Explorer dies when making Right Turns

[NealP]

My Explorer dies without warning whenever I make a right turn. Any idea what could be causing this?

[XLT03]

What year is your Explorer and what size is the engine? I had similar problem on my 03 with 4.6L. My vehicle was in the dealership for a stalling problem and they flashed the PCM and since then no dying while turning right. I originally thought the problem was a fuel related such as the pick up unit in the tank.

[nitenrustinarmor]

i have a 94 xlt that had a similar problem turned out on the positive battery cable a hole got worn throught the insillation and when i made a turn it would touch the radiator support and short the truck out couldnt figure out what the hell was doing it till i was running the truck with the hood open and i moved the pos wire and it touched metal and off went the truck

[Opera House]

Other tales from the crypt. My 92 would dir on high speed tight exit turns. Same corner every day going home from work. It was the fuel pressure regulator that had worn a bevel on one side of the seat. On the turn the centrifical force would cause the valve to stick open. You likely have an electrical problem and some wiggeling around under the hood will likely turn up the problem.

[budice69]

Originally Posted by NealP

My Explorer dies without warning whenever I make a right turn. Any idea what could be causing this?

I have same problem: Did you get it fixed?

I thought it was water in the gas, so I changed the fuel filter and drained some gas from the tank. Got some water out, but did not fix the problem, made it worse. I have had to replace the rubber connectors on the vacuum lines due to swelling and wetness (fuel ?) recently.

Could this be a fuel pressure regulator problem? Any idea on diagonstics, rather than guessing and playing, "replace the parts and see how it does?" Thanks

[budice69]

Originally Posted by budice69

I have same problem: Did you get it fixed?

I thought it was water in the gas, so I changed the fuel filter and drained some gas from the tank. Got some water out, but did not fix the problem, made it worse. I have had to replace the rubber connectors on the vacuum lines due to swelling and wetness (fuel ?) recently.

Could this be a fuel pressure regulator problem? Any idea on diagonstics, rather than guessing and playing, "replace the parts and see how it does?" Thanks

I finally fixed the problem.

Putting a pressure gage on the fuel rail while I drove, isolated the problem to the fuel system - not ingition.

Replaced the pressure regulator, $73. from Autozone, the vacuum line was wet with gas - needed replacement, but didn't fix the cutting out problem.

I dropped the tank to check the wiring, and since the 4.0, V-6 has 142K miles, I replaced the fuel pump while I had the tank out, $120 - Autozone - lifetime warranty.

Still cuts out. Frustrating. Checked the wiring, fine at the tank and into the wiring harness. Checked the wiring back to the inertia switch. Switch is under carpet on the passenger side on the firewall - right where passengers press their feet. Connector retaining clip plastic lever was broken, and connector was partially pulled out. Wiggling of the wires was causing the intermittent cutting out of the fuel system. Re-inseted the conector, runs great. Fastened the connector into teh socket. Bad design by Ford, should have located the switch where people don't step on it.

Did some analysis on parts replacement.. Many times it is cheaper to replace suspect parts than take the time to fully troubleshoot, particularly when the labor rates for troubleshooting are $75 per hour. There is also value enhancement since the replacement parts have a lifetime warranty and the old parts may have reached the end of the useful life already - as the case for the $120 fuel pump. There is a very high price when the old part quits while the wife is driving home from the grocery store.