Multiple issues - Possibly related?

[Dan Jefferys]

I'm having 2 issues with my '03. The first issue cropped up about 6 months ago - I was in a car line and I shut off the ST (it had been running fine). The kids came out 10 minutes later and I simply couldn't start the truck. The battery was strongly turning the starter but the car just wouldn't start. I disconnected the battery and re-hooked it back up (I've had that correct a couple of "rough idle" issues in the past by resetting the computer) but no change, it still wouldn't fire. I called AAA thinking I was going to need to be towed, but while waiting for the tow truck (about 20 mins) I figured why not try it again and it immediately started up like it usually does. I haven't had one issue with it since then up until Sunday. I had a new radio installed, and when I went to pick up the ST it again wouldn't start. I went through the same procedure as before (battery unhook, etc) and the radio installer looked for codes (didn't see any) but it only started after sitting again for around 20 minutes. Monday it ran fine (long commute) but yesterday when I left work it started up fine initially but then bogged severely when attempting to give it gas to get on the highway. Every time I gave it any gas that made the tach go over ~3k RPM, it just completely lost all power until I let it coast, then it would eventually let me apply power again very gradually. I nursed it home, but at some point on the way it apparently corrected itself because I was again able to push the pedal to the floor without any hesitation at all. This morning I had no issues - it started fine, and had no hesitation.



Any ideas as to what could be wrong?

 

[Richard L]

I had a similar problem with my 2003 Sport Trac. On random occassions it would not crank...like the battery was dead, but only when my wife was driving??? Turned out to be a connector in the wiring harness in the steering column would pull apart a bit when my wife change the tilt in the steering column. The last time it died she was visiting relatives in Louisiana and she had to call the local Ford dealer to tow it in. It took them all day before they figured out the problem. After it was fixed, I never had that problem again.



This can cause other very irradical behavior with anything wired through the steering column including the horn, turn signals, headlights, taillights, brake lights, wipers, ignition, starting, cruise, etc.



Check the wiring harness that goes up the steering column and be sure there is enough slack in the harness to allow the steering wheel to tilt the full range of motion without pulling on the wiring harness. You can pull up a bit more slack if you need to. Also, check that none of the wires are broken or pulled out of the connector.



...Rich

 

[Vic Sorlie]

How many miles on this car, and how many miles on your fuel filter? Others will chime in with suggestions, but I'm a believer in doing the simple stuff first - especially in fuel delivery issues. My personal recommendation on fuel filters is 30K or two years, whichever first. Your symptoms are consistent with fuel filter clogging.

 

[RedRanger 7]

I had the fuel filter problem on an Oldsmobile years ago. When it wont start and you let it sit, the gas slowly seeps thru the plug and then you try to start it and it will run fine for an unknown amount of time.

That lack of slack in the steering column sure has caused a lot of trouble as well though. :fire::driving:

 

[Dan Jefferys]

I would like it very much if this turned out to be the fuel filter. I'm guessing that the FF is at least 3 years old (which probably means it is 4+...) with 40k+ miles on it. My ST has 128k on it overall.



I'm going to try to have the FF replaced tonight.

 

[Todd Z]

This problem showes its head a lot....



I bet it is the IAC motor sticking.... There is a project to clean or replace.



Could also be the fuel pump....



Todd Z

 

[Gavin Allan]

I can't believe there aren't some codes to retrieve. If it were my truck, I would want to properly diagnose the problem before I start buying parts to throw at it.

 

[Bo Loo]

I had a similar issue a few weeks ago



http://mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1331397&sitename=mysporttrac



Luckily, it hasn't reoccurred. I still have no explanation.

 

[Bo Loo]

I had a similar issue a few weeks ago



http://mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1331397&sitename=mysporttrac



Luckily, it hasn't reoccurred. I still have no explanation.

 

[Vic Sorlie]

Again, I'm for eliminating the simplest and cheapest problem first. There's a lot of crap gas out there - next time you're at a convenience store, ask the counter guy when's the last time the pump filters were changed. He won't have a clue when, and probably won't know that there are filters on the pumps. Think there's any chance that you're pumping some sediment every fill? Count on it. Change them fuel filters on a reasonable schedule and your engine will be happy. Just about all engines on the road now are fuel injected; they all require clean, unobstructed fuel from the tank forward.

 

[scott degroot]

You have a failing fuel pump. 2 dead giveaways here. 1st is the no start condition and the 2nd is the truck falling on it's face while you give it gas

 

[Dan Jefferys]

Well, my hope that replacing the fuel filter would possibly help clear up my issues went pretty badly. They (Mobil 1) replaced it and then couldn't get it started again - the car sat in the bay for well over an hour with them trying. The guys there said that they couldn't hear the fuel pump, and eventually they pushed it out of the bay while I waited for AAA to tow it. When AAA arrived, the driver said that he wasn't sure that it was the fuel pump when I described the symptoms, and he had me crank the starter for over 20 seconds while he smelled for fuel at the exhaust (which he said he did smell). Much to my surprise it did start when cranking it that long (it didn't start very strongly with the normal "strong" surge sound though - I almost didn't know it had started...). The AAA guy said that he thought it could be plugs, etc, and not the fuel pump but I'm not convinced.



I was able to drive it to the shop and it seemed to be running ok on the way over - it had normal acceleration, and it did start again normally when I got it there, although I don't trust it enough now to push my luck any further. The ff had to be replaced either way - it turned out that it had been 5 years since I had last done it.

 

[scott degroot]

I have never met a tow truck driver that knew what they were talking about and I usually see a few of them a week.



The smell of fuel in the exhaust while cranking tells you nothing about the fuel pump. Your vehicle needs about 60 psi of fuel pressure to run. If the fuel pump can only put out 30 psi you get a vehicle that will not run however is still delivering fuel into the cylinders so you still smell fuel in the exhaust..



The shop you took it too should be able to easily diagnose this within a matter of minutes if it is the fuel pump.

 

[Gavin Allan]

If the technician finds proper flow and pressure at the fuel rail, you do not need to change the filter. Diagnosis is so much cheaper and faster than throwing parts at problems.

 

[Yardsale]

Quick check for a failing fuel pump check valve (typical Ford failure):



Turn the key to Run and leave it there for about 15 seconds; repeat four or five times.



Try to start. Has worked on my ST and F-150.



If the check valve doesn't hold the fuel system pressure, the fuel will expand possibly to a vapor and that vapor has to be purged from the system (repressurized back to liquid state). This is easily done by the fuel pump if run long enough. I notice this happening most on hot days, with engine compartment temperatures high. I have also seen a crack in the fuel pump plastic outlet cause this symptom.



Or, it could be something else. As noted above - test, test, test.