Why would a 1998 Ford Explorer be difficult to start

[Reid Wood]

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer that is difficult to start. It usually starts
within 4-5 seconds, but this is much slower than what it use to do. The
problem is most prevalent on cold days when the engine has been turned off
for 15 minutes or longer. My limited experience seems to tell me that there
is a choke problem (which may be caused by an on-board computer problem).

Does anyone have experience with this?

[mar...@webtv.net]

I'm going to start with the most obvious...how old is the battery?? had
it tested lately?? if its 4-5 years old, your pushing it,and even the
ones with the "eye" only test one cell..

[Reid Wood]

Let me clarify: the starter turns over fine. There is plenty of "power".

mar...@webtv.net wrote in message
<11036-3E0...@storefull-2171.public.lawson.webtv.net>...

[Walter]

The starter may turn over fine, but is it fast enough? Perhaps it has slowed
some with age?

Walter

[Jim Warman]

How many miles since your last tune? How many miles period... any other
symptoms appear at the same time? What is your definition of "slower"? What
is your definition of "cold" - we're heading for a chilly -10°F tonight.....
probably normal for December but January brings a few days at near -40°F -
that's close to cold!!

Does offering a touch of foot feed change it? For better? For worse? Does
the car get serviced regularly- I mean on time?

"Reid Wood" <reid...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:qNNP9.718$Fj2.4...@news2.news.adelphia.net...

[Jim Warman]

What caught my eye was the reference to the green "eye"..... seen it several
times before and it just rang that little bell us old farts have tucked away
in our heads. Mother Fords official stance on the "eye" is to the affect
that it is only trustworthy up until the vehicle is PDId - after that they
are warned against in all service literature. It is, after all, nothing more
than two little balls floating in a plastic tube - one is green (the lower
one) and the other is red (the upper one). When the specific gravity of the
electrolyte is high, as in a fully charged battery, the balls float high
exposing the green one to the "eye". When the specific gravity falls or,
heaven forbid, if the level of electrolyte in the battery falls - the red
one is exposed to the "eye". It also doesn't take much crap from the battery
plates to wedge these li'l gummers tight in the litle plastic tube.

Just thought everyone might enjoy that little sidetrip 8^)

<mar...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:11036-3E0...@storefull-2171.public.lawson.webtv.net...

[IK]

It won't help you much to fix the problem, but you may want to notice that
your 98 Explorer has no choke. Chokes (and carburetors, of which they were
a part) disappeared with the introduction of fuel injection, about 20 years
ago.
As far as your hard starting is concerned, I would suggest checking fuel
pressure. You may have a leaking injector or a bad regulator.

IK

"Reid Wood" <reid...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:qNNP9.718$Fj2.4...@news2.news.adelphia.net...

[carlojr]

fuel filter????

--
Carlo F. Serusa, Jr. RPh. car...@attbi.com
O|||||||O O|||||||O
1998 Sahara TJ - 1965 Mustang - 1979 IH Scout
1989 Jeep YJ 1992 Explorer
.
"IK" <isk...@attbinospam.com> wrote in message
news:WTSP9.499873$%m4.1...@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...

[mar...@webtv.net]

as you can now see, you've been on a grand tour of your vehicle..helpful
no?? just kidding..BTW Jim, bought one of the green eye things years
ago...it was still showing green when the battery would no longer hold a
charge..that was the last time for that gimmick...

[Reid Wood]

Thanks for all of the great advise. Based on what I have heard from this
discussion group and from further research on Auto Zone's WEB site, I
believe the problem is probably caused by low fuel pressure. I failed to
mention that the problem did not start until the fuel filter was replaced a
few weeks ago. Therefore, I know the fuel filter is good.

If anyone has any further advise, it will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Reid Wood wrote in message ...

[John Cadella]

on my 1999, the dealer replaced the IAC.
Haven't had a start problem in 6 months now.
regards,
John

"Reid Wood" <reid...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:qNNP9.718$Fj2.4...@news2.news.adelphia.net...

[Simon H]

"Reid Wood" <reid...@adelphia.net> wrote in message

news:qF5Q9.1075$Fj2.6...@news2.news.adelphia.net...

> Thanks for all of the great advise. Based on what I have heard from this
> discussion group and from further research on Auto Zone's WEB site, I
> believe the problem is probably caused by low fuel pressure. I failed to
> mention that the problem did not start until the fuel filter was replaced
a
> few weeks ago. Therefore, I know the fuel filter is good.
>
> If anyone has any further advise, it will be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks

Hmm... It was OK until you changed the fuel filter? Now, let me think...
what has changed recently? Did someone mention a fuel filter? New does not =
'good'
So, let's work through this again... running OK - change fuel filter - runs
bad. Maybe, just maybe, you fitted a bad fuel filter?

Simon H

[carlojr]

sounds like I would get the fuel pressure checked - If it's good, we know it
is not the new filter, or even a fuel problem (except mabey injectors). 1st
things 1st - narrow it down to fuel or electric - go from there

--
Carlo F. Serusa, Jr. RPh. car...@attbi.com
O|||||||O O|||||||O
1998 Sahara TJ - 1965 Mustang - 1979 IH Scout
1989 Jeep YJ 1992 Explorer
.

"Simon H" <spamretur...@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:auqs8p$ouo$1...@helle.btinternet.com...

[bilfish]

if you can start the truck only with your foot on the gas pedal,I would say
it's the iac valve,that's what happened with my '99 sohc as well.the truck
would only start and run ! with my foot on the gas,as soon as I let off the
gas pedal.....it would stall,it was a B_tch getting it home from work that
afternoon in traffic.

--
William S.
"John Cadella" <johnandro...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Ch6Q9.7425$6_.191...@newssvr10.news.prodigy.com...

[Dan]

I have this same problem on my '97, I took it to an automotive
mechanic and they dtermined it was an internal fuel line leak, the
pressure is not kept in the fuel line, as you can understand why
sitting longer would make the start take longer. What you can do to
have it start normal amount of time without getting it fixed (what I
did to save money) is to put the key in, turn to boot up, where all
your lights light up in the dash, wait about a second, turn the key
back to where you can take it out, then turn the key forward again to
start it, the fuel will have regained pressure from the first turn of
the key and the engine will start normally. If not we don't have the
same problem.