Hello all,

Any help would be great. My 2001 sport trac 4.0 with 52000 miles has developed a startup issue. I searched the forum but it seems that there is not a definative answer although others seem to have the same issue with the 4.0. Weather and temp here in Nashville is 40-60 degrees and damp and rainy for the past 24 hours, the truck sat for about 16 hours, once again this morning it cranks but wont start and run unless I have foot on gas pedal. remove foot it stalls. If i keep it at 2500 rpm with my foot for a couple of minutes the temp guage starts to respond and it will idle on its own. Today I drove to mall and shopped and trucked started fine and got me back home. I went to advance auto and their code reader said system fine no codes found. thermostat ,anitfreeze & hoses were done in the summer. This seems to me to be a cold issue causing "no choke". if that makes sense? please help me.

 

Check the IAC valve, I'll bet it is stuck closed. If it is a SOHC, it is under the water shield on top of the intake manifold. Just take the 4 screws out and it is on top in center. When you remove it, look at the plunger in the holes and see if it is stuck (flashlight work good for this).

 

can I clean it or do I have to replace it?

 

also once it warms up it doesn't matter if it is stuck? or do you think it is unsticking once it is warmed up?

 

Replacement is the best course, cleaning will fix it for a short period of time. Secondly, it could be loosening up when warm, not exactly sure why they only do it cold, but have seen some run good warm but the valve is stuck closed.

 

So far so good! I replaced the IAC. the old one appeared to have a sprung spring. The spring on mine was the whole length of the shaft. the new one the spring looks like it is retained at half the lenght of the shaft

The test will be in the morning. it is cool damp and foggy here tonight so if it fires up ok I will consider it fixed.

I put a new air cleaner in it and used abunch of carb cleaner to clean the MAF sensor and the throttle plate area.( I got a ton of thick burnt smell smoke out the exhaust--I had to leave the neighborhood and go to a nearby country roadso nobody would call the fire Dept.-- I am guessing that all the loosened gook got blown out and burned off in the hot exhaust. smoke seems to be gone now.

I'll keep you posted

 

The IAC fixed the issue. Thank you for the help. I hope this can help someone else in the future.