2011 Expedition EL - Intermittent trouble starting, engine shuts down while driving
 

I have a 2011 Expedition EL 4x4 that has approximately 25,600 miles on it. First at around 15,000 miles, I had filled up at a gas station, and the Expy would not start. Finally after numerous attempts, the engine turned over and I continued on my way. I took it to the dealership, but they could not recreate the problem.

Within a couple of days, I was driving in town and stopped at a stoplight, and the engine died. It exhibited the same problem restarting that it had at the service station. Again to the dealer, with the problem not being able to recreated.

Approximately 5000 miles ago, the situation occurred on a major road at a stop light and I was barely able to creep into a parking lot. This time, the vehicle was towed to the dealer and once again, no problem could be determined. No codes were thrown, or any other diagnostic items.

Yesterday, I was driving approximaely 45 mph down a road and the vehicle just began to lose power. Even attempting to feather the accelerator did not help. The vehicle eventually stopped, but this time, it restarted with no problem. I drove it the rest of the day without issue. I spoke to my dealership contact and he said to bring it in on Monday.

Today, the same problem occurred while driving with my wife on the way to a family gathering. It happened three times over a 15 mile stretch in the city. When the vehicle begins to lose power, it goes down to idle and then just dies.

As we were low on fuel, I stopped to fill-up and then the vehicle exhibited the same starting issue that I first mentioned above. Once I got the vehicle started, we proceeded on to the family gathering via the interstate without incident.

We are still with the family, so I haven't determined if the problem will manifest itself on the way home.

My question is has anybody had any of these same issues? Because it has not thrown any codes or other diagnostic clues, the dealership is having trouble diagnosing the problem.

Sorry for the long post, but I am at my wits end. Any help out there would be appreciated.

I had a similar problem with a Mazda. Sometimes, it throws a crankshaft position error code, other times it didn't. Dealer never figured it out so I traded that hunk of junk.

Start by checking all battery leads. There my be a loose or corrosion problem at the battery and on the motor. Check the negative connections at the block.

I had that issue with a Dodge Durango and a Dodge 1500 truck a log time ago. On the truck it was a dirty throttle body and on the Durango it ended up being the raditor fan relay. Both displayed the issue really bad at low speeds and turning.

Can they not put a data logger in for a few days to log what is going on with the ECU.

No issues like that with my 07 or my 11 Expy.

Yes, request the dealer put the data logger on it. Tell them it's unsafe to drive. They should be willing to do this if they are concerned with you as a customer whatsoever.

Thanks for the input guys. Apparently a sensor was going out. It was replaced at the dealership and I have been driving for a week with no further problems.

I had similar symptoms and it was a bad ground off the battery.

What sensor was it?

I'm also curious about which sensor was replaced.