1997 explorer wont start

My sister bought me a 1997 ford exploer about 3 weeks ago, after just one week of owning it, it failed to start. The engine would go but would not turn over. I was told I wasn't keeping enough gas in it, but it had just over 1/2 a tank?? I got a friend of mine to come out and take a look at it and he was able to start it after quickly pumping the gas petal a few times. It ran fine untill yesterday now it wont start again. I know it had 3/4 tank this time but read empty so I filled it with more gas and it reads over 1/4 tank now quickly pumping the gas is doing nothing. Even tried jumping to no avail. Also it appears to be leaking a clear yet greasy fuild from engine area have no idea what that is. Does anyone know what is wrong and how I can get it started so I can take it to a shop? I am a widow with 3 small kids and can not afford to have someone tow it especaily if i have to take it it to have it fixed. Thanks.....

The Idle Air Controll valve might be bad.
It is located under the black centeral
engine cover.(shiney, and cylenderical)
About $50 at NAPA.
You can start the truck by pumping the
accelerator, like your friend did.
After it starts, you have to fether the
accelator, to keep it running, untill it warms up.
Replaceing the IAC valve is an easy job.
Mabye your friend can do it for you.

I used to have a similar problem with mine. I changed the fuel pump and the fuel filter. That did the trick for me. Hope it works out for you.

tenclub

Could you expand on the starting problems you had before the pump/filter change. My son has a 94 explorer that has a very unpredictable starting problem. It will go just fine for a month, then for no apparant reason will not start. The engine will turn over just fine, but it will not start up. After it sits for awhile (15 minutes to an hour), it will start and will not have the problem for maybe a week or a month. It happens when the tank is empty or when its full; When its hot outside or cool.

How hard/expenive was it to change the pump/filter? I may just start "throwing parts at it".

Thanks

tenclub

Could you expand on the starting problems you had before the pump/filter change. My son has a 94 explorer that has a very unpredictable starting problem. It will go just fine for a month, then for no apparant reason will not start. The engine will turn over just fine, but it will not start up. After it sits for awhile (15 minutes to an hour), it will start and will not have the problem for maybe a week or a month. It happens when the tank is empty or when its full; When its hot outside or cool.

How hard/expenive was it to change the pump/filter? I may just start "throwing parts at it".

Thanks
you have to have a "special tool"to take the fuel filter off.you can get it at advanced auto parts for under $10.00.once you have it,it is easy.fuel filter is located on the frame under the drivers seat.

I had the exact same problem with my pick up once. I tried everything even to the oxygen sensor. Then I looked at the timing chain, and it was a notch off. Therefore it would not start, but it would turn over. I changed the timing chain and that did the trick. Good thing is that timing chains are not too expensive.

Hi. I had this problem also. We bought our truck Dec 2003. The first time it happened was around April 2004. We changed the filter, checked the starter, all the things recommended here. What we found was that the fuses in the fuse box were loose. Under the hood, on the driver's side , is a black box (about half the size of a shoe box) , you can try to press down on all the fuses while someone else turns the ignition. Or pull out the fuses, then push them back in (maybe wipe them ) this is time consuming - but it lasted us a year. We just had the same problem yesterday, we just pushed down on all the fuses, waited a half hour. Then the car started up. So far, it's been 24 hrs, my son delivers pizza and drives my car - last night and tonite - no problems. I hope it helps.

I changed out the EEC Relay (located in the black fuse box under the hood) and the starting problerm seems to be fixed.

Its gone a whole week without a malfunction!!!