question for all you ford guys

[homersipes]

I have a 98 ford exloder that died on me on my way home from work, havent went and towed it home yet.  On my way home the engine light started flashing, and it started to vibrate, no loud bangs or clunks, so I pulled over and listened, not making any strange noises other than a misfire, figured plugs were bad, so continued on home, was only about 15 mins away.  get almost all the way home and had to pull a hill and had it to the floor and only doing about 5 miles an hour and it was shaking pretty bad like running on 2 cyliders.  I made it to the top pulled over and there it sat.  now when I try to start it it just turns over, so I checked fuel port on rail, no fuel, no fuel pump noise either.  So I am guessing the pump is shot, would that cause the light to flash? It would flash then just stay on and run ok, then flash and run like poop. just dont understand the flashing engine light, never had one flash at me.  I have looked at some forums and they say its a damaging misfire that can cause damage to the converter.  I havent scanned it yet either. 

[Slate]

   A flashing check engine light is as you figured indicating a misfire. That's why you had the vibration when one or more cylinders are not providing power. Low fuel pressure could cause it and after attaching a gauge to the fuel rail you should have 50-60 psi with the key turned on. Also it should hold that pressure for a few minutes.
   There are some issues with high mileage vehicles clogging the Catalytic Converters and on the Ford Exploder there are 4 of them that can get quite expensive to replace.
   Clogged Cat? Multiple misfires or just a P0300. Very low exhaust flow out the tailpipe. You can rev it and it seems fine until you try to accelerate on the road. On the road you can ease into throttle and get it up to speed but mash the gas and no power.
                               If it's just a fuel pump you'll have to drop the fuel tank to replace it.
                                    Slate
  
                                      

[homersipes]

pugged cat? hahaha nothing a pipe wont cure     nah it wont even start, it has no fuel on fuel rail, and dont hear fuel pump either, so guessing pump crapped out on me. bypassed inertia switch just to see if it would run and a no go, will see when I get it home so I can do some volt tests

[WEZEL]

pugged cat? hahaha nothing a pipe wont cure     nah it wont even start, it has no fuel on fuel rail, and dont hear fuel pump either, so guessing pump crapped out on me. bypassed inertia switch just to see if it would run and a no go, will see when I get it home so I can do some volt tests

The flashing mil light is due to a class "A" misfire, low/no fuel pressure may cause it, lack of power is also a symptom of low fuel pressure.. I would check for spark also just as a normal part of any "no start" diag. Time to drag out the "Test Puppy" to check for spark.......long story dont ask 

 
On the Ford you will only have 12v at the pump for 3 seconds when you turn the key on but it will provide a constant 12v cranking, so check it quick or have someone crank it when you check for voltage at the pump.

[Easyscor]

This is a dumb question but have you checked the inline fuel filter? It's about a $12 part for your Explorer.

[smoe]

May want to pick up a Car Diagnostic Scanner Code Reader. It will give you a place to start.

If it is a bad fuel pump I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of these from the new ethanol gas standards.

Just a recommendation, I had a bad fuel pump in the mid 90's and tapped on the underside of the fuel tank with a hammer or wrench. I think it helped a few times, but I know I was at least able to get it to the service station and have a new one installed.

[smoe]

This is a dumb question but have you checked the inline fuel filter? It's about a $12 part for your Explorer.

oh yea, is your gas tank cap locked? Maybe someone spiked your tank with something.

[homersipes]

This is a dumb question but have you checked the inline fuel filter? It's about a $12 part for your Explorer.

yeah its new, was one of the first things I replaced on this thing.  I have to pick it up in the am didnt have anyone to hepl drag it home, its only about a half mile from my house   yeah I beat on the bottom of the tank also and the top as best as I could, checked fuses/relays I think the pump is junked, and I agree probably goig to see more and more parts like that start failing

[homersipes]

okay so I am confused now, I ran codes and it came up with a misfire on 2-3-4, and an evap leak.  got it in the garage, turned key on and now I can hear fuel pump .  I didnt touch anything other than the battery, which was dead.  is there any other possibilities that I should look for?  other than an bad spot in the wiring harness, which is where I am going to start looking as soon as I eat.  I have read about anti theft crap causing the fuel pump not to work.  

[morfiend]

 Have you considered water in the fuel?   If you use ethanol or the fuel has  ethanol added you can find water building up in the tank. It's usually fine if you keep a full tank of fuel as the water sits on the bottom and can even freeze if it gets cold enough.


   

[homersipes]

yeah thats what I am kind of thinking happened, I took a screwdriver and pushed the fuel pressure port on the injection rail and it came out milky just like water, I sprayed carb cleaner in the throttle body to see if I could get it to start and run the line out but it still doesnt start   I have pulled the plugs out and its got fire and even bit me this dang thing is getting to me 

[morfiend]

 If it is water and you dont have a couple gallons in there....   you might get away with filling the tank with fuel,preferably without ethanol and add in a couple cans a gasline antifreeze.  The antifreeze should mix with the water and force the engine to burn it,well sort of.

  There's likely a purge valve to get rid of the water,you might want to check that it's funtioning properly.



   

[WEZEL]

Before you go pulling your hair out checking the wiring, not saying that there is nothing wrong with it but I have only seen 1 explorer of you model year have a fuel pump harness concern and that was at the connector to the pump on the rs frame rail and that was due to a rodent chewing at it. I would go with a fuel pump relay or fuel pump before I would be looking at a wiring issue, most common issues I have seen and that's just my experience. still check for voltage at the pump to be sure.

If your fuel came out milky at the schrader valve on the fuel rail I would start with that, may have to drain the tank to get it all out, 1 way you can drain the tank without removing it is too disconnect the fuel line at the injector rail if you have the tool or at the fuel filter, much easier at the filter to do, attach a rubber hose to the filter and stick that in a gas can, cycle the key on and off until the fuel looks clear ****NOTE**** you are working with gas and keeping it away from an ignition source would be highly recommended, serious injury or death may result if the fuel ignites. [sorry had to say it] Let the line going to the injector rail drain back also wile it is disconnected from the filter, push the schrader valve in and gravity will do the rest. you will still have some water in the fuel rail but not much you can do about that unless you remove it to clean it out.  Add some fresh gas and some dry gas to the tank. Hope it just some water that froze up with the cold weather and you can clear it up quickly.

The missfire code you got are probably from the water not burning like fuel would, the EVAP code is most likely the fuel cap rubber seal or fuel filler neck at the cap seal area, I have seen a ton of those with a crack in them since the are plastic and can crack with a misplaced fuel nozel or the canister purge valve, those the the most common EVAP concerns with the explorer.

I doubt very much it's the PATS [anti theft] system since that would only shut the fuel pump and starter circuits off when trying to start it and the little theft lamp would be flashing when the pats sytem is activated, not activate wile driving to give the symptoms you described.

[homersipes]

but wouldnt it run off of the carb cleaner? I gave it a shot of starting fluid and same thing nothing.  So I took fuel line off at pressure regulator( I think  )  turned key on and got so far almost a coffee can of milky junk

[WEZEL]

but wouldnt it run off of the carb cleaner? I gave it a shot of starting fluid and same thing nothing.  So I took fuel line off at pressure regulator( I think  )  turned key on and got so far almost a coffee can of milky junk

If the plugs are water fouled, plus when you are cranking it is injecting more water/bad fuel into the cylinders, I doubt anything you sprayed in would get it running. Keep draining the fuel until all the junk is gone.

Did you just get gas when this happened? might have got a bad tank full from the station you went to.