Hi guys, I need a little help. My sister in law just got into an accident today because her 2006 Explorer hesitates and dies sometimes off the line. Check engine light will come on, and won't go apparently. If she shuts it off and restarts, it will usually work for a little while again. Today, it happened when she took off on a green light, it stalled out and the guy behind her rear ended her. She isn't real happy with her Ford.

 

so what is the code on the "check engine light" ?

 

the check engine light goes away after she restarts. Will it store the code?

 

Usually the code is there. Should have taken it in for the codes to be read. If it stalled multiple times before and she continued to drive it, then the issue with the vehicle didn't cause the "accident", she did.

 

^^ My thought as well. I think the lawyers call that "negligent."

-Rod

 

Its been to a shop several times over the last couple years, nobody has been able to find the issue. It will sometimes run for months with no issues.

 

I'll grant a good effort then, but I am of a mind that when there is a CEL and the shop says "can't find the issue" it's time to consider another shop. Do they have a proper code reader or are they just parts swappers?

I any event, I'm sorry this happened to your SIL, I hope there was no injury, and I read your post again--the cause was the guy behind following too close.

Your SIL needs a good lawyer. She should shoot for enough to replace the vehicle with something that doesn't stall.

Good luck to all.

Back to what the issue is, an off-idle stall could be throttle sensor, fuel delivery, vacuum leak, or a host of other items. Code reading is essential and if the vehicle is fixable after the crash, I would recommend a Ford dealer regardless of diagnostic costs to get a real Ford code reader hooked up and maybe get to the bottom of the stalling issue.

 

The "CODE" would lead you in the right direction for repairs. If you knew the number, we could give you 2-3 ideas of what it could be. A Factory Dealer should be able to pin point the exact cause given that code.

In most states when there is an accident, the guy IN THE BACK that ran into you is the guilty party for not paying attention to what is going on in front of him.

 

The check engine light will come on when the car dies out. Just like if you turn on the ignition without starting the car. Once it's running it goes out if there are no codes. Sounds like it's dieing out from something nonelectrical. These types of issues can be hard to find. You may have to leave it someplace for a week to let them drive it and try to figure it out.

 

Yeah from what I understand, its like somebody cycles the key real quick. I am kinda thinking its some sort of ground somewhere.

 

Have the battery cables been checked to confirm they are clean and tight?

-Rod

 

Low fuel pressure will cause a stumble on tip-in, it likely will run rough or lose power at high rpms/load as well. The fuel pump drive module Ford uses is a weak point, but the system gives a ton of info. My scanner will give me fuel pressure and pump driver percentage, so if it's maxing out at low throttle and losing pressure you know there's a problem with the driver or pump.
It could also be a dirty MAF sensor, dirty throttle body, bad pedal position sensor or throttle drive, or a few other things. It may just need a tuneup.
Unfortunately I am in the diagonally opposite corner of the state, so not much I can do.