Are Explorers Not Supposed To Start

Just finished having my 2002 Ford Explorer towed for the 2nd time with it being the 4th time that it simply wouldn't start. Purchased a new vehicle so I wouldn't have to deal with such issues but apparently Ford has yet to learn how to build a vehicle. Midway Ford on Monday will probably tell me the same things as after the last 2 diagnostics that everything is fine. Easy for them to say as they aren't the ones standing out in the cold for an hour waiting for a tow truck to haul away away their late model vehicle.
Does anyone else have this issue?? It alway starts after an hour or so of sitting. It finally did start tonight after I had it towed. This time like the last I tried it when the tow truck driver got there and still no luck. Waited another hour after he dropped it off and of course it started like nothing ever happened.

Is the gas tank or line vapour locking? And is the gas cap on tight? This may sound strange but I have heard of this problem before with another fuel injected car. It has some thing to do with a closed fuel system ie. fuel injected. There could even be fuel pump problems as Ijust installed a brand new one in our 91 Explore to have it towed home the very next day to replace it again. This time still runnig strong.

I have a 2000 xls and mine is suddenly not starting. Today it fired up normally and i drove to the bank, parked, went in--came out, and the car is "dead". There is some form of clicking sound, but that's it. I checked the battery and it's connections, and it is strong and in working order. It was suggested to me that it could be the starter gone bad (some electric connections within?) or the alternater (this I'm unsure about). All I know is that the thing won't go when I want it to go. Isn't this why we spend so much money? Help!

It's my starter motor. Fortunately my 6 year/100,000 mile warranty covers it. A mechanic showed me how to tap on the starter with a hammer to get it "unstuck". Fired right up. The Ford dealer informed me however, that this is an extremely short term fix. Good luck to me and everyone else with this issue. The the most part, believe it or not, I really like this car, so I remain optomistic.

I too have a 96 explorer sport and have had to tow it many times from being stuck somewhere, or sat awhile and then it started. I have had many things according to ford that was the "so called" wrong/faulty problem and it is going on 3 years and alot of money and the problem still exist, in fact my daughter got stuck again yesterday, sat a bit and it started. Someone here said it is the starter motor. Can anyone verify that what they fixed and think has solved the problem, but may find that it hasn't in a few months able to tell me what all they tried replacing to solve this mystery starting problem?

Islandchic

Just finished having my 2002 Ford Explorer towed for the 2nd time with it being the 4th time that it simply wouldn't start. Purchased a new vehicle so I wouldn't have to deal with such issues but apparently Ford has yet to learn how to build a vehicle.

Need I say more? :disappoin :lol2:

I have a 1991 Ford Explorer. Recently it started experiencing starting problems when warm. If it sits for awhile, say overnight, it will start fine. I let it run about 15 minutes, drive it around the block a couple of times, turn it off and it will not restart. Sometimes it will die when I'm stopped after being warm. Took it to a local shop who ran diagnostics on it and checked it out but after 2 weeks couldn't find anything wrong with it. It continues to have the starting problem and is no longer reliable. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Sounds like a starter problem. Another common problem are the battery cables, 1991-1992. They are expensive. If it were me, I start with the starter first since it will be cheaper than the cables. Cables will be about $200.00 (parts only). Starter approx $100.00. Labor is a different story. Good Luck, let us know what happens.

91 starting problem.......The problem you might be experiencing is fuel leakdown. The fuel line should be able to maintain 30# pressure for 30 minutes. When you stop it for 15 minutes hot, pressure drops and a bubble forms. The 3 seconds that the pump comes on is not enough to flush out the bubble. This can be a sign of a worn fuel pressure regulator. In some cases the regulator seat only wears on one side and this causes the the regulator to stick open and lower pressure. This will most likely occur at high vacuum condition like being stopped at a light. This will cause a severe shudder or even engine stall. A pressure check with the engine running will not indicate a problem when the engine is operating normally since 80% of the fuel normally returns to the tank and a small keak wouldn't be noticed. I had this problem and after trying everything else bought a new FPR. Cut open the old one and the damaged valve seat was verry obvious. Easy to replace and about $80.

Do you happen to leave the key in the car and open the doors with the keypad? The geniuses at Zeibart told me it's something about the chip in the key.
Avoid all trouble, buy a Chevy next time...

03 Ford Explorer XLT Sport... twice wouldn't start...took to dealer and they told me it was fixed... last night sat for an hour waiting for it to start... will restart if turned off and restarted immediately or if it sets for a while, but somewhere around 30 minutes it won't start...

Do you happen to leave the key in the car and open the doors with the keypad? The geniuses at Zeibart told me it's something about the chip in the key.
Avoid all trouble, buy a Chevy next time...


Chevy's have problems too

Just finished having my 2002 Ford Explorer towed for the 2nd time with it being the 4th time that it simply wouldn't start. Purchased a new vehicle so I wouldn't have to deal with such issues but apparently Ford has yet to learn how to build a vehicle. Midway Ford on Monday will probably tell me the same things as after the last 2 diagnostics that everything is fine. Easy for them to say as they aren't the ones standing out in the cold for an hour waiting for a tow truck to haul away away their late model vehicle.
Does anyone else have this issue?? It alway starts after an hour or so of sitting. It finally did start tonight after I had it towed. This time like the last I tried it when the tow truck driver got there and still no luck. Waited another hour after he dropped it off and of course it started like nothing ever happened.

I've been having the same problem with my 96 XLT. I believe I have a leaking injector causing fuel pressure to leakdown and flooding the cylinder.

It's my starter motor. Fortunately my 6 year/100,000 mile warranty covers it. A mechanic showed me how to tap on the starter with a hammer to get it "unstuck". Fired right up. The Ford dealer informed me however, that this is an extremely short term fix. Good luck to me and everyone else with this issue. The the most part, believe it or not, I really like this car, so I remain optomistic.


We had problems with our '95's starter too. Another way to get it going, rather than crawling under the car and giving the starter a good whack, is to just put the car in neutral (on a flat surface of course) and rock the whole vehicle. This method worked twice for me, before I could get the car in to have the starter replaced.

those with explorers 91-95 i understand these things happening, well, their pretty old lol

but when i hear these things happening to explorers 2000 and above, it maks me go hmmmm

I mean , I think all these things that happen should be blamed on he owner. If you take care of ur children better than ur car, then these are the things that occur, sounds to me u guys abuse ur cars in various ways.

I have my 2001 sport for over a year now, not a single problem.

um..i think its the starter...maybe overheating...signs say..get a new one.!!