I have a weird intermittent problem. Sometimes when I start my explorer it will idle down and die immediately, I restart and it will idle about 400-600 really rough, sounds like it is missing. When I drive it it is jerky and the acceleration is sluggish but after I get it up to about 20 mph it clears out and then drives and idles fine until I shut it down. Plus these things only happen about every third time (on average) that I drive it. Lastly it's not giving me any codes. Anybody have any ideas on what this could be?

 

Have you plugged a code reader in or just no CEL?

Intake o-rings, idle valves, throttle position sensors, oxygen sensors may be suspects. But those usually throw a code or CEL if it is running as poorly as you describe.

When you turn it key on, engine off, do you see the CEL?

 

The 2004s seem to be extra sensitive to crud buildup in the throttle body. It's the first year for drive-by-wire so TB and IAC are all one electronically controlled unit.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-ac-is-on.html

I seem to remember seeing a TSB on this for 2004-2005, but cannot locate it now. Anyhow, try cleaning that TB and let us know if that fixes your rough idle.