I have a 2003 Ford Explorer and lose power completely when I am either turning or driving down the road. Diagnostic tests have not shown anything is wrong. I replaced the battery with a new battery. Yesterday I was turning onto the on ramp to get on the interstate and had a power failure. I'm afraid I'm going to get rear ended. Vehicle starts right back up when I re-start engine. I don't ever know when it's going to lose power and it is not consistent.
Also, rear windows on occassion work and sometimes don't work.
Suggestions?
is it running out of gas and then slowly die out, or is it an instant "stop" where the motor dies quickly. If it dies quickly, then there must be an electrical disconnect or short. could be part of steering wheel, or maybe wheels, tie rods underneith rubbing something. i would bet more on internal to the steering column which is cutting power to the key switch or something along that line. dont sound safe, i think i would take it to a mechanic and suggest inside steering wheel- plugs- inspection.
It is an instant stop, dies quickly, but then can be started right up again. I get a slight indication when it's about to happen because steering wheel gets locked up. It has stopped on me while driving down the road or sometimes when I'm making a turn, it has stopped when I come to a stop light and once when I turned to get on a ramp. It is so sporadic I can't keep track of when it will do it, that is why it's been hard for the Ford dealer to diagnose. Test didn't show anything was wrong. Is your advice still the same as your previous reply? I would be really happy and feel so safe to get issued resolved without spending an arm and a leg. What do you think about rear windows failure. Sometimes they go down, sometimes they won't. Different issue or do you think it's related to the power failure issue. I appreciate your comments.
Do you use the tilt function of the steering wheel at all? If so, could be a problem there as stated by steve. I've heard of connectors coming apart and or shorts in wires because of the tilt function.
I have used it. Although I don't use it every time I drive. I found a comfortable position and left it there. So I am not adjusting the tilt all the time. What do you think now?
i think the column sounds like a good bet, but i would run some test first. think i would try driving around the block, turning hard corners stop to stop, tilting the wheel, turning on the turn signals, working the windshield wipers, etc. anthing the makes the column work. i would try to MAKE it die and try to repeat it. You need to narrow dwon the problem by trying some things. Might be able to do it setting in the driveway not even moving??? Im suprised the dealer has not suggested this.
The dealer response has been it would be hard to diagnose since it's not consistent. The last time I was in my battery (according to what they said) didn't have the amps it should, so I replaced with new thinking that would help the power failure problem. I had my fingers crossed until it did it again this last Sunday. I will try what you recommend and see what happens. Should I ask the dealer to do diagnostics on the steering column? Is that usually an expensive test? I'm open to any suggestions at this point and would like to get this resolved. I appreciate your advice.
In regards to the Power Failure Issue - Occasionally I hear a whining noise coming from the truck. Does anyone know if this could be related to the steering column-power failure issue? Please let me know.
Is the PCM in regards to the Power Failure Issue or the whining noise? What is a PCM? Is it expensive to have replaced?
The PCM is pretty much the brain of the truck, its your computer system that controls mostly everything your engine does.
You can have the PMC reflashed by a dealership, which clears out ur system, and updates your computer of your truck with up to date codes and clears out anything that could be wrong with your truck.
All that is is plugging a wire in underneath ur steering wheel, and takes less then an hour to do, I had it done to mine, a cost of 75 bucks by a dealer after I took it in complaining up it idling bad. It fixed it. Try that first.
You might want to check the key switch itself, if you have alot of dangles with the truck key, it might be putting a strain on the switch. I had an old ford 500,and after removing about a ton of extra junk, it was OK till it took a true dump. My 2 cents
Go to a garage the has a Snap-On scanner like the MT-2500 series. It allows for a test that is called the "Wiggle" test. It was specifically designed for Fords and can only be done on Fords.
What it is, is, a test that remembers everything and the moment that whatever the issue is and fails, the movie part of the test freezes. What this tells the tech is, what circuit failed. In most cases this is done in the garage and you simply wiggle and shake wire harness and their plugs. You also tap on various modules. If no answer can be found in the garage you go for a ride with the computer attached. Once it fails, as in your case, once it turns off, you simply read the scanner to see what circuit failed.
My 04 explorer dies instantly when I am using cruise control going up or down a hill. It starts back up with no problems everytime. I think it is something with the cruise control because it never happens unless I am using the cruise. Anyone have any suggestions? Could a bad clockspring cause the engine to die while in cruise? Please help.
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Power Failure 2003 Ford Explorer
