BigRedDangerRanger
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2008
- Messages
- 8
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
Alright guys (and gals), I'm hoping y'all can get my butt out of a sling one more time.
I have a 97 XLT 4.0 with 306,000 miles. I've had this gal since 80,000... original motor. She's my daily driver.
Three months ago I put in a new fuel pump.
A few weeks ago I was on a road trip and after about 300 miles of interstate driving I got onto a state highway, going around 60mph and, out of nowhere, my rpm's dropped, the throttle went unresponsive, and she sputtered to a stop. The engine would turn over fine, but wouldn't start. I went through the basics: air filter, fuel filter, checked power to the fuel pump, etc. Everything looked fine.
I checked for fuel at the schrader valve and had fuel, but what looked like a little vapor also. After a while, I pulled the air intake hose loose and tried using a little starting fluid. I got it to start, but couldn't keep it running with the throttle. After about an hour of cussing and tinkering, i finally got it to start, but the idle was rough and the response to the throttle was still really slow. Hooking the air intake hose back up helped the idle, but the throttle response was still really slow. Things never improved enough for me to get back on the road, so I had it towed to a mechanic (that was a first... and it sucked.)
This was on a Saturday, so the mechanic couldn't get to it till Monday. When I got it back he said he didn't do a thing to it (other than top off my coolant). Said he got to it early Monday and it fired up and drove fine. Murphy's Law, right? I drove all the way back home (300 miles on the interstate) with no problems... not a single one.
Till yesterday. I was driving around the farm (literally just putting around in 2nd gear all morning) and turned the truck off for a few minutes. Hopped back in, fired it up and the same thing... sputtering, coughing and then it died. Couldn't get it to start, and after about 45 minutes of trying, I left it alone. (This time I could walk to the house). I came out this morning and it fired right up.
Any ideas? Is this a vacuum or a sensor thing? I live in the deep south now, would the heat of the day have anything to do with it?
Any ideas are welcome, I'll check back regularly. Thanks a bunch!
I have a 97 XLT 4.0 with 306,000 miles. I've had this gal since 80,000... original motor. She's my daily driver.
Three months ago I put in a new fuel pump.
A few weeks ago I was on a road trip and after about 300 miles of interstate driving I got onto a state highway, going around 60mph and, out of nowhere, my rpm's dropped, the throttle went unresponsive, and she sputtered to a stop. The engine would turn over fine, but wouldn't start. I went through the basics: air filter, fuel filter, checked power to the fuel pump, etc. Everything looked fine.
I checked for fuel at the schrader valve and had fuel, but what looked like a little vapor also. After a while, I pulled the air intake hose loose and tried using a little starting fluid. I got it to start, but couldn't keep it running with the throttle. After about an hour of cussing and tinkering, i finally got it to start, but the idle was rough and the response to the throttle was still really slow. Hooking the air intake hose back up helped the idle, but the throttle response was still really slow. Things never improved enough for me to get back on the road, so I had it towed to a mechanic (that was a first... and it sucked.)
This was on a Saturday, so the mechanic couldn't get to it till Monday. When I got it back he said he didn't do a thing to it (other than top off my coolant). Said he got to it early Monday and it fired up and drove fine. Murphy's Law, right? I drove all the way back home (300 miles on the interstate) with no problems... not a single one.
Till yesterday. I was driving around the farm (literally just putting around in 2nd gear all morning) and turned the truck off for a few minutes. Hopped back in, fired it up and the same thing... sputtering, coughing and then it died. Couldn't get it to start, and after about 45 minutes of trying, I left it alone. (This time I could walk to the house). I came out this morning and it fired right up.
Any ideas? Is this a vacuum or a sensor thing? I live in the deep south now, would the heat of the day have anything to do with it?
Any ideas are welcome, I'll check back regularly. Thanks a bunch!