[joshescape72]

I have a 2010 Ford Escape XLT with 95,000 miles on it...about 5 months or so ago one day it just starting to long crank before starting....(meaning when I turn the key and let go it will some times crank longer than it should before starting). It has ALWAYS started...just sometimes it cranks for maybe 4 to 7 seconds. Been to two ford dealers that can't find ANYTHING wrong. NO codes, PCM has been updated, Plugs just changed yet I still have the issue.

Doesn't matter what the temp is.

Some things I have noticed. IF I haven't driven the car in a while (say a day or two) usually it fires right up. After getting gas it always fires right up. But say I drove it work (like I did today) I can shut it off then go to start it up again and it will long crank. Again it ALWAYS starts.

I have tried turning the key to the on position to "prime the fuel pump" that doesn't make a difference at all. There seems to be no pattern when it will long crank or fire right up...other than the two examples I gave (getting gas, or not using the Escape for a day or two)...other than that it can fire right up or long crank. I am TOTALLY lost and no one seems to know...I have also been told by the two dealerships that it is NORMAL...but it NEVER EVER did this until about 5 months ago....anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Jeff88]

Have you taken it to a parts store to get the battery checked? You can check the voltage at home, however, it's the amps that really matter. Have them check to see if it's good. If not, change the battery. I have a feeling it's the battery, because you say when it hasn't been started in a while, it starts right up, which tells me the battery is getting time to regain the amps back.

 

[money_man]

I had a grand prix that did this. It just started happening out of the blue for no apparent reason. It infuriated me and I tried everything to get it to start properly, I had a perfect working parts car and just started switching parts but was never able to figure it out.

Same thing, turn it off and try to turn it back on after about 30+ mins and long crank time. Let it sit a long time like over night and it would flash right up. temperature didn't affect it at all. Ended up selling it after it doing it for 4 years.

New owner was a friend and one day the car just wouldn't start, no codes or anything. After switching parts with my part car again and then switching them back when it made no difference we decided to switch out the crank sensor. VROOM!!! the car started, we weren't going to give it back and just hope all was good so I drove it for a day since I knew how it normally worked. The car started faster than it ever had and it never had that extended start period like it did for the years before. It started up like a new car for the two years they had it after that.

 

[Bgdb22k]

huh, there you go, maybe just a $20-$30 part will fix your problem. good luck!

 

[money_man]

I was angry when it fixed the extended starts because I would've fixed it years before if I knew that.

 

[joshescape72]

I have searched the internet...and I have seen battery been mentioned. Could it really be that? I mean that batter seems fine...its cranking fine..no slow cranks or anything like that.

I know a little about cars but I am not mechanic by any means so please pardon my question but what is a crank sensor? Where is it located? Is it easy to replace myself?

Thanks again for the suggestions...

 

[patsfan1704]

yes it could be the battery, if there is not enough power being supplied the starter motor won't spin fast enough right away, hence the delay.

the crank sensor detects the position of the crankshaft within its revolution cycle, as far as I know easy part and easy job. had one done on a maxima for 90 bucks, parts taxes and labor included.

 

[detox8907]

I had a very similar issue. It turned out to be the battery. I was surprised because they weren't regular battery going bad symptoms but like a previous poster mentioned, the battery didn't have enough power to send to the starter motor. I thought it was going to be the starter or something like that, but it turned out to be a bad cell in the battery.

 

[gregjo1948]

May be a fuel venting problem. If it will run with the gas cap loose or off, see if the starting delay is still there. gregjo1948

 

[joshescape72]

I had a very similar issue. It turned out to be the battery. I was surprised because they weren't regular battery going bad symptoms but like a previous poster mentioned, the battery didn't have enough power to send to the starter motor. I thought it was going to be the starter or something like that, but it turned out to be a bad cell in the battery.

When yours did this...when it cranked over did it sound like the battery was going dead? When mine does this it cranks fine...no problem at all...its cranking very quickly.

 

[joshescape72]

May be a fuel venting problem. If it will run with the gas cap loose or off, see if the starting delay is still there. gregjo1948

I do not have a gas cap on this model. I keep thinking its a fuel issue but there are no other signs and it does not always do it...like I said if I don't drive it for a day or two starts like a normal car. Usually starts in the morning fine...drive to work...go to lunch some times it starts ok...sometimes it cranks for a couple seconds...there just doesn't seem to be a pattern...I can tell you after I get gas it always cranks right up even if it just did it right before getting gas...and it always cranks right up after sitting for a longer period of time...I just don't get it..maybe it is a battery...just have no other signs at all that the battery is going dead...other than it being almost 4 years old now and having almost 100,000 miles on my Escape.

 

[gregjo1948]

My thought is, you aren't getting fuel to pump as it should because you aren't venting enough. After sitting for a period of time or putting fuel in, it's allowing to get air in. With out the air or venting, the fuel pump can't do its job. gregjo1948

 

[underthetire]

Venting should be handled by the charcoal canister, if those plug up for some reason, usually they throw codes on OBD2 cars. I would start by getting the battery load tested first, since that's free and easy. It would be tough to check the position sensor without a scope, that may be one of those replace and try parts.

Sent from my G-Tab Quantum using Tapatalk

 

[detox8907]

I had a very similar issue. It turned out to be the battery. I was surprised because they weren't regular battery going bad symptoms but like a previous poster mentioned, the battery didn't have enough power to send to the starter motor. I thought it was going to be the starter or something like that, but it turned out to be a bad cell in the battery.

When yours did this...when it cranked over did it sound like the battery was going dead? When mine does this it cranks fine...no problem at all...its cranking very quickly.

No, it didn't sound like the battery was going dead which is why it surprised me that it turned out to be the battery.

 

[Manic Mechanic]

I just changed the battery on our 2001 V6 AWD two days ago. It began to have longer and longer cranks before it would fire up. I tested the battery and it's capacity was failing. The real puzzler was, it sounded like it was cranking over just fine.

So I figured, if the starter is getting enough juice to crank, why isn't the engine firing up? It had me stumped for a while. Live and learn I guess ...

I purchased a new CARQUEST brand (East Penn made in the USA) battery and she starts like new again.

Just my take on the situation ...

 

[joshescape72]

I had a very similar issue. It turned out to be the battery. I was surprised because they weren't regular battery going bad symptoms but like a previous poster mentioned, the battery didn't have enough power to send to the starter motor. I thought it was going to be the starter or something like that, but it turned out to be a bad cell in the battery.

When yours did this...when it cranked over did it sound like the battery was going dead? When mine does this it cranks fine...no problem at all...its cranking very quickly.

No, it didn't sound like the battery was going dead which is why it surprised me that it turned out to be the battery.

Ok thank you

 

[joshescape72]

I just changed the battery on our 2001 V6 AWD two days ago. It began to have longer and longer cranks before it would fire up. I tested the battery and it's capacity was failing. The real puzzler was, it sounded like it was cranking over just fine.

So I figured, if the starter is getting enough juice to crank, why isn't the engine firing up? It had me stumped for a while. Live and learn I guess ...

I purchased a new CARQUEST brand (East Penn made in the USA) battery and she starts like new again.

Just my take on the situation ...

I guess I will give it a shot...either way its not going to hurt..its a 2010 so its 4 years old now...I have put a lot of highway miles on it 97,000 so even if the battery doesn't fix the issue I'll need a new one sooner or later...thanks for sharing what your's was doing

 

[RobtRoma]

I'm going to echo what the others said about the battery. Sounded fine but wouldn't catch. Changed battery, all was back to normal...

 

[detox8907]

I just changed the battery on our 2001 V6 AWD two days ago. It began to have longer and longer cranks before it would fire up. I tested the battery and it's capacity was failing. The real puzzler was, it sounded like it was cranking over just fine.

So I figured, if the starter is getting enough juice to crank, why isn't the engine firing up? It had me stumped for a while. Live and learn I guess ...

I purchased a new CARQUEST brand (East Penn made in the USA) battery and she starts like new again.

Just my take on the situation ...

I guess I will give it a shot...either way its not going to hurt..its a 2010 so its 4 years old now...I have put a lot of highway miles on it 97,000 so even if the battery doesn't fix the issue I'll need a new one sooner or later...thanks for sharing what your's was doing

Mine is same year and same mileage lol maybe it's time for a new battery. If you swap it out, let us know if that fixed the problem.

 

[thesavo]

We have a 2008 model year Mariner.

I have a strong feeling that this platform is provided with a battery or alternator that is under spec'ed. I have had no issues most of the winter. We did have some cold start issues in the fall. I popped the vents and topped off the cells with distilled water. The next issue with a cold start was when I was loading my tools for over an hour, with the room (dome) light on. I then drove 3 miles home. That next day I had to start with a booster car. Otherwise, the coldest of days it would start w/ slight or no hesitation.