4.0L OHV Soul crushed and seeking advice on starting problems

[Li'l Work Truck]

Interesting

I had a Conquest TSi that had instructions on the shutdown process to avoid heat soak and engine damage. It said that if the car had been used intensively, it was best to sit at idle for several minutes while the engine cooled, then shut off the engine, where the fan would finish the job.

 

[gaz]

There isn't any insulation on mine.. I wonder if they did from the factory back in 91..
Either way I'll get some to put on it.

Sorry, they did not ..(

 

[gaz]

@TacoBelleGirl
Have you verified your base timing with the spout disconnect?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

@TacoBelleGirl
Have you verified your base timing with the spout disconnect?

Isn’t that only a distributor thing? The 4.0 didn’t use a distributor and the timing is “non-adjustable” on the 4.0

 

[Things2do]

Isn’t that only a distributor thing? The 4.0 didn’t use a distributor and the timing is “non-adjustable” on the 4.0

The 4.0 is distributorless, but it still has a SPOUT connector. Unplugging it forces the computer to a base timing so that you can check it and then plug it back in and check it again. There's also a similar looking timing retard connector up there in case you get ahold of some bad gas.

I might be late to the hot restart fuel discussion, but I crawled under my '94 4.0 one day after off-roading it in the heat in the desert all afternoon and I could hear fuel bubbling or squirting back into the gas tank through presumably the return line. I think I read somewhere that Ford started putting a thermal spacer between the fuel rails or something and the engine later in the '90's because of that issue, and that you can pull the spacers from a junkyard and put them on earlier 4.0s. Or just keep drawing funny looks as you act normal while your engine sputters and barely runs while in the middle of nowhere...

Oddly enough, mine had that problem in March in Moab when it was 80+. But it had no problems with hot restarts when I went back to Moab in early June and it was 100+.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The 4.0 is distributorless, but it still has a SPOUT connector. Unplugging it forces the computer to a base timing so that you can check it and then plug it back in and check it again. There's also a similar looking timing retard connector up there in case you get ahold of some bad gas.

I might be late to the hot restart fuel discussion, but I crawled under my '94 4.0 one day after off-roading it in the heat in the desert all afternoon and I could hear fuel bubbling or squirting back into the gas tank through presumably the return line. I think I read somewhere that Ford started putting a thermal spacer between the fuel rails or something and the engine later in the '90's because of that issue, and that you can pull the spacers from a junkyard and put them on earlier 4.0s. Or just keep drawing funny looks as you act normal while your engine sputters and barely runs while in the middle of nowhere...

Oddly enough, mine had that problem in March in Moab when it was 80+. But it had no problems with hot restarts when I went back to Moab in early June and it was 100+.

I’ll confess it’s been awhile since I really examined a 4.0 harness. I’ve been trying to ignore mine because it’s getting in rough shape and I’m not anxious to overhaul it.

I never thought of that, it would be easy enough to change, some 4.0 had a paper gasket and some had a thick plastic sort of gasket but the holes are the same.

 

[TacoBelleGirl]

@TacoBelleGirl
Have you verified your base timing with the spout disconnect?

Have not, honestly.
I kinda feel like it's probably a fueling issue though. No knocking or pinging.
If I say had it in 4th and put the foot the floor it'll accelerate but it likes to almost sputter and give brief moments of no power.
I could believe a fuel pressure issue. I know someone who says he has a tester with the ford adapter so I'll probably borrow that and see what I get.
Having said that though I do have another fuel pump just sitting around so I could technically just swap it.

I did kinda hastily throw on the insulation. Seems like it's nice, though you will want a sharp pair of scissors speaking from experience dull ones are a PITA for this.
No clue if it helped or not, I've only gone on trips that ended with the same ending destination as the start and honestly it's cooled down a lot too so it would be nowhere near an apples-to-apples comparison.

Also yes I do need to make friends with someone who owns a pressure washer and blast all that caked up dirt and oil.. Loving apartment life lol

Anywho.. I think I need to replace my thermostat again as I am seeing wide swings from normal to cold.. then slowly back up to normal until an extended period time of driving.
Shame on me for buying one that came with the housing I guess. Time for a Motorcraft
Edit: I will actually be ordering a Mahle TX788D. It's the motorcraft part with the motorcaft branding ground off 1/3rd the price.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

@TacoBelleGirl , I wouldn’t just change a fuel pump without checking things or extenuating circumstances. I had two replacement pumps be a problem so far. One was dead right out of the box and the other lasted about a month before presenting the same symptoms as the original pump. So just because you have a new pump, unfortunately these days don’t mean it’s good. Which reminds me, o should probably throw my fuel pressure tester on the Choptop and see what it says.

I did throw a new pump in the Choptop a year or so ago. Steel tank was leaking and when I pulled it the pump and lock ring were so crusty that I decided I didn’t want to fight it and put a new pump in the new plastic tank, lol. Extenuating circumstances right there, lol.

I did buy a fuel pressure gauge from Harbor Freight awhile ago and I don’t remember it being very expensive. It works, there’s better gauges out there, but for non-professional use it works.

 

[bobbywalter]

does it have a cam sensor?

most 91 dont....is it a cali emission?

 

[TacoBelleGirl]

@TacoBelleGirl , I wouldn’t just change a fuel pump without checking things or extenuating circumstances. I had two replacement pumps be a problem so far. One was dead right out of the box and the other lasted about a month before presenting the same symptoms as the original pump. So just because you have a new pump, unfortunately these days don’t mean it’s good. Which reminds me, o should probably throw my fuel pressure tester on the Choptop and see what it says.

I did throw a new pump in the Choptop a year or so ago. Steel tank was leaking and when I pulled it the pump and lock ring were so crusty that I decided I didn’t want to fight it and put a new pump in the new plastic tank, lol. Extenuating circumstances right there, lol.

I did buy a fuel pressure gauge from Harbor Freight awhile ago and I don’t remember it being very expensive. It works, there’s better gauges out there, but for non-professional use it works.

I was looking at the harbor freight tester.. but honestly between supplies, parts, tools, etc I spent almost $800 on the truck between the end of July and start of august so my pockets are feeling kinda light and I don't super want to buy another tool, even if it is only $45. Theoretically though I can borrow one which is free

does it have a cam sensor?

most 91 dont....is it a cali emission?

Don't think so? Not sure how to verify for sure. It doesn't have an EGR system or anything like that.
MAF, 02, and one cat. Door sticker says it complies to all federal emissions standards.. no mention of cali on it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I was looking at the harbor freight tester.. but honestly between supplies, parts, tools, etc I spent almost $800 on the truck between the end of July and start of august so my pockets are feeling kinda light and I don't super want to buy another tool, even if it is only $45. Theoretically though I can borrow one which is free


Don't think so? Not sure how to verify for sure. It doesn't have an EGR system or anything like that.
MAF, 02, and one cat. Door sticker says it complies to all federal emissions standards.. no mention of cali on it.

I certainly understand light pockets, lol

If the sticker says Federal Emissions, it’s Federal and not Cali

 

[SenorNoob]

Don't think so? Not sure how to verify for sure.

If there were a Cam sensor, (there shouldn't be) It should be visible sitting on the back of the block where the distributor was on the 2.9

 

[gaz]

@TacoBelleGirl
You have no EGR, it is Federal emissions. To my understanding the ODB¹ California emissions with EGR were only available 93 and 94.