Why does my 2001 Ford Expedition sometimes not start???

Question

It started about 4 months ago. I went out shopping, and when I tried to start my car to head home, it wouldn't start. I sat there, trying not to panic, and tried it again after about 5 minutes. It started right up. Since then it has continued to do that randomly, sometimes with me sitting for up to 15 to 30 minutes. The radio and air comes on, but it doesn't turn over and start. I took it to a mechanic, he says as long as it is cranking for him he can't fix it. So I have to just be stranded, and continue to try the switch. I have 2 children, and a fear that we will be somewhere, and it won't start up. What can I do if the mechanics tell me that they can't fix something that's not broke? And nothing shows up on the diagnostic machine, and the check engine light is not on? There is no indication that it will do it. And as I said, it will eventually start up for me. It's so scary and I just get paralyzed every time I turn it off....thinking will it start up again.

Answer 1

I have seen more starters fail intermittently more often than any other part on the car. Your mechanic sounds like a very good mechanic. I never ever guess when I perform diagnostics on a vehicle. Especially when I can't reproduce the customer's complaint. A scan tool isn't going to help. looking at sensors isn't going to help. The only thing you can check with certainty are the connections tight. Fords don't have a chip in the key that can be seen without breaking open the key. But you having two children riding you all the time, something needs done. It's time your mechanic made an educated guess. Look at it this way. Your truck is about 6 years old. If you started it a mininmum of 2 times a day do the math. Its starting to wear out. Think of it as preventive maintenance. Take your truck back to the mechanic and tell him to put a starter in it. Expensive guess? Yes. Couldn't it be the ignition switch, battery cables or security system. Yes it could. But I wouldn't tell you to do something I wouldn't do on my own truck. I'm not rich but this is what I do for a living. I diagnose electrical systems in cars. Besides, after a while when you notice it's starting with no problems you'll no longer fear you'll be stuck.

Answer 2

The other guy is right, intermittent problems are a *****. But a fuse is not a relay. Relays really aren't that expensive. Cheap enough to just change out to see if it works. And I've had to replace fuel pump relays in both my recent Ford trucks, which share mechanicals with the expedition. If somebody gave you a valid reason to believe it's a relay, try it. Here's how I knew. Turn the ignition to on. Can you hear the fuel pump running back in tank? Low humm.. You may have to remove the cap and listen.. If it won't start and you can't hear the pump, it's either the pump or the relay. The relay is way cheaper to replace first. If you can hear the pump when the key is turned to on without starting, it's not the relay, regardless if the truck starts or not. The relay just supplies the juice to allow the pump to run. If you hear the pump running, and it won't start, you either got a plugged screen, filter, or a problem with the injection system (if you have established you have spark and no ignition system problem) The ***** is that you may think you ain't getting fuel for whatever reason and it may be a faulty ECM or other ignition or timing problem.

Answer 3

It's the STARTER!
If it started up before OK that means nothing else is wrong or it would never have restarted up. The starter is the only part in the car that can be defective and sometimes restart your car. All other parts in the starting system will not allow it to start. If the battery is dead then you'll get nothing. If something is wrong with the distributor,ignition, plugs, cables, and coil you'll get nothing! If electricity stops it stops if it has no power it won't magically appear again. Your starting system is hitting everywhere except the "starter" is not engaging. Your solenoid sounds OK as long as you can hear the car trying to crank or even if you just hear a clicking noise when you go to start it also means that your solenoid is fine. The problem is that your "STARTER MOTOR" is going bad. Have it tested at an auto parts store to make sure, it's usually free. I'm pretty sure it's the starter. Oh! and by the way expect the auto repair shop to tell you it's this and that and also this. This is a perfect opportunity for them to go after your life saving to try to fix it so be very careful and cautious. Sometimes at your local community college they will replace parts for free just as long as you provide them with the new part. If it were me I would just tell them to change the starter only nothing else. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Answer 4

Things to do yourself.
Take it to a parts store that offers free battery testing, also have them check the terminals for corrosion and wear. Does your key feel loose or sloppy in the ignition, and does it have a small black plastic piece on the metal shaft of the key? If the key feels somewhat loose, have a mechanic check the ignition switch to see if its engaging properly. If it has a small plastic chip on the key, have Ford cut you a new key, that chip is a small security measure that sometimes won't signal the switch that it's OK to start. Lastly, ford has a starter solenoid under the hood that goes out quite often, and can randomly not work. The part is usually under $20 and is very easy to change. If none of these work, take it to Ford, it's not as cheap as you can get it, but it will be done right and with a warranty.

Answer 5

Find a mechanic who has the time and perseverance to check the things that commonly cause an intermittent no-crank situation.

The radio and air may come on, but the battery and/or connections may have enough resistance in them that the starter won't crank. After time, the heating effect of attempting to crank the engine may move the battery cables, or stress the battery enough that it makes a better connection and then it cranks okay - until the next time.

BTW, electrical problems are often a mystery to some mechanics who aren't familiar with electrical properties and measurements that would otherwise lead them directly to the problem.

Answer 6

You need to find a shop that has a mechanic that understands the sensors on your car. A scan tool that can graph the sensors while they are operating would be a help. whatever you do don't get into the "I think it might be --" If the mechanic can't give you an educated answer go elsewhere. I have heard stories of people who spend several hundred$$$ changing parts and don't get a solution. Ask your friends for some onput on a mechanic. A good one is hard to find.

Answer 7

A common problem with this vehicle is the neutral safety switch, which is electrical. Also if you have another key try it , the security system in the ignition switch may not be reading the key due a key problem. If that takes care of the problem you know its the key, if not take it to a professional shop.

Answer 8

ON NEWER CARS ,IF YOU JUST SUDDENLY TURN THE KEY FROM THE OFF POSITION TO START POSITION ALL AT ONCE,IT WILL NOT START. THE GAGES USUALLY NEED A SECOND OR SO TO SWEEP UP THEN DOWN,COMPUTER NEEDS TO SET.....TRY TURNING KEY ON AND WATCH GAGES, OR JUST WAIT A FEW SECONDS,THEN START.I HAVE SEEN THIS SORT OF TROUBLE WITH A FEW MAKES OF CARS,,,,GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

that's the way most cars will do they wont act up when you need them to,if you can get it to act up sometime and have it scanned with a computer this might tell you why its not starting,you might also wont to have it checked out real good,this could just be something electrical going out on it,good luck with it.

Answer 10

Sounds electrical or you may not be placing the shifter all the way into park.