Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online!
Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! 
-
Latest | 0 Rplys
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Ford > E Series
E Series Forum covers questions and discussions regarding Ford E-150, Ford E-250, Ford E-350, and Ford E-450.
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Email this Page Email this Page | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 04-09-2016, 12:45 PM   #1
Trio3b
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chaparral, New Mexico
Posts: 53
Thanks: 3
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Trio3b Send a message via Yahoo to Trio3b
5.4L E350 Cold start issue

!997 E350 5.4L 124k miles. Purchased van Oct. 2015 and am doing service interval maintenance b/c previous owner remembers nothing and I want to get this ready for summer family travel. Searched forums but all threads are about hard or no start conditions.

Approx. 3 month after purchase I noticed cold start issue. Hot starts are no problem.
After sitting overnight engine will crank and catch - then almost dies BUT NEVER DOES DIE - then catch and run fine. This happens almost 99% of the time. It very rarely needs a second crank.

Engine was way past due for plugs so here's whats been done and checked:

plugs replaced w OEM motorcraft
boots replaced
injectors sent off for cleaning and R&R. All within spec electrically and mechanically. None leaking.
Fuel filter replaced - OEM motorcraft

Issue persists after this service.

My first thought was fuel pump which has NOT been serviced. I believe specs are 38psi KOEO and 28-45psi KOER
Fuel pressure checked KOEO - 38 PSI, KOER - 33psi (this seems a little low although I am using a cheapie gage)

regulator seems fine - disconnect and pressure rises, add vacuum from hand pump pressure decreases
no gas in regulator vac line
Pressure held overnight from 38 to 20 psi
wide open throttle pressure rises to 40psi then falls back down.
While driving pressure seems around 33-40psi depending on loads
When I first connected fuel pressure gage I thought it went to 10psi then cycled key and went to 38psi but that may have been rail and injectors filling after being off the vehicle. Will check it again tonight.

My next guess is IAC or ISC valve. I've tried to give as much info as possible. Other than that the new plugs and refurbed injectors have plenty of oomph and it idles and runs fine.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

Additional :: No codes being set. Also hard cold start is somewhat misleading. A better way to say it is this happens after sitting overnight which here in the southwest is not really cold.

Last edited by Trio3b; 04-10-2016 at 12:16 AM.
Trio3b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2016, 10:22 AM   #2
rhandwor
AF Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 4,662
Thanks: 0
Thanked 64 Times in 64 Posts
Re: 5.4L E350 Cold start issue

Some times the check valve in the fuel pump will leak slightly bleeding fuel back into the fuel tank. Install the pressure gauge in the evening. Look at the pressure before starting in the morning.
http://www.tooltopia.com/ sells inline check valves. Search check valve.
Otherwise check relays or camshaft sensor if no spark in the morning.
rhandwor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2017, 12:21 PM   #3
Trio3b
AF Newbie
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chaparral, New Mexico
Posts: 53
Thanks: 3
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Trio3b Send a message via Yahoo to Trio3b
Re: 5.4L E350 Cold start issue

As is the case sometimes there may be several things going on simultaneously. Posted a thread a while back in Cars in General about electrical grounds that seems to have helped quite a bit although this problem rears its head occasionally on this vehicle.

After locating, cleaning and snugging up grounds on this van and two other vehicles my cold morning starts are definitely no longer a problem on a Chevy truck and Buick although the van problem shows up very rarely now and again.

I have since replaced all coils w/Motorcraft and the uphill misfire in high gear low rpm is now gone.Will check your suggestion.

Thanks
Trio3b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 05:55 PM   #4
MarioA20000
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Livonia, Michigan
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: 5.4L E350 Cold start issue

Had a very similar problem with a 1995 351w e350. Hard or no starting when it was wet or cold outside. Ended up being the ignition coil... looked fine but when I changed it she started right up.
MarioA20000 is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD

Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > Ford > E Series

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:33 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts