2002 Explorer Slow to Start in Cold Weather

2242 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by finiteguy, Jan 28, 2015

Delach

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2014

Hello all,
I have a cold weather starting problem with my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. It is a 6 cyl engine with about 86,000 miles. On a day where the temp is above 40 degrees, the engine starts right up. If it is just below 40, it take a crank or two but will start up every time. As the temp gets colder, it takes more cranks. At 30 degrees, about 5-10 cranks. At 25 degrees, about 8-15. At 20 degrees, 10-20. You get the point. It will start every single time and runs great once it starts. Once it starts and the engine begins to warm up, it will start right up on the first crank. The battery is strong. I have been charged $700 to replace the fuel pump, which did nothing. I swapped relays out to no avail. I replaced the ECT sensor. I checked all cables. I am at a complete loss and I don't want to keep pouring money into non-fixes. I don't mind paying for an actual fix, but $700 for a new fuel pump that didn't fix the problem really hurts. Has anyone ever experienced this problem on an Explorer or other Ford vehicle? Maybe its not unique to Ford. I welcome any solid advice that this forum can offer.
Thanks.

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zhong

· #2 · Dec 11, 2014

I have a 1992 Ford Explorer. Have you tried plugin your block heater ?
I plugin my block heater in cold weather and I don't have problems starting in cold weather.

Delach said:
Hello all,
I have a cold weather starting problem with my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. It is a 6 cyl engine with about 86,000 miles. On a day where the temp is above 40 degrees, the engine starts right up. If it is just below 40, it take a crank or two but will start up every time. As the temp gets colder, it takes more cranks. At 30 degrees, about 5-10 cranks. At 25 degrees, about 8-15. At 20 degrees, 10-20. You get the point. It will start every single time and runs great once it starts. Once it starts and the engine begins to warm up, it will start right up on the first crank. The battery is strong. I have been charged $700 to replace the fuel pump, which did nothing. I swapped relays out to no avail. I replaced the ECT sensor. I checked all cables. I am at a complete loss and I don't want to keep pouring money into non-fixes. I don't mind paying for an actual fix, but $700 for a new fuel pump that didn't fix the problem really hurts. Has anyone ever experienced this problem on an Explorer or other Ford vehicle? Maybe its not unique to Ford. I welcome any solid advice that this forum can offer.
Thanks.

Save

finiteguy

· #3 · Jan 28, 2015

zhong said:
I have a 1992 Ford Explorer. Have you tried plugin your block heater ?
I plugin my block heater in cold weather and I don't have problems starting in cold weather.

Could be the COP coils. They do go bad but you usually get a check engine code. I would be pissed too if I bought a fuel pump for nothing. I have a 2002 Eddie Bauer but it has a V-8, so it's a different engine. My wife has a v-6 on her 2005 Escape and the computer died...cost me $2,500 from Ford to replace all of the coils, plugs and computer. I think this is the last Ford I will own...it is absolutely stupid to have these problems. My wife's car shut down in the middle of the highway when the computer died. She could have been killed on the highway.

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