98 explorer rough idle and stalling after long drives

bamastudent300 · 02-26-2005, 09:57 PM

Hello, I'm a college student with a 1998 ford explorer that has a problem! Hopefully 180,000 miles isn't the problem.

B/c new car suggestions will be looked down upon!!!

<-poor college student.

Let me try to explain this as best I can because I have searched over the net and have yet to see anything similar to my vehicles particular symptoms.

About 2 weeks ago I drove home at about 80 mph from a long trip without stopping for the last 180 miles of the trip. When I reached my exit I came to the red light and stopped. Then suddenly the car died immediately and I tried to restart it but it died immediately again so I had to start and engage in drive really quick and accelerate to the road and pulled off at a parking lot. There I turned it off and restarted and it stayed on at about 500 rpms. It had never had this problem until this time and there were no indications that it was going to have the problem. I drove a total of 700 miles that trip.

Fast forward to two weeks later.

I was able to drive the car around the city with only low idling but no stalling whatsoever. So I this weekend I returned home and on the way I drove 75-85 on 130 miles of interstate before stopping at the first exit and the car stalled immediately at the first stop. So I restarted/accelerated/and drove to the nearest gas station to let my car regain its composure. I waited five minutes while idling and was able to make it through the city. The next stretch of the trip I drove 65-75 mph for 50 miles and the car stalled at the first stop. The last part of the trip I drove at 55-65 mph for 60 miles without any stops and the first stop I made the car stayed on and did not stall.

I have used fuel additives and it has not helped. I thought I may have had some bad gas or got trash into the system during the trip when I noticed the fuel was really low but I did not run out and was able to refuel.

I'm not exactly sure what caused this problem but that is the story.

In a nutshell:

It runs at about 800-900 rpms in park at first start.
It is noticeably rough when first started and engaged in a gear.
It runs at 400-500 rpms when engaged in reverse.
500-600 rpms when engaged in drive.
Once running it is fine and has no operation problems.
The only time it stalls is after a higher speed (70+ mph) trip for at least 30+ miles.
It does not stall during normal city driving but does idle at 500 rpms in drive while stopped.

I plan to find someone I can trust to do a diagnostics test when I return to the university. Given the story and symptoms what are your thoughts on what the problem could be?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

James

bamastudent300 · 02-27-2005, 11:06 PM

Any ideas?

bamastudent300 · 03-03-2005, 11:20 AM

bump.

way2old · 03-03-2005, 11:43 AM

Check the idle speed control motor.

BlitzKeg · 03-04-2005, 09:18 AM

I'm think fuel filter may be clogged,

if not that, may be a ignition problem,
might be some bad spark plugs or bad plug wires,
possible a missfire.

when was your last tune up., any check engine lights on or blinking?

you can check your fuel pressure.

g2g
I'll get back to you at school later in the day.

bamastudent300 · 03-04-2005, 10:18 AM

I haven't had a tune up in a while. It probably needs one but I had one guy tell me that it wasn't a tune-up causing it and that I needed a diagnostics test.

There are no check-engine lights coming on.

I asked them to check the fuel filter at the oil change place and they said it was fine. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and change the fuel filter and get a tune up anyway. But the people tell me it's not that that is causing the problem.

Is there an idle control sensor or something like that could cause it to idle rough and stall like this?

BlitzKeg · 03-04-2005, 01:05 PM

well that was just my first thoghts,, U must understand there is many variable in your problem especially since im diagnosing this over the internet,

but many things can cause poor idle like
a vacuum leak
fuel quality
fuel system
egr valve
egr vacuum regulator ( evr)
spark plugs
Idle air control IAC
even defective valves
even a cylinder head gasket

get a hynes or something like that and it can help u diagnose your problem,

g2g to work now gl

chr97 · 05-14-2005, 08:18 PM

a clogged catiletic converter will cause a rough idle and after it gets a back pressure build up it will get to hot and shut off the engine.

johnhaaland · 06-22-2005, 10:55 AM

Sounds similar to my problem. Best theory right now is locked up torque convertor

way2old · 06-23-2005, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by way2old

Check the idle speed control motor.

You do have an Idle speed control motor. It is bolted to the throttle body and has a wiring connection and a hose about an inch in diameter going to it.

WillalwaysownaFord · 07-13-2005, 12:03 AM

change your TPS (throttle positioning sensor)

B33p3r · 07-13-2005, 09:04 AM

To confirm what way2old has told you twice already... is to check you Idle Air Control(IAC) Get a Haynes Manual. Look up IAC and do what it tells you. The IAC will not give an error code when faulty and will give you problems when your foot is not in to the gas pedal. It is responsible for delivering air in idle conditions(low RPMs). 15 minutes and a little cleaning of the plunger area with a flush of oil might save you hundreds of dollars! Your choice!

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