why does my engine stall while driving?

It sounds like a problem with the fuel pressure I would get the trouble codes and a fuel pressure test these guides will help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

Please run down these guides and report back.

If the stalling occurs only when foot is off accelerator pedal, it could be a fault with the idle controls. The idling speed could be too low.

What is the idling speed at operating temperature and deos engine idle erratically, especially when A/C is turned on or off?

idle is 500rpm with the aircon turned off, when aircon is turned on with engine at idle, idle becomes a little erratic and goes down as low as 200rpm until the aircon controller clicks in and the idle increases to between 700 and 500 rpm.
i cleaned the IAC valve this morning and idle improved, going to test drive now to see if any stall occurs. will report again later.
thanks
Barry

thanks for the previous guidance,i have been for a good test drive around 20 miles, the truck only stalled once when standing still and i shifted into reverse to turn around. Thanks for the tips i think the IAC valve was to blame.
i do have some other issues with the vehicle that i didn't mention before because i didn't consider them dangerous, they all seem to be electrical and annoying that i may have to go to the main dealer to rectify, and "shafted".
1)the internal cab light won't go off after shutting the vehicle down and exiting the cab, i have removed the fuse until i can find the problem.
2) the overdrive switch does not function and the indication light on the dash console does not work.
3) the 4x4 does not engage and the indication light does not show if its on or off.
4) the reversing lights at the back do not come on when reverse is engaged.
all these problems came at the same time and i don't know where to start, can they all be connected??? one common relay? one common damaged wire?
hope you can give me some good pointers where to start solving these issues, as electrical issues stump most people.
regards
barry

Yes, you do have a idle control system and getting the IAC and throttle body cleaned should solve the problem.

As to the internal lights not turning off, possibly one or more of the door switch is not being closed properly or is shorted to ground.

Try unplugging each door switch to confirm. It could be the hood switch if it is linked to the alarm system. Check if any door is out of adjustment and not closing door switches correctly.

If the dome light fuse had been removed, it could be linked to the lights not working.

If the OD switch anfd lights are not working, you could have a faulty Od switch. You need to check its continuity.
Check the fuses. Seems all your problems are linked.

i have a ford explorer 2002 and my truck feel like it want to shut off sometimes i feel like is something with the oxygen but then accelerates and when that is not happening the truck accelerate a little then stops accelerate and stops and keeps going like that.

Feels like no oxygen is getting in, but at times shut off another times it just feels like it will but accelerates itself and when is in parking you can feel when it accelerate by itself, like that for hours is just a little.

please help :-)

i would look at basics like fuel pressure. is the check engine light on??

Roy

yes it is also notice that light on it started when the problem started

have the code pulled so we can further assist you.

Roy

car stalls while driving, has happened 4 times in one 50 mile drive, one time when going into a curve i nearly ran off the raod because i din't notice the engine stall cos its quiet until the power steering stopped working.

There are many possibilities for such to occur and if the stalling only occurs when the foor is off the accelerator pedal, it could be the idling system that is faulty.

Are you able to restart easily after the engine stalled?
What is the idling speed after warming up and does the engine idle erratically?

yes could easily restart the engine after stalling

my Explorer, stall sometimes when sitting at a red light, it seems to idle too low then dies. Starts fine, runs fine when driving but seems to idle a little on the rough side, it only seems to stall tho when in gear, when it is in park it does not sound to idle right but does not stall.

We can start testing based on codes first. Are there any present?...cel does not have to be lit.

OR go by symptom.

Does this do this when hot, cold or both?

Any recent repairs (last few thousand miles..._ regarding performance?

My explorer only does ths after it warms up, hasnt done it cold yet. The only repair that i have made, about three months ago, was to have the transmission rebuilt. The check engine light is not on either. thanks

Thank you.

Codes can be set without the check engine light (CEL) on.
I would encourage you to have them checked. Sure they may not show anything, but when they do, it can be one more clue and direction to consider in the diagnosis.
Usually this is caused by "Coking" building up around the throttle plate. This causes low idle/stalling condition

Read the guides below, they will help you figure this out

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

I'm a girl, so dont know much about cars. I need help. My explorer is cutting out and I have changed the egr thingy and changed battery, plugs and plug wires. Whats next?

HAs the check engine light come on? Did you replace the fuel filter? Let me know.

Joe

The check engine light has been on for a while. And no havent changed fuel filter. I had the truck put on one of those plug in things from auto zone, and I thought that was the egr thingy that I had replaced. Does that sound right? But yes the check engine light is on, and didnt change fuel filter yet, is that hard?

Yesterday my lady's 2001 Explorer Sport with a 4.0 SOHC was running like a top and then suddenly after sitting parked for a couple hours it would crank but not start. After letting it sit for an hour or so it cranked and seemed to run ok. She drove a mile or so and it died at a stop light. It wouldn't start for a few minutes and then finally started but in limp mode. The engine was shaking and barely able to idle so she pulled into a parking spot and I came and checked it out and we had to have it towed home. This problem is just out of the blue suddenly with no warning.

Today I was able to get it to start but it shook really badly and was running like it possibly wasn't getting the right air/fuel mixture. There is no check engine light on. At one point today I realized that once it started and was idling horribly and shaking I could press the gas pedal just slightly and hold it there and the rpms would slowly go up and then the engine would smooth out. If I slowly gave it gas I could get the engine up to 3000 rpms and then it would hesitate and drop the rpms back down to 2500. If I try to rev the engine quickly it acts like the engine is flooding or starving and chokes and stalls.

It has 111k miles on it. She has only owned it for 6 months but it has ran flawlessly to this point, other than one random time that it just died at a stop light shortly after she got it.

I'm not familiar with these 4.0L SOHC engines and I'm not really sure where to start. The coolant was low, maybe 1/2 - 2/3 full in the radiator but she said that it did not overheat and she pays attention to her temperature gauge because she's had overheating issues in other vehicles in the past. This coolant has to be going somewhere. Hopefully it's not an intake or head gasket issue. We have not noticed any leaks and the oil was just changed last week and there is no coolant in the oil. The engine doesn't smoke at all either.

Maybe I need to buy a OBD scanner and check the air/fuel mixtures? I recently ordered a cheap ODBII bluetooth dongle for my android phone but the piece of junk only worked once so I have to order a different one. My girlfriend has to work in 2 days and I need to get this figured out ASAP.

Any help is much appreciated.

check fuel pressure with a gauge auto parts rent it. should be 60-65 psi key on only.then have a pro pressure check for an internal coolant leak like a head gasket.

my ford explorer starts cold and runs fine for a little while then wants to stall.it won'tstart again until the vehicle is cold..It will get me a couple of miles only, then i have to wait an hour or so before it will start again

Check for applicable trouble codes. Some of the national brand autostores will check codes for free, if you can get the vehicle down there. You could use an obd2 code reader that will work on your year--make--model. If you go that route, get one that will show manufacturer specific codes as well as generic codes.

Your head temp sensor/coolant temp sensor, whatever ford calls it, can cause an issue. When it refuses to start, you can check for spark at the plugs and fuel pressure. Be aware of letting gas spray all over a hot engine, safety is your responsibility. You can carry a known good spark plug or spark tester in the glove box. Don't pull a plug from engine, those spark testers don't cost much.

My truck starts and runs great until the humidity gets high. Then the truck is hard to start unless you floor the accelerator. It will stall out when you put it into gear unless you keep your foot on the gas. It will sometime stall out as you drive too. This is very annoying to say the least. Thanks for any help anyone can give me on this.

The truck will start only if the accelerator is floored, no matter what time it is. The RPM drops well below 1000 and then stalls if I let off on the accelerator totally. I can run the truck at highway speeds with no problem at all, but when slowing down and having to idle at a stop light or sign it will stall. This just started this morning to this extent. it happened once before, but once the truck warmed up it would run fine and not stall.

I will stop and get the readings and get back to you, thanks.