I have a 2004 Ford explorer sport trac that cranks but doesn't start MOST of the time. Every once in a while, it will start for about 20 seconds and then die. Randomly, it ran for about 3 days with a very rough idle after changing some parts. My husband disconnected the battery- i can't remember why, and it hasn't stayed running since. Most the time it only cranks.


​​​​​​MY mom and sister each had this vehicle for about a year, and my sister drove it HARD. No maintenance done at all during that time. When I finally got it back, it definitely needed some maintenance. We do have a parts truck for this one, and have been pulling parts off of that as needed. All parts were tested to make sure it needed replacement.

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​​​​​It was about 5 quarts OVERFULL with oil. No idea how long it was that way. Drained and changed oil.

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The first issue that came up was the IAC was caked with carbon and sticking closed. Changed it. Ran okay for a little while. Then the alternator and battery died. Replaced, and still ran, but was giving codes of P2195, and P2198.


Replaced air filter, which was SO BAD. Replaced MAF sensor which was also bad and could not get to come clean.


This is when intermittent starting happened. Replaced crank and cam sensors. Still the same. Replaced throttle body position sensor. Nothing. Replaced spark plugs- still have spark but we're also covered in a carbon like substance. Tested coil pack- all good. Checked all fuses and relays.

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Thought maybe this was a fuel issue, like the fuel pump, but it doesn't start with starter fluid into the intake. So then we replaced fuel rail pressure sensor- there is fuel sitting in there so I am assuming there is fuel getting to the engine.


The fuel cut off switch was bad, red button cracked on top, and tripping with the close of passenger door. Changed that.

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Changed EVAP regulator valve, no dice.


The anti theft system has not been tripped. Checked that too.


​​​​​​The cluster doesn't always work right, but keeps telling me 1 of 3 things. Check gauges, check fuel cap, and low fuel. There is definitely gas in the tank, unless one of the other issues prior has caused it to use excessive fuel.


Check engine light is no longer on, and not giving any codes!


The starter does have just a very small whirring noise. I have tapped on it to try and get it to fire, and that doesn't work either.


​​​​​​WHAT AM I MISSING?! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Two main issues,
If you have no CEL with key on, the ECU is not alive (NO POWER)
If you do not hear compression chug, chug, chug, you either have a defective starter (bad Bendix) or there is no engine compression..

No need to go further until these remedied

 

Oh! and stop throwing parts at it, diagnose

 

A lot of folks believe there is a code for everything and that just is not so.

There could be several reasons for a vehicle to not start and show no codes. That is where we need to start with the basics

The basics start with verifying you have fuel and spark. There are others like sufficient air and the spark being delivered to the right place at the right time
Even a restricted exhaust will prevent an engine from starting.

Do you know how to check for spark and fuel?
It is amazing how much you can learn from just looking a one or two spark plugs when it will not fire up and start.

When it will not start, remove any one of the spark plugs and see if it is wet or dry.
If it is wet , engine could be flooded with fuel OR NOT getting any spark
If it is dry, no fuel is getting into the combustion chamber, If we know the answer to those 2 questions we have an idea of where to go from there.

 

Until the ECU is confirmed happy, there will be no spark, no fuel prime..

 

How about telling the poor guy how to check if the PCM is happy?

 

Well he did not respond to my post, No Power to ECU (no CEL), or does it chug !