Vapor lock? Rough start today!

[shane96ranger]

First off, this isn't an urgent matter so I didn't put it under there. I don't really know where it goes, so please forgive me for putting it here if it's the wrong home for it.

I went out and moved my truck so my wife could get her car out. I just started it for a minute and shut it off. Then I think it's cold, maybe I should leave it running for a minute before I leave for work. So I go to start the thing back up and it fires for a brief second and then it sounds like the motor turned backwards a bit and dies if that makes sense? Then it takes me several cranks and probably a total of a minute cranking time to get it to fire. I finally got it to fire by using the old carburetor method of pushing the pedal in a few times.

Any thoughts on why? My first thought is IAC valve wasn't opening. It acted just like vapor lock, but I know that's not supposed to happen with EFI and the high pressure fuel pump. However, after all of that, it is now outside running fine though.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts. Oh, it is the truck described on the left

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[heptofite]

yeah, it's not vapor lock, not only is your situation not how it happens, the high pressure fuel system makes it impossible.


that's not to say you didn't get air in the line, however.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Don't worry about it. My Ranger did it to me once. It was a cold morning, I just started up the truck and pulled out of the driveway. Put it into 1st and stalled it (my fault, let the clutch out too fast). Re-started the engine, but it would just keep turning over, no start. So I just shut it off completely and let it sit for 30 seconds. Re-started it again and she fired right up.

 

[shane96ranger]

Don't worry about it. My Ranger did it to me once. It was a cold morning, I just started up the truck and pulled out of the driveway. Put it into 1st and stalled it (my fault, let the clutch out too fast). Re-started the engine, but it would just keep turning over, no start. So I just shut it off completely and let it sit for 30 seconds. Re-started it again and she fired right up.

This is the second time it's done it, but the last time was over a year ago. I remember my Explorer doing it as well, but it had so many miles on it I wasn't worried about it, LOL. It's very annoying and embarrassing, I was hoping there was a solution.

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[Earl43P]

Try priming the fuel system when that happens.
Turn key to Run, wait 3 sec, key to Off, repeat.

Fuel pump will run and fully charge up the bled down pressure.
This is so common on ALL EFI vehicles that My SOP (and frequent advice) is to do this priming before every cold start. Saves wear and tear on the starter and battery.

 

[shane96ranger]

Try priming the fuel system when that happens.
Turn key to Run, wait 3 sec, key to Off, repeat.

Fuel pump will run and fully charge up the bled down pressure.
This is so common on ALL EFI vehicles that My SOP (and frequent advice) is to do this priming before every cold start.

I will try that next time for sure. I've only had it happen on my two 4.0's I've had. My Escape that's a 2.3 does not like to turn over when it's cold, and it's got a pretty new battery in it.

Saves wear and tear on the starter and battery.

I definitely was surprised at how well my battery held up. The starter and battery got a work out today!