I have a 98 Explorer XLT, 4L OHV with 235K miles. It doesn't owe me anything but I'd like to get a few more miles anyway. Recently it has been having a problem where it will start and drive fine but if I stop the car it won't start without pressing the pedal all the way to the floor and even then it starts very hard. After it starts it will stall if I just try to drive it. I have to rev the engine for a couple minutes till it seems to "snap out of it" and drive fine. If I stop and leave it in drive with my foot on the brake, it will run fine. If I try to put it in reverse and then back up 1/2 the time it will stall and not start when I put any load on it. It seems if I shift quickly it works better. I've tried leaving it running in park but that also seems to be the kiss of death. I"m going to burn out my starter at this rate. I've checked a number of times and can't find any codes. I've checked for codes even when the truck is having the problem. When it runs fine it runs great as always so I'm leaning away from a mechanical problem. Feels like a stuck valve or electrical issue. Are there vaccum lines running to the transmission or any switches that change how the engine runs in park or neutral.

Thanks in advance for any help

Ed

 

That is typical behaviour of a flooding engine.

Time to check the fuel pressure and injectors for leakage... Philip