
>> valve and get good results, usually for not very long. I finally
>> started replacing the valve when the problem occurred. The new ones
>> seemed to last a lot longer before giving a problem again.

It's been a number of years since I sold the '99 and I don't remember
for certain. I think I bought the valve at Autozone for around $40.