I have a 94 ford explorer with a problem

A bit of background on me. I know the basics of how a car works. I have an AA degree in electronics, 2 way radio, tv and vcr repair. That's what I use to do for a living.
I have had this Ford Explorer for around 4 years. It was a car junk yard special. The local junk yard takes vehicle's that aren't to badly mangled and fix them up and sell them. This explorer has been taken care of in the 4 years I have had it.
Right now it acts like it is out of gas when it has a 1/4 of a tank in it. When it is facing front down hill is when it acts up the most. On flat ground it is not as bad. I sometimes have to shoot some starting fluid in the air intake to get it started. This just started happening this month. In fact on Oct 14th I was supposed to drive a friend to a doctors appointment in Renton Wa. (Thank God it acted up in the drive way of my apt instead of on the road someware, that's a 6 hour drive) It was around 29 degrees that morning. In the winter it was always a bit harder to start but it always started. The motor is tight but broken in. It doesn't leak oil. There are a few vacuum lines that need changing. I have had some vacuum leaks I have had to fix. I have had people tell me the following, the fuel pump needs changing, someone dumped something in my gas tank, the fuel filter needs to be changed, the fuel pump relay is bad. I have to fig it out on my own. I don't make enough on SSDI to put it in the shop just to find out it is something that I can fix. So I need some input. I need to get this fixed so my friend can make her next rescheduled appointment with the spechialiest doctor.
:banghead: :dunno:

The first thought that came to mind is the fuel pump. Since it sounds like you've been able to get it to start at times by squirting starting fluid in the intake, and presumably the truck continues to run once started, the issue would not be the fuel pump relay or the fuel pump inertia switch.

You might check with your local auto parts store to see if they have a fuel pressure tester with the Ford adapter in their Loan-a-Tool program. Then check your fuel pressure at Key On Engine Off (KOEO) and Key On Engine Running (KOER) to see if both are within specification.

It also sounds like a good tune up may be of value to you, including spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter, and fuel filter. If it's been awhile since you changed the oil and filter, do that to and make sure to use the oil that is specified. Having fresh oil of the correct viscosity can help with cold weather starting as well.

-Rod

1st off yes once I get it started it stays running. It jurk's and misses a bit on idle in park but stays running and doesn't miss or jurk wile driving. What about the fuel filter been clogged? If it is the fuel pump (which is in the fuel tank on this rig) could I pull the fuel pump relay to kill the old pump in the tank and mount an electric fuel pump on the fender wall in the engine compartment so I don't have to drop the fuel tank. I already checked there is no way to get at the fuel pump without dropping the tank. It is next to impossible for me to drop the tank with the tools I have on hand in my apt parking lot. Besides if I did that my apt manger would clime all over me like a swarm of locus on a wheat field. I can get away with doing minor repairs in the parking lot but nothing that mite make a big mess to clean up on the parking lot. And this isn't a big town like Seattle Wa were there is places were you can rent a space to lift the car up and tools to rent to do any kind of work that you want with tech's available to help you if you get in over your head.

The first thought that came to mind is the fuel pump. Since it sounds like you've been able to get it to start at times by squirting starting fluid in the intake, and presumably the truck continues to run once started, the issue would not be the fuel pump relay or the fuel pump inertia switch.

You might check with your local auto parts store to see if they have a fuel pressure tester with the Ford adapter in their Loan-a-Tool program. Then check your fuel pressure at Key On Engine Off (KOEO) and Key On Engine Running (KOER) to see if both are within specification.

It also sounds like a good tune up may be of value to you, including spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter, and fuel filter. If it's been awhile since you changed the oil and filter, do that to and make sure to use the oil that is specified. Having fresh oil of the correct viscosity can help with cold weather starting as well.

-Rod

A restricted fuel filter could contribute to the symptoms you describe, but I would not expect it to prevent the engine from starting. You could always start by replacing the fuel filter and seeing if that buys you more time on the fuel pump. You'd want a new fuel filter if/when you replace the fuel pump anyway.

I don't think you'd be able to just install an auxiliary fuel pump to overcome a faulty in-take pump. I think (but am not positive) that the non-working pump would provide a lot of restriction to the Aux pump (similar to the effect of a restricted fuel filter) and eventually cause the Aux pump to fail prematurely.

-Rod

Up date on the Explorer. It did need the fuel pump changed along with the computer. The computer wasn't generating the timing pulse. All that's been fix and the Explorer is running. Bur it has a problem with the fuel presssure regulator is leaking fumes. Can someone please tell me were there is a picture of the regulator so I can see how to change it. The macanic that looked at it said it is an easy change but it has to be done. The Explorer is a fire trap to drive asis.

Steve

Here is what Rock Auto says the fuel pressure regulator should look like:
http://www.rockauto.com/getimage/getimage.php?imagekey=382258&imageurl=http%3A//www.rockauto.com/info/Motorcraft/CM4713-FRO.jpg

-Rod

I know what the pressure regulator looks like. The guy that did the test didn't want me in the shop so I could see were the pressure regulator is. Do you have a picture as to were it sets on the motor?

Here is what Rock Auto says the fuel pressure regulator should look like:
http://www.rockauto.com/getimage/getimage.php?imagekey=382258&imageurl=http%3A//www.rockauto.com/info/Motorcraft/CM4713-FRO.jpg

-Rod

I think it's in the valley between the left and right valve covers. Sort of underneath where the upper radiator hose fastens to the thermostat tube, between the oil fill cap and the throttle cable bracket.

-Rod