So here's the deal. 93 explorer 215000 miles on it runs like a champ 99.9% of the time. I am on my way home today on the highway going 75mph when all of sudden it started slowing down and sputtering. I quickly pulled over and as I did the car shut off. When I was pumping the pedal nothing would happen. I initially thought fuel pump is dead as I dont know if its been replaced. 45 minutes later on the side of the highway after multiple times trying to start, it does and I cruise the next 20 miles home no problems at all????

Got home started it a few times, NO PROBLEMS!

What could I be dealing with, I'm afraid to drive it now anywhere further from home.

Thanks for help

 

It could still be the fuel pump. In the early stages, they overheat and fail. Once they cool down, they work fine again, for a little while. You could also try changing the fuel filter just to be sure there wasn't a restriction that was temporarily blocking flow. And if you have a fuel pressure tester, you may want to start taking it with you so if this happens again, you can confirm whether or not you have fuel pressure.

-Rod

 

Every fuel pump failure I've ever had behaved the same way. Every aftermarket replacement I used also behaved exactly the same way. I used Motorcraft replacements, problem never came back. Make sure you replace the fuel filter and sock while you are at it.

 

Thanks, I was suspecting either the pump or filter or both. Is the filter for this truck located in the tank? or is it under the car on the line like normal? Also to replace the fuel pump is there an access panel under the back seat, or must I drop the tank?

Unfortunately I dont have a fuel pressure tester. I am going to do filter first and just stay near home, if not I did find a motorcraft pump at rock auto for 62 bucks..most likely will order that today to have it on hand.

Thanks again for your guys help

 

This is how my '93 Mercury acted. There was a TSB for debris in the fuel tank. On long trips, the debris would build up on the screen in the tank. Drive long enough, it clogged. After it quit, I rumbled along in neutral with a dead engine at 75 mph and dropping, finally moving to the shoulder which was much rougher than the freeway. Got it stopped, and it fired right back up. Same thing on another long trip.

As for a fuel pump failure, I don't doubt the slow failures of prior posters, as I've had mechanical pumps fail that way, but my '98 Exploder pump was sudden and total failure.

 

I have also considered that it may be the pickup coil. From what I know that can also cause similar problems and is a known issue with the early explorers?

 

Often when the pickup coil fails, and yes, they can fail with these symptoms as well, the tachometer will jump all over the place. Does your Explorer happen to have a tachometer, and did you happen to notice if it jumped around?

-Rod

 

Yes I do have a tach, a few weeks ago i started it and the rpms did jump around in a sputter between 3-400 rpm to 1100rpm. It stalled and then I restarted and it was fine..the plugs and wires have about 10k on them..I didnt really think much of it given how old it is.