Hey yall,
I have an 06 xlt crew 4x4. I have noticed that after the truck warms up and it is tuned off for about 10-15 minutes it has trouble starting again until the engine gets cold and starts up normally. The engine acts like it doesn't want to start up and I ocassionally here something like a compression pop coming from the engine. I have an AEM Brute, but this engine did this before the install and after.

Any ideas?

 

This is a pretty common problem, Ive asked for help on here with little results. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem, so the dealer is of no help. Mine doesn't happen all the time, its very random. The only thing I can think of would be a stuck injector, but according to many on here there is no way to test an injector.

 

try slowing down when you start it, meaning turn the key on wait a half sec, then start. That lets the fuel pump run and gives the computer time to get set, helped mine.

 

Ford issued TSB 06-19-14 NO CRANK/ STARTER TERMINAL FATIGUE to address the problem.

I found this a long time ago and I think this is what your experiencing. Mine does it every once in a while. Dealer told me to slow down instead of just turning the key fast.

 

I've had this problem on the past three vehicles I've owned. Turn the key, wait a second, then start. I usually wait until my LCD screen gets through its boot up cycle then start my truck. No problems.

Whats happening is your turning the key on too fast and all the systems can't get up and running.

 

Sorry guys, but i always do the ignition sequence yall mentioned and it still does it. Waiting for the fuel pump to pressurize the system is always a good idea no matter what vehicle you drive.

 

My 05 screw does the same thing. Turning on key and waiting does seem to help the no start at times. But a few times, I had to crank three or four times. It does act like a flooded engine, but I never smell excessive fuel smell in exhaust or anything like that.

I even work at a dealer, but have not written it for that problem yet. I have seen a Ford engineer at our place the last two days. If I have the chance to see him again, I'm going to ask him if he's dealt with this one before. He typically drives problem vehicles around trying to solve problems that dealership techs can't.

 

If the Ford engineer has any ideas, please let us know what you learn. I experience the no-start issue about once every 5-6 months.

The last occurrence was two days ago. I drove to the gym, worked out, then tried to restart my truck about 90 minutes later. (BTW, I always turn the key to the ON position and wait 2-3 seconds for the red anti-theft light to go out *before* I crank the engine.) The engine turns over once and dies. Wait 30 seconds, then try again. Engine turns over 1-2 times, makes a loud metallic clanking sound, then dies. Wait 30-45 seconds. Truck starts on the third attempt.

After this incident at the gym, I drive directly to the store, do my shopping, then attempt to restart the truck after about 15 minutes. Same thing happens--engine turns over once and dies. Wait 30 seconds, and second attempt fails. Third try also doesn't work. Truck finally starts on fourth attempt. Truck has been perfect since then.

I’ve read every no-start thread on this forum, and I’m going to ask the dealer about performing TSB 06-19-14. Unfortunately, the problem is intermittent, and I doubt they'll do the work unless they can duplicate the problem.

 

There is an older TSB that's related to this concern. 05-13-4 is titled as "Hard start/Long crank". It refers to injector leakdown and fouling a plug(s). There are steps for the techs to check relivent things to that.

I haven't seen the engineer today yet. Hope I do since this seems to be common with others.

 

I've had weak fuel pumps on some 2004 and newer F150s cause a hard start. Lots of injectors leaking down on 2005 and newer 5.4 3Vs doing the same.

 

Quintin and MACH1_69, thanks for your replies. I'll check into TSB 05-13-4.

Regarding injector leakdown, is it still possible to determine if an injector is leaking if the problem is as intermittent as my truck's?

Also, the only common factor I've noticed with these no-start situations (other than the fact that it only occurs when restarting a warm engine) is a change in the weather. For example, the first couple of times I had trouble starting the truck coincided with the first cold day (<40*F) of the season. (In these cases, the temperature drops from the previous day were >20*F.) The problem I had the other day occurred after temperatures dropped about 27*F from the previous day's high temperature, although temps remained well above 40*F.

 

I don't know about the climate scenerios. I'm down in south florida where my coldest winter day was high 40's for one day (morning only). Mildest of days or hottest of days it seems to make no difference. If i drive any distance, and the truck sits more than 30 mins, but less than 2 hours, that seems to be the prime situation for the problem to occur.

I'll keep info flowing if I come across anything of interest.

 

Wow! I thought I'd have trouble finding a search on "trouble starting" but my 06, 5.4 does the same thing. Earlier this evening it did it at the Sonic, it took three attempts to start it and I usually hear a popping sound, (almost like an intake backfire) during the second attempt. I live on the Texas coast so its almost always warm here, so climate might be ruled out. Had the truck for only three months and this isn't a good sign if the dealer can't find any issues. If anyone finds out, please post the fix for this embarrasing problem.

 

XLTeaser, you may have already found a few of these threads, but just in case:

Hard to start when warm 5.4L.
05 FX4 hard to start *sometimes*
Truck would not start.... (Stragum's thread)
Truck wont start....sometimes

The most extensive thread on the subject was started by Stragum. His issues were apparently fixed by TSB 06-19-14 (installation of a replacement starter terminal pigtail adapter). According to Stragum, he's had no starting problems since.

The first time this happened, the dealer reflashed my truck--that seemed to help for a while. Unfortunately, the problem recurred ~6 months later.

IMHO, too many people have experienced this issue for it to be a fluke. In any case, if your dealer is able to help, please let us know what they did!

 

This is just throwing something out there, but do you think it could be vapor lock in the fuel line.

Do you have aftermarket exhaust that comes close to fuel line?

The backfire noise sort of seems relevant to this hypothesis, too.