1998 Ford Explorer Logo
Posted on Mar 05, 2009
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1998 ford explorer wont start

I turn the car over and its just keeps on turning over there's gas going thru the lines and I replaced the spark plug and wires to make sure they weren't the problem but it still does not start. It starts on certain days when it wants to start. But when I shut it off after I'm done driving it for an hour It'll not start for days sometimes longer. What's the deal?

  • 3 more comments 
  • Anonymous Mar 05, 2009

    My 1998 Ford Explorer XLT does not start either. I am trying to describe the problem as good as I can. But since I've got no idea about cars, my language might not be correct.



    I tried to use my jumpstarter to start it, yet no good. Something under the hood makes crazy clicking sounds time to time once it's connected to the jumpstarter, even without me plugging in the key. When I plug in the key, lights goes on.



    When I turn it to ignition and keep it there, it makes a few cranks, but very slowly: something like "crank"....silent for a second, then another "crank" and silent for two seconds, another "crank" and dies, no more cranks. When I unplug the key and try it again, it does not make any more cranking noise. It feels like it's trying to start, yet somehow it does not have enough power to turn a full cycle. But that few cranks used up all the electricity in the battery leaving no electricity for me to do another try. That's my impression, but I may very well be very wrong.



    The battery guage on the dash board indicator stays between H and L, yet very close to L.





    I guess the first thing I should be trying which I didn't is to make sure there is gas in the tank. I didn't drive it for a long time and if memory serves, gas was low when I parked. Will this be the cause? If not please suggest the possible causes. Battery?Starter? Alternator? Cranksharft? Ignition? Or whatever else? Thanks so much for the help!

  • krazykone121 Mar 06, 2009

    Ok the key is fine. I gave the the camshaft position sensor a wiggle
    and still the same outcome. Could it still be a faulty camshaft
    position sensor that I need to replace? I cannot tell if the engine
    light stays on or off during cranking due to the fact that the engine
    light stayed on when purchased and I pulled the plug on that a few
    years ago. When I start cranking the engine it sounds like it wants to
    turn over but it just won't. Anymore ideas?


  • CherDeb224 Mar 18, 2009

    We've been working on my brother in law's 98 Explorer. He can't afford tow so we travel to site. Cranks but will not start. We are getting fuel but no spark. Crankshaft sensor was replaced, but latest scan indicates Anti-theft is preventing start (P1260). We do not have original fob and only one key. Is there anyway to override the PATS to get it started? Are there any other potential problems/solutions?

  • tlkeyes Mar 23, 2009

    my 1998 ford explorer turns over but wont crank (the anti theft light is blinking) it gets sparks and sound as if its about to crank but doest i replace the fuel pump and it does the exact same. i dont have the original key and has been using a replacement for 3 months! could the key be a problem??please help

  • mike Nichols
    mike Nichols Sep 20, 2015

    you might check the relays under the fuse block or the eec or the pip my ford ranger will start and run but if i turn it off sometimes it will take an hour or more to start found that one of the relays was getting hot and not working right changed it and it works great

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  • Ford Master 783 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 05, 2009
Anonymous
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What does anti-theft light do when this happens with the key in the on position.Does it come on for a sec then turn off or does it flash rapidly? If it is flashing then anti-theft is not seeing your key for some reason.This could be a bad key or a transponder for the anti-theft.
Second thing it could be is maybe computer isn't seeing the crankshaft position sensor. When you first turn on the ignition your check engine light should come on.It should go out while cranking but if vehicle doesn't start after a few seconds of cranking,while the engine is cranking it should come back on. If it does then computer sees the crankshaft position sensor.If it does not come on while cranking then it does not see it and it will not start.If this is the case you can try and wiggle the wires to the sensor(it will be located next to the front crankshaft pulley and it reads the teeth on the back of the crankshaft pulley.

  • 1 more comment 
  • Anonymous Mar 06, 2009

    In your first comment you stated "i turn the car over and its just keeps on turning over "

    In your second comment you stated "When I start cranking the engine it sounds like it wants to turn over but it just won't. Anymore ideas? "

    Now which one is it? Does the engine crank but does not start or does it not crank or turn over?

    You are describing 2 different symptoms here.I need to understand what it is doing to help you.

    Now if the engine is turning over but will not start and you have disconnected the check engine light then without any diagnosis equipment it would be a guess as to whether the crankshaft postion sensor is bad or not.It could be but I don't like throwing parts at problems and have you come back and give me another bad rating.

    If the engine is not turning over then try this before replacing any parts. Remove the starter bolts(that hold the starter to the bell housing) and look at the threads and if they are burnt black take a wire brush and clean them good until they are shiny again and reinstall the starter. See if that doesn't solve that problem.

  • Jeffery sherwood Feb 15, 2022

    ok , it cranks but will not start, the anti theft ok, the check engine light has been on for awhile . but this issue just started two days or so ago. I will check the starter and the crank shaft shaft sensor is ok. thanks J

  • Anonymous Feb 15, 2022

    If it cranks but doesn't start an run, why check the starter ? Try spraying carb cleaner into the engine to see if it tries to start , to find out if you have a no fuel issue or a no spark issue. Your best bet , take it to a qualified repair shop .

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  • Contributor 22 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 05, 2009
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U need to find out if it getting spark. if so well that 1 thing down it might be the control modul going bad to if molster get it there it will not fire

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