Why doesn’t my 1996 4.0:Explorer not start after driving?

Asked by Guru96MDTF Nov 07, 2022 at 07:52 PM about the 1996 Ford Explorer 4 Dr XLT SUV

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

1996 4.0 Ford Explorer starts and runs fine, after regardless of miles driven







and turned off it shows symptoms of a dead battery and will not start. Engine







will not turn over, there will be no radio or lights. Let it sit for about 5 minutes







and it starts as if nothing happened

1 Answer

50

It sounds as if you have a situation where an electrical connection, (likely a battery ground wire or main fuse connection) is physically expanding and an air gap is opening up or a connection is weakening greatly under "heat soak" conditions. Heat soak is what happens when the engine compartment temperature RISES shortly after shutting the engine off, due to the engine no longer being cooled by water circulating through the radiator. I would first check the fuses by taking each out and then replacing it a couple times-which burnishes the connection, then check the battery connections and grounding wire. If that doesn't work go somewhere where they will do the engine scan for trouble codes -many auto parts store will do it for free.

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