Ecoboost runs 5 seconds and shuts down - rodents chewed through wires

[Scott Asheville]

No error codes. Tried a few times, then took the wife's car to lunch. Maybe an idle adjustment needed. Maybe a bad fuel issue. Will try a road test around the neighborhood shortly to see if it just works out. Posted this tread in case anybody else has seen this issue.

Update: Engine bay looks clean. Good coolant. Oil normal. Filters, etc, serviced a few thousand miles ago. Ditto the battery (brand new AGM replaced under recall this spring). Dubious it is any kind of electrical issue, because the engine starts right up and runs smoothly for 5 seconds. Bad fuel - doubt it, but open minded. I buy a plus grade at a reputable outlet. I'm guessing something is causing a fuel cutoff after a few seonds of idling.

UIpdate: Towed to dealership under Ford Roadside Assistance (free). ETA 3 weeks till a tech can get to it to even diagnose it. Service Manager says the powertrain warranty is still in effect.

Will update this thread after the dealer techs do their thing.

Update - turned out to be rodents chewing through wiring. $600 repair. Good news is that they diagnosed it inside of a week, and the repair will be inside of 10 days. These days, that's not bad. Of course, they did try to sell me $2,000 worth of flushes as recommended service. ROTFL.

Yea, I'll be ordering some rodent spray on Amazon. Had rodents chew through the spark plug wires a decade ago. The perils of parking outside in the country I guess.

Sponsored

 

[colinl]

I've never seen anyone else report such an issue.

I'd start with a visual inspection under the hood first checking the battery terminals, then looking for anything chewed up by rodents, then check the engine air cleaner filter to ensure it isn't clogged. If that's all good, then I probably would consider gas as a possibility but it would have to be VERY poor quality gas to do that. very stale, lot of water absorption, something like that.

 

[OleFordGuy]

That’s a first, weird. How do ya test drive if it cuts off after 5 seconds?

 

[Scott Asheville]

I was hoping it was an idle issue. I got back from lunch and did some more debugging. It starts right up every time, runs 5 to 10 seconds, can goose it a bit in neutral. But at some point it just dies. I have to cycle the ignition to off an back, and then it will start right up again. Visual inspection of the engine bay - looks clean. It obviously isn't spark or air or it wouldn't start up. It can obviously get fuel for a few seconds.

Checked the oil. Full. Checked the coolant. Full. Runns perfectly smooth for a bit. Dies. I'm pondering fuel pump or fuel pressure - something that causes fuel starvation after startup. I'll see if Ford Pass lets me read the engine code. Either way, it looks like driveway service.

Yea, it is weird. Never had an issue like this in 50 years.

 

[710-oil-614]

No error codes. Tried a few times, then took the wife's car to lunch. Maybe an idle adjustment needed. Maybe a bad fuel issue. Will try a road test around the neighborhood shortly to see if it just works out. Posted this tread in case anybody else has seen this issue.

I'd check battery terminal connections as a place to start.

 

[HeyBales]

Actual low fuel pressure, or sensor reporting such - should throw a code.

So is sensor bad and reporting a good figure when it's not?

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Bad fuel, fuel pump or fuel pressure going bad

 

[Scott Asheville]

Is there a way to see my codes without an ODBC reader? Don't see anything in FordPass. And I'm not sure the engine check light has any meaning, as it always lights as part of startup in normal operation. And since I only get 5 seconds of normal operation, I'm not even sure there is an engine check light.

Dealer service is closed. I posted my driveway service request and will know tomorrow. Still under warranty, so I'm not all that bothered. Also happily retired, so no particular urgency (we have two cars). I'm more curious than annoyed.

Bottom line. I'm not going to throw a hissy fit and badmouth Ford. Cars break.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

If you suspect water or other contaminants in your fuel, fuel additives designed to remove water or clean injectors can sometimes help... let us know

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Are you using the push bottom to started? Or your app? Is your truck programmed to auto start in the morning via App?

 

[JMJB]

Sure , turn that idle screw a half turn clockwise ............I'm no help , dealer !

 

[MetalThunder]

Could be a clogged fuel filter - they can be a forgotten link to many a stalling puzzles.

Cheers

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Did You fill it up with fuel recently? I'm thinking Bad Gas, Bad Fuel Pump or clogged Fuel Filter.

 

[808Goose!]

When the engine dies is it like when you shut it off or does it die off gradually?

 

[colinl]

Did You fill it up with fuel recently? I'm thinking Bad Gas, Bad Fuel Pump or clogged Fuel Filter.

Those are all good possibilities, my suggestion list was simply things he can easily check on his own.

Sponsored