Engine bogs down or shuts off while driving

Tiny
PENNY MARTIN BELK
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
Intermittently, more and more frequently while driving the SUV will be running fine. While driving at any speed it suddenly bogs down and will not accelerate. Occasionally it will shut off completely. Once you cut the car off it will crank right back up and it will be fine until its next episode. Any suggestions?
Monday, October 30th, 2017 AT 10:04 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,882 POSTS
Is the check engine light on? If so we need to get the codes and see what they are.

Here is a guide to help you gather the codes:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

If not It sounds like a crankshaft angle sensor or fuel pump is going out.
Here is a guide to help us find the problem:

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

If nothing turns up I would try the crankshaft sensor first.
Here is a guide that will give you an idea of what you are in for when doing the job:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/crankshaft-angle-sensor-replacement

Below is what it will be like on your car in front of the engine near the crankshaft.

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, October 31st, 2017 AT 2:05 PM
Tiny
CHRISZAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 182,000 MILES
While driving my 98 Explorer, my ABS light brake came on. Seconds later, the lights went off, the steering failed, engine shut down. Got out, started to lift the hood - and lights came back on. Got in, started it up and drove home. It starts up right away - but I'm scared to drive this thing. How tough is this to diagnose? It seems like it could be a lot of different things. Thanks.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi Chriszay,

Thank you for the donation.

Yes, the problem is intermittent so is not going to be easy to diagnose.

If the dash indicator lights did not come on when the engine stalled, the most likely fault would be the ignition switch.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:19 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEEBLERKOBBLER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 159,176 MILES
My car started dying on me 2 days ago. I had it diagnosed and a new sensor was installed. Now, I start it and it dies right away. I noticed in the inside of the hood it says I should reset the fuel pump shut off switch by referring to the owners guide for the switch location and reset instructions. Only one problem. I do not have an owners manual. Can you help me?
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
The reset is in the instrument panal below the radio.

I doubt this is your fix, but worth a try. Also try using a different key as it may be a anti-theft problem.

If still nothing works, call the shop that did the work and explain the situation. IT is always possible that the sensor they used was bad or something wasn't put back on right. IT is certainly possible that there is no relationship, but a shop wants to keep customers happy regardless.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEX1990
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 163,000 MILES
I have a 97 ford explorer. It overheated a few months back I busted my water pipe an had that fixed. Now I still cant get my car to work. It will start but it wont stay running yu can pump the gas but that will only keep it running for about thirty seconds, if you try to put it into another gear it shuts off. I had the codes read an it says all 6 cylinders have malfunctioned. Im unsure what needs to be done
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
What are codes in P0xxx format?
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
I think you're going to have to do a basic compression test and cooling system pressure test to determine if you did internal engine damage when you overheated it. It's very likely that you did.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:24 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NORAELIAS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
  • 200,000 MILES
After driving fine for 15 min car dies and you let it sit and cool down it will start up and run again. Someone told me that the ecm on those fords start failing after they get hot. Have any ideas?
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Scan for codes and check fuel pressure first, sounds like your fuel pump may be going bad. Also if no codes check cam and crank sensors for resistance if high replace them.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CECIL GARRETT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 197,000 MILES
My explorer was just purchased and it skips really bad. I examined the plud wires and they were bad, the engine will run 3000 rpm then die then jump back to 3000 rpm it can happen once per minute or several times in a row. My headlites also come on and go off and come on again. I read the book but cant find anything on the lites. I thought short or bad breaker but was unable to find a circuit breaker in the owners book.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
Replace pug wires. Have the vehicle plugged into a diagnostic scanner to check for fault codes. Check/replace the
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Module (4.0L)Left front corner of engine compartment.
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Module (5.0L)Left front corner of engine compartment
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BHOWETH275
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
Engine Mechanical problem
1997 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

My explorer starts, idles a few seconds, then chokes and dies and wont attempt to start a again for hours. Please help?
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Is engine light on? If so will need to get codes pulled. Would need to rent or purchase an OBD2 Scanner

If no engine light. Then problem is most likely in fuel system. Would need to check fuel pressure and regulator. Would need to rent a Fuel Pressure Tester

Do you have a strong oder of gas?

.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BHOWETH275
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
No check engine light, no strong gas smell, when I pump the gas a few times it seems to want to start but then immediately dies. Clogged fuel filter a possibility?
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Yes, clogged fuel filter is a possibility.

Can you hear the fuel pump kick in for 3 - 4 seconds with key turned to On position?

.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
EDOBSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
1997 Ford Explorer 290k miles

have a 1996 ford explorer 4L 6Cyl and the truck runs like a charm until it sits and idles. It struggles then cuts out. If I am at a traffic light I have to keep one foot on the gas and the other on the brake just to keep the rpms up. I dont have any loss of power when accelerating or high speeds just when at a stand still. I was looking at a ford. See Morewebsite and they say to clean or replace the mass air low sensor so I took it apart and cleaned it. Little elements looked clean but I sprayed them anyway. I started the truck and the damm thing was still doing it. I just got this truck so I dont know the whole hisotry on it but I know that the fuel filter was changed because I had it changed it today. Since I still have alittle light I went outside to pull that idle air control valve off. I did hit it a few times but also cleaned it out with some intake cleaner. The truck ran fine for about 5 minutes then did the same thing struggled and wanted to cut out but didn't. Since I had the codes cleared I dont have any to pull untill the check engine light comes on.
I just purchased this truck a few days ago to pull my tent trailer and now I am really upset at the performance. The guy that sold it to me did not tell me that he had this problem and when I asked him about it well he said that it never happened to him. Without having a man around the house I don't know what else to do to fix it. I did see on a website to test the air control valve by unscrewing it from the intake and leaving the wires hooked up. When you turn the key to the on position it should move on the inside. If it does not then it is faulty. I also had it at a nissan dealership today and they cleared the check engine lights off and he told me that it said the the codes were for a mass air flow sensor intermittent and fuel system lean bank one and two. I cleaned the maf and it is nice and grey like it is supposed to be. I do hear a hissing noise when the truck is running but I can't see where that may be coming from. I put my hand towards the back of the alternator and feel alot of wind but I don't know if that is coming from the fan. I also hear alot about hoses pinching together to create a problem. If you could help me It would make my day
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try cleaning out the EGR valve and test the throttle position sensor though its not throwing out a code/s and see what happens to include a fuel pressure check.
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+1
Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RONALD C
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 15,600 MILES
Our Explorer stalls after it runs for about 5 min. We have had a complete overhaul, changed the fuel pump and fuel filters. It ran okay for about a month and now is doing the same thing. The check engine light is on most of the time.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:28 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Get the check engien light scanned and post the codes back to me. Since that light is on theres a problem that can easily be identified by a quick scan. Saves alot of guessing.
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Friday, October 9th, 2020 AT 11:28 AM (Merged)

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