Notices
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator 1991-1994, 1995-2001, 2002-2005, 2006-2010 Ford Explorer

04 Exploder idle problems..

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 05:46 PM
  #1  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
04 Exploder idle problems..

I've got a 2004 Exploder 4X4 with the FlexFuel 4.0L V6 126,xxxish Miles
Last Monday i noticed that the x was idling rough around 500rpm. While in park or driving.
I spent Wednesday looking for vacuum leaks with carb cleaner, cleaned the MAF, Changed the Hose that runs from the intake to the evap purge valve thinger.
Broke off the two torx head bolts holding the TPS on and had to buy a whole new throttle body($400FYI)
Installed the new throttle body and fired it up. it idles around 1000 for a few seconds then drops to 500 ish rpm. While the rpms are coming down it runs as rough as it did before..

Its been a real tiring day trying to figure this one out. any help would be appreciated.

Thursday update= I've filled it with premium gas and added a bottle of gas dryer to the tank and still idling like crap, drives fine though.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 06:36 PM
  #2  
oneowner83's Avatar
oneowner83
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Two thoughts....clean the throttle body valve (both sides) just inside the round opening; clean or replace the IAC valve (idle air control). I had erratic idle til I bought a new IAC.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 06:58 PM
  #3  
JWC 3's Avatar
JWC 3
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 49
From: Tennessee
If like my 04 Mounty , your 4.0 is drive by wire . So no IAC valve . You replaced the throttle body , that does the Idle air function . Do you have any codes ? Do you have excessive engine noise , Timing chain issues ? A bit more info on the symptom please .
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 07:56 PM
  #4  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
yes it is drive by wire, no noises, no codes. a buddy at work thought it might be a fuel injector problem.. so i pulled the electrical connection off of No.1cyl injector(only one i could reach easily)...no change in idle.

Now i maybe rusty on my automotive fuel injection systems but its not supposed to fire the injector with no electrical input?
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 08:06 PM
  #5  
JWC 3's Avatar
JWC 3
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 49
From: Tennessee
Correct . If injector unplugged , it should start to miss . How is power while driving ? Fuel pressure good ? If flex fuel there is a fuel filter hidden behind a cover on the pass side in front of the tank . What are your fuel trim numbers and mass air flow readings at idle and full throttle ? A bad MAF can cause your complaint as I read it so far . A good scanner , not just code reader , would be helpful .
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 08:14 PM
  #6  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
Power is fine while driving/ above 1000 rpm.. I dont have a pressure gague to test fuel pressure but. yes it is a flex , I had the fuel filter changed about 1 1/2years ago.

I will try to get a hold of a scanner tomorrow. When i cleaned the MAF it wasn't dirty to begin with...i used about half a can of the CRC MAF sensor cleaner.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 08:25 PM
  #7  
JWC 3's Avatar
JWC 3
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 49
From: Tennessee
The MAF does not have to be dirty to be bad . A scanner will help narrow down your issue . Oh , In my opinion , the fuel filter should be changed at least once a year or 20-25k whichever comes first . Let us know what you find .
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2013 | 08:41 PM
  #8  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
Took it to the shop saturday and they scanned it....found misfire in two cyls. Which i found odd as it did not throw a check light. I should have it back monday afternoon.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 20, 2013 | 02:11 PM
  #9  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
Wasn't a miss fire...shop put it on three different scanners and only the snap on on said it was a miss fire.

They cleaned the injectors with a ford recommended cleaner and that helped a bit, tried to enrich the fuel air mix with no results. They checked compression in all the cylinders and preformed a vacuum leak test. They replaced the vibration dampener and still no improvement. Re flashed the computer to the latest program and that seemed settle the problem. now the vibration comes and goes... only while in the 600 to 1000rpm range.


better than it was, but not as it was before.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2013 | 10:14 AM
  #10  
shorod's Avatar
shorod
Logistics Pro
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,819
Likes: 83
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
The Snap-On scan tool may have been the only one that was monitoring PIDs and for pending codes. My OTC Genisys helped me find numerous failing CoPs with the same feature, checking PIDs for individual cylinder misfire counts. That would identify a failing CoP when I started to notice a rough idle and long before a diagnostic code would be set. I wouldn't give up on the chance of misfires on the two cylinders identified by the Snap-On yet.

-Rod
 
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2013 | 06:24 PM
  #11  
rangersvt04's Avatar
rangersvt04
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 0
From: On A Ship, MI
I broke down and took it to the ford dealer...bad harmonic balancer and the new throttle body i put on was not reading correctly so ford replaced that under warranty.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JLM Reviews
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Aug 5, 2019 06:40 PM
whitsitt3
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
9
Dec 31, 2010 04:57 PM
Cain64
1997 - 2003 F150
4
Jan 12, 2010 05:13 AM
mattb650
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
5
Oct 21, 2009 07:41 PM
bozzzz94
Aerostar
10
Mar 21, 2009 12:54 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:24 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE