98 explorer flooding help

[134isfast]

hey guy
i have a 98 ford explorer 4L v6 sohc and having real bad problems with it i brought it as a non runner and thought it would be easy to fix but i was way wrong the problems i am having is when you start it it runs for around 8 seconds then cuts out and smells really strong of fuel when i removed the plugs they are soaked with fuel i cleaned them put them back in and it did the same thing again ran then died if i trip the fuel cut off switch and crank it it nearly goes but wont due to lack of fuel i have read the fault codes and nothing shows as being a problem i can leave it for weeks and go down and start it then it starts but does the same thing dies after 8 seconds i have checked fuel presure the lot and is all ok i dont no what else it could be the dashboard has a small screen which looks like it should tell you if the doors are open ect but i may be wrong if the screen is supposed to work is it tied in with any mager engine management systems the explorer is right hand drive and does any 1 know where i can find the ecu help would be great ful cheers

[shorod]

I'm not sure how much different the right hand drive Explorer is from what we are used to here in the States. The PCM is probably in the passenger side kick panel or located above the glove box with the connector accessible from under the hood at the firewall.

I doubt your RH-drive version uses the OBD-II protocol, but is there a scan tool you can use to check for codes?

How long as the vehicle been sitting? Maybe the fuel is old and, after 8 seconds, enough unburned fuel goo coats the plugs and prevents a good spark.

Have you checked compression across the cylinders?

If you pull a vacuum line from the throttle body and use throttle body cleaner into the port, can you keep the vehicle running for longer than 8 seconds? You may want to try this both with the fuel pump disabled and with it enabled.

-Rod

[134isfast]

Originally Posted by shorod

I'm not sure how much different the right hand drive Explorer is from what we are used to here in the States. The PCM is probably in the passenger side kick panel or located above the glove box with the connector accessible from under the hood at the firewall.

I doubt your RH-drive version uses the OBD-II protocol, but is there a scan tool you can use to check for codes?

How long as the vehicle been sitting? Maybe the fuel is old and, after 8 seconds, enough unburned fuel goo coats the plugs and prevents a good spark.

Have you checked compression across the cylinders?

If you pull a vacuum line from the throttle body and use throttle body cleaner into the port, can you keep the vehicle running for longer than 8 seconds? You may want to try this both with the fuel pump disabled and with it enabled.

-Rod

i have found the ecu it was on the passeger side well drivers side if it was left hand it was under the hood where you said and i know it has OBD-ll cause i have the tool myself to read fault codes but like i said i have pluged it in and its says no DTCS stored on ecu the previous owner said he was driving it along and everything went heavy cause it had stalled so he went to start it and it dident go ever since then its had this strange problem since it was last driven was about a year an a half ago and since i have had it i have drained the tank put fresh fuel in checked pulse from all injectors and everything ok good spark new plugs the only other possile thing i can think of is the ecu has failed and the fuel mapping side of things have gone out the window but i am hoping i get some were i am trying to source an ecu and goin to keep my fingers crossed that this is the problem if not where next ????

[shorod]

The engine will need spark, compression, proper timing, and proper air/fuel ratio to start. If you have spark and fuel, check the compression and air intake for restrictions (including the air filter). There are no stored codes in the PCM, but you don't get an indication of no communication, right? The injector pulsing and spark is controlled by the PCM, so it seems that is probably functioning.

Does the engine sputter when cranking, or just crank and never sound like it wants to start? What does the battery voltage read when trying to start the engine?

-Rod

[134isfast]

Originally Posted by shorod

The engine will need spark, compression, proper timing, and proper air/fuel ratio to start. If you have spark and fuel, check the compression and air intake for restrictions (including the air filter). There are no stored codes in the PCM, but you don't get an indication of no communication, right? The injector pulsing and spark is controlled by the PCM, so it seems that is probably functioning.

Does the engine sputter when cranking, or just crank and never sound like it wants to start? What does the battery voltage read when trying to start the engine?

-Rod

when i plug my fault code reader in it runs its tests and comes up in simple terms no fault codes stored nothing what so ever thats what makes me think ecu it should store something cause there is something wrong the engine manage ment light doesent even come on when it starts for so little time compression +timing is fine the only thing i havent checked is the air intake but have checked air filter and thats ok when i start the engine it starts fine for that 8 seconds or around with no misfire or nothing but thats with the fuel switch tripped off and when cranking it really wants to go it sounds like say you run a car out of fuel and refill it and crank it will start then cut out until fuel pressure builds up if i put the fuel switch on and start it it will start for only 1 or 2 seconds or maybe sometimes get a backfire tho the exhaust then game over if i wanna try starting it again i have to leave it for a week to let the excess fuel evaporate unless i switch the switch off again and crank it until the fuel clears its fuel related but what can it possibly be its really doin my head in i am a mechanic but dont feel like 1 cause i seem to be goin round in circles and not getting any were when working on it i always have a heavy duty battery charger goin some so i dont think battery voltage there will be a problem thinking of ordering cam sensor cranksensor ecu ect sensor and maybe fuel pressure regulator i have always liked fords but starting to part from them due to this explorer having such a strange problem that know 1 really can find a solution to and testing my temper to the edge

[shorod]

If your scan tool is able to connect to the PCM and run the tests, I don't think the PCM is your problem.

For the 8 seconds that it runs, does it seem to run okay? Does your scan tool have the datastream mode? If so, what does the coolant temperature sensor read? Maybe the coolant temp sensor is way off and is causing the engine to flood.

I assume you've checked for vacuum leaks.

-Rod