Both idling and radio issues

MCFUDDEN

MEMBER
2002 FORD EXPLORER
4.0L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
172,000 MILES

My subject is weird but I suspect they may be related. So I’ve got an old SUV I’ve put back on the road. It’s been a fun trip. The engine was recently re-manufactured 10,000 miles ago and the transmission wasn’t just rebuilt but replaced 1,000. It’s running pretty good except for just recently, when I come to a stop sometimes my radio will power cycle. It’s got a Samsung touch screen tablet radio deal. Also, if I’m on an incline and driving, no problems, super responsive. Climbs hills as good as driving on level ground. However, if I am on an incline and idling, the RPM's drop out and it tries to stall but doesn’t. Also if I try to turn it on, on an incline it will take a few cranks to fire it up. I have a crazy theory. I think it may be the gas tank fuel pump, however, I think it’s a bad ground shorting out both the radio and fuel pump. Then again, the whole thing sounds insane. Could it be two unrelated issues and I’m just nuts? Or is it maybe the ground from the batter to the frame or something?

9 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

The extended crank, I agree, I think it is a fuel delivery issue. You need to check the actual pressure before you start it on an incline.

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

The idle dropping out sounds like an Idle Air Control valve which is very common for the idle issues.

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

As far as the radio check the charging system and make sure the voltage is within the 14 to 14.5 volt range. Voltage issue can cause a radio issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Roy

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Thursday, April 18th, 2019 AT 5:46 AM

MCFUDDEN

MEMBER
15 POSTS

So, I learned two things yesterday:
1. I live in an area with a lot of hills just before stop signs.
2. I’m an idiot.

So I’ve determined what was causing the RPM's to drop out on an incline. It’s not the incline at all. I just noticed it on inclines. It’s when the AC compressor kicks on and off. So here’s the deal: I just had the AC filled. I figured it had a small leak and tried a reload and some sealant. It’s been a few days and my AC is already “frosting” (when you first turn the system on you get a puff of white frosty mist in the vents, usually a sign your Freon is getting low) so my guess is I still have that leak. That’s all well and good. I was smart enough to also put dye in the system too. But why, low or not, are my RPM's dropping that low? With no AC on it idles like a champ. With the AC on and it’s a hot day I hear the compressor click and the RPM's drop to like 500. I know the pressure cycling switch is suppose to idle it up a bit when the compressor comes on and when it goes off it idles it down, but that much?

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Thursday, April 18th, 2019 AT 6:16 AM

ASEMASTER6371