Engine dies at startup.
 

I've got a 92 Explorer, and last night I went out to leave, and when it cranked, it took a few tries to get it to turn over, and then when it did, the rpms went up higher than normal and eventually came down to idle and then died out. Even after a few more tries turning it over, it kept going to idle and then down to stall. I cant seem to figure out what the problem is. I think it is either electrical or in the fuel system. I drove it a little earlier, but you have to keep threading it the gas so it doesnt idle down. Makes driving in the inner-city a bitch. Once the engine got hot, it seemed to be a little better, but still shook really bad (for a very good running engine) and still wanted to die out idling at stop lights.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be very appreciative.

Sounds fuel related to me. Either the pump itself, or a clogged filter.

Had a similar problem in two different cars. I was doign a compression test or a leak-down test or something and a vacuum line got disconnected near the throttle body. Car would start up and raise to about 3k rpm (thats normal) and drop back down to idle , then die. Traced it down to a little black tube.


The other one was airflow related. Had some gunk on the butterfly valve for the intake on the trottle body. When idling, the gunk closed off almost all airflow and it stalled out. Cleaned the valve, took out the throttle body, did some work on the TPS and a good cleaning and it runs great.

Could be air, fuel, or vacuum lines. Check your airflow, intake and trottle body. Look for unplugged vacuum lines. Check the fuel pressure in the rail, when its primed and pressurized and when its running. Any of these will limit it down to the general area that is causing the problem, then you can go from there.

Sounds fuel to me too. Electrical would tend to get worse while running.

I'd go with the Vacuum hose prob. Take a can of Carb Cleaner and spray it around the engine where the vacuum hoses are. If the engine picks up you know its a vacuum leak. Did this alot on my CRX when I had it. Lots of tubes.

now that i think about it, doesn't really sound fuel related to me, cuase if he keeps on teh throttle a little bit, it has plenty of juice, or so it sounds. If it were fuel related, such as not having enough pressure to push sufficient fuel through at idle, it should be darn near impossible to drive. If it is fuel related, it will most likely be caused by an electrical prob (such as tps telling it not to give much gas) or vaccum related.

Re: Engine dies at startup.
 

That like my old caprice when the choke got fucked....its now scrap.

My first guess would be a cracked or loose vacuum hose from the PCV valve. If not that, I'd put money on a guess that it's fuel-filter related.

Same problem happened on my friend's '95 exploder. All we had to do was replace a vacuum hose. Another clue we got was that it made a loud hissing noise that wasn't normal.

That would be my guess as well. I had a PCV go away on my mustang and it was similar to what you have described.

Ya a hising would give it away.

Or maybe bad fuel if you just filled up.

Ya know I had that problem like a year ago. but the van just ran like crap but didn't ever stall.

After cleaning the Idle Air Control, it seemed to even it out pretty good, and a cap popped off the vacuum tree. After correcting these, she seems to run great. Thanks for the input guys!

it coudl either be furl pump or the alternator. Or also the fuel filter. Its one of those. Its not going ot be anything serious i dont think