Hello everyone, I have a family member who has a 2002 ford explorer with a 4.0 v-6. It's a 2 wheel drive, automatic. This problem scrank sensor was replaced, the fuel filter has been replaced as well as the fuel pumptarted last summer and acted like it might have been a vapor lock situation because it would just shut off. Pop it in N or Park and it would fire up again right away. It has not thrown a single code as of yet. We took it to a mechanic and he did a throttle body clean, new air filter and said it was cured. The next few days it was cool and the car worked fine. However the first day it got above 70 deg. it started all over again. At first it only did it waiting at a traffic light. now it does it going down the road, usually when the idle drops a bit on any kind of a slope, no matter how slight. On days below 70 deg. there is no problem and it runs perfect. The crank speed sensor, fuel filter and fuel pump has all been replaced to no avail.. Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong with this vehicle...All help would greatly be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Eric in Florida.

 

If it's vapor-locking, you can check to see if there is fuel pressure in the rails but pushing the stem of the Schrader valve; gas should squirt out. But be careful, since you're spraying fuel onto a hot engine.

It sounds like there is a heat problem with the ignition system. I think that engine uses the EDIS and 3-coil pack. The EDIS module is usually screwed to the inside fender. You might try cooling it down the next time it happens to see if it helps the engine to restart or run.

 

Thank you xlt4wd90. I honestly don't believe it's vapor locking cause it will restart right away...it just shuts off LIKE it's vapor locked. And only does it when the outside air temp is above 70 deg. F.

Since the crank sensor and fuel filter were changed and the vehicle has set for two days after it shut off on the mechanic's test drive, it has not shut off yet even though the air temp was in the 80's. Don't know why it took two days to reset the computer I don't know...Maybe it's laying low for a bit, Hahahaha. The week following the third of the month I will have a program that scans the engine electric systems in real time and logs it. Then I will hopefully know what is happening with it...

Once again thank you for the information curing the vapor lock shut down. I will keep it incase it ever does happen. Eric.