'01 Escape RPMs drop low, engine stalls turning at low speed or going over bumps

[jbmckown]

I have a 2001 Ford Escape FWD 3.0L V6. For the last month, while turning at low speeds, going over bumps, or sometimes just while idling, the RPMs will drop very low, the oil light will start flickering and sometimes becomes solid, and occasionally the engine stalls entirely.

I replaced the IAC after doing some research, and that fixed an older problem where the idle would fluctuate up and down at idle, but it didn't solve this issue.

This week, the engine light came on so I took it to Autozone and got a P0320 code. I replaced the crankshaft position sensor and the engine light went off, but it still stalls.

Additional information: Charging system light was coming on for awhile so I eventually replaced the alternator a few months back. The problem was solved at the time, but now this is happening.

[65comet]

The V6 has pre-cats as part of the exhaust manifolds. Then the main catalytic converter after the two pipes join. The guts of these pre-cats like to fall apart and then get caught in the first screen of the main cat. With no flowing of the exhaust, it won't run right. You can take the main cat off and tap it on the pavement at the inlet to see if that is the problem by how much if any material from those front pre-cats comes out. I'd see if that is your problem.