Swabbie

I am new to the group here, and would like to ask for some opinions on my situation. I live in Southwest Ohio. Right now the temp outside is somewhere around the low 20's or high teens. I have been having trouble with my 1999 explorer ideling when it's first started in the morning, or when it's time for me to leave work in the late afternoon. After it starts, i have to keep playing with the accelerator to keep it running. It will not idle by it's self. It will just sputter and run real rough until it dies. After it reaches operating temperature, it runs and idles fine.

I keep getting trouble codes of P0213 and P0216;(If I allow it to run rough, and finally die) Which is for the "Cold Start Injector 1" and the "Injection Timing Control Circuit". However, I have read in other forums and from word of mouth, that these 4 liter engines are well known for having intake manifold leaks, due to the intake manifold contracting in the cold weather, and then when the motor warms up, the metal expands and seals the leak. Which is what I believe is my case here. Yes, I know there is no "Cold Start Valve" on the Explorer. I can't figure out why I get the code .... ???? Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else here on "THIS" forum has had similar problems. And if so, what was done to correct the problem. I can not afford to have a new intake manifold gasket installed every winter. Does anyone know of some kind of sealer or "GOO" that can be put on the edges of the intake manifold and the motor block that will adhere to both, and have enough elasticity to stretch with the expanding and contracting of the intake manifold, to maintain
a proper seal ..... ????? Or am I asking for something that is not possible ???? Do I need to look in another direction for a fix ????? (Outside of welding the intake manifold to the block) Sounds a little "TOO" extreme for me. But all thoughts/ideas will be entertained.

Thanks for the comments and ideas (In advance, of course.)

laminge

Welcome to the site

Hope someone can help

Swabbie

Thanks for the Welcome Aboard !!!! By the way, nice ....... Uh ...... Rhythm !!!

99 ex

I had a similar problem with my 99. Occassionally it wouldn't start - then one day it wouldn't stay idling. I had to drive it home with two feet because everytime I took my foot off the gas it would just die. My mechanic did a diagnostic and he got a several codes (many had nothing to do with the problem). He replace the TPS and that didn't help. Then he spoke to a buddy who told him that the throttle body is prone to carbon build-up. He removed it, soaked it in the fluid his buddy recommended and replaced it with a new gasket. That did the trick and all the codes disappeared when he ran diagnostic again. My haines manual says not to clean the TB but it worked and was cheap.

Hope this helps.