HELP!!! Expy having hard time to start

[bernardo]

Just recently my expedition started acting up. It started by starting up rough, sounding slugish and not wanting to start. When I drive and the gas pedal hard to pass somebody my battery light goes on constantly. This morning when I tried to move my E.B. it would'nt start at all until I held the gas pedal down. Any help will be appreciated, thanks

 

[green03]

If the battery light is flashing when you are driving it then you're alternator has probably given up........

Describe the hard starting problem, does it sound like it is cranking slow like a weak battery? This would again point to a alternator problem. Where is the gauge when the truck is running, does it stay in the middle even with the ac on high and the lights on or does it go lower with the more stuff you have on?

Matt

 

[bernardo]

the gauge is still above the middle so i believe its fine. it drove really good yesterday but this morning was the real problem. when i was about to leave for work this morning, E.B. wouldnt stay running. it turns over just fine but shuts down instantly, the only was i could leave it on was to step on the gas easily just to move it out of the way to get my wife's car. so does anybody have any ideas on what i need to do, thanks for all the help

 

[green03]

Is it just not idiling? Sounds like the IAC or Idle Air Control. It is basically a valve that allows the computer to control the idle speed....... They are about 40 bucks or so from autozone. We can talk you through troubleshooting it if you wish.
Matt

 

[bernardo]

its not idiling at all even though it did last night when i went home, but yeah if you can tell me the steps to troubleshoot it i'll do that then if thats the problem i'll get the part to replace it. i just need to know exactly whats its called and where to look. thanks matt

 

[green03]

Buy yourself a chilton's manual for your truck if you can't locate the IAC. It is a long cylindrical thing near the throttle body that has a 2 wire electrical connector plugged into it. If you tap on it hard sometimes while it is not idiling well and it starts idiling then you have found the culprit.....

 

[2THWTR]

It sounds like you are either having a couple of separate problems, or one big one. Looking at your 1st post I assume a possible alternator/undercharging issue. That's easy enough to check at any ford dealer, or parts store. It could be your IAC valve acting up, but that only affects cold start. It would clear up and run fine after engine has warmed up. So I'm thinking get your battery and alternator checked 1st and go from there. Good luck!

 

[Chrolle]

Now, im no expert, and im new here, but in my experience, generally when you have to hold your gas pedal down to the floor to get it to start, as well as you described it as being hard to start, i would suggest looking fuel or air related over IAC's and Alternators.

He described this as being hard to start as in it doesnt want to start because its either lacking air or fuel. Now, granted, it could be electrical by the way you said the battery light came on, but that could also be because your ride is getting ready to die due to lack of air/gas and its making it do that. When my old Camaro gets ready to die (its a POS) it does the same thing.

My suggestions would be fuel filter, air filter, make sure someone didnt put something nasty into your fuel tank.

Hope you get it fixed.

 

[green03]

if it runs fine down the road then it is not a fuel problem. If the IAC fails you will have to keep the throttle open manually to keep it running. The IAC is a common failure on ford products because it gets gummed up after a fuel miles. The IAC's only function is to regulate the idle speed by bypassing air around the throttle body. IF you can make it idle by slighly holding the throttle down then it is the IAC for sure.
Maybe we need a better description of the symptoms to get this right the first time.

Matt

 

[bernardo]

i got it fixed and it was the IAC. i also got the battery and alternator checked when i got the part and yes my alternator is goin out. so i'm not driving it right now until i get a new alternator. i would of got one but im trying to find a 200 amp alternator, so if anyone knows any good places to look thats really good in price let me know so i can get it fixed. thanks for all the help everyone

 

[green03]

Sweet! Glad you got a handle on it.
Matt

 

[collazoscesar]

have your alternator checked make sure its charging your battery correctly. the alternator charges your battery and i'ts a main power supplier

 

[bernardo]

the alternator is not charging the battery at all, so im just looking for a new 200 amp alternator before i start using it again

 

[mustangrfast88]

have you found a 200 amp one yet and if so where did you find it

 

[JUST4FUN]

A200 amp alt is a waste of money the truck by its self will never
need 200 amps . the battery will not charge any faster nether
buy the stock alt (130 amp)

 

[mustangrfast88]

the 200 amp might be a waste of money in your eyes but who aint to say he dont have 2 15s in the back and a big amp or aftermarket lights on the truck that might be why he needs the 200 amp alternator

 

[mustangrfast88]

well you have a 200 amp alternator you think the stock alternotor would be able to run everything at once

 

[JUST4FUN]

How many alts has this 8 year old truck gone through?
I have 6 year old squad cars that have the same stock alt
that came from the factory NO PROBLEM WITH THEM