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Starting problems

3K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  REDhat 
#1 ·
I have a 1991 E350 Van with a 451 Fuel Injected engine.

The van starts fine when the engine is cold, but after the engine warms up and you shut the van off and try to restart it, it won't turn over. If you let the engine cool down it will start.

I recently had to have the fuel pump replaced along with a new battery installed. This problem started after the fuel pump was replaced. Also note the old starter went out about 4 months ago and was replaced with an OE starter. Since it has gone back in to be worked on for this problem the starter, battery and solenoid have been replaced. However the problem still exists. My mechanic says that they took the spark plugs out and it will crank. They seem to think that there is a cam problem??? Not sure!!!

Here is some background on the van. It was used as a longhaul delivery van. Our fire dept., purchased it back in 2000 and the engine and transmission were replaced. In the 6 years it sat in a fire station and was hardly ever used. In those 6 years there was only 3600 miles put on the new engine. This problem did happen once before and we replaced the starter and solenoid and it went away. So why does the problem now continue to occur once these parts have been replaced again. I purchased the van earlier this year. Also note that the new starter, battery and solenoid are not defected. They all test good.

I hope someone can help me with some ideas as to what may be going on.

Thanks
 
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#2 ·
Sorry, but your post is confusing to me.
Does it start or not?? ever? (anymore)
When it doesn't start, does it turn over? If so , do you have spark?
When your mechanics take the plugs out and it will crank, does that mean if they put them back in, that it will not crank?
 
#3 ·
It does start once the engine has cooled down.
Aslo when it doesn't start, it won't turn over at all. It won't even click. It will try to turn the flywheel once or twice, but then nothing at all.
My mechanic said that if they reach under and try to turn the flywheel by hand that it will only turn a couple of times and then stop. It will crank without the spark plugs in, and it will start with the plugs back in only if the engine is cool.

I hope this helps.

Thanks
 
#4 ·
Sounds like it may be a couple different problems. If they can't turn the engine over by hand unless the plugs are out, I would guess maybe a clogged cat. If you don't even get a click, it sounds like a bad connection or a bad starter. Sometimes when a starter starts to go, it won't crank when it get hot. Is the heat shield in place? Keep in mind, I am not a mechanc, just throwing some things out there. (2 cents)
 
#7 ·
This is for thefonz.
Well we were able to figure out what was wrong. #1 I will never take my van to an unauthorized Ford Mechanic again.

I took the van to some friends of mine at our local Ford Dealership, and they found the problem.

First off, I failed to mention that it had a battery shut off switch located in the cab (was previously a fire dept.rescue). That switch was bad so they totally bypassed it. #2 The regulator on the right front inside fender was bad. It was only putting out at 13 not 14.4 like it was supposed too. #3 The battery cable from the starter to the battery was starting to show some corrison, so they replaced both ends of the cable with new connectors.

Total cost for Ford to fix was about $280.00.

I just wanted to let you know what it was. You were inthe right direction with your opinion. Thank You!!!!
 
#10 ·
Hey, I had the same problem, turned out to be the distributor. I think its called the stator, which wears out and can be rebuilt but I went for a new one, later the drive gear on the distributor was eaten alive, must be right metal or you get that, necessary to use break in grease on that gear when you reinstall theres not alot of oil hitting it.
I did all that after buying a new wiring harness on EBAY.
 
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