2006 Explorer 4x4 jerks while driving

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Jan 3, 2014 | 11:24 PM

gbaca

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2006 Explorer 4x4 jerks while driving

I have a 2006 Explorer V8 4x4 when driving at any speed it will start jerking or surging. The rpms do not increase nor decrease so I don't think tranny problems. When cruise control is set it still acts up. It is not setting a check engine light or code, so when I took it to the dealer they couldn't find anything. We drove it with technician and of course it did not happen. This problem is irritating at best and I'm not to sure its safe for the wife and kids to be in. I'm thinking it maybe a fuel system issue i.e.~ fuel pump, filter, injectors ect. but I'm not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, I was told to run the vin on ford.com and check for recalls or if the computer needed an update. No recalls, but nothing was said or showing if update was needed.

Jan 4, 2014 | 08:43 AM

makuloco2000

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Is it more of a surging than a jerking? It really sounds like the ETB to me they will not set a light but they aren't that common on explorers. You sure its not a secondary misfire?

Jan 4, 2014 | 09:29 AM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

From the basic description this sounds like a misfire. The misfire may not be consistent enough yet to trigger a diagnostic code.

How many miles are on your Explorer, and have you ever had the spark plugs and fuel filter replaced? Was any work recently performed, even something as typically benign as checking the air filter? If the air filter tubing was not correctly installed, or the MAF sensor connector not fully seated, you could get symptoms such as you describe.

-Rod

Jan 4, 2014 | 01:10 PM

gbaca

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Best description would be comparing it to braking with a warped rotor or a wheel hub sticking while driving. So more of a loss of power jerk feeling I would say. I've only had the truck a month and bought it from a dealer. It has 91k on it. So I haven't had any services done to it yet.

Jan 4, 2014 | 05:58 PM

shorod

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It still sounds like it could be a misfire. Since you recently purchase it, maybe the dealer cleaned the engine before sticking it on the lot and water or cleaner got in the spark plug wells. I'm not sure if the 2006 used Coil on Plug (CoP) ignition, but if so, pull the CoPs and check for signs of moisture or oil. If you find moisture or cleaner, clean it off as best you can. While you're at it, you may as well pull a spark plug or two and see if they appear worn. If you find oil, you'll probably need to replace the valve cover gasket sets to get the misfire to stop long-term, but cleaning the oil to confirm the issue would be worth the effort.

-Rod

Jan 5, 2014 | 10:57 AM

gbaca

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Wouldn't a misfire cause a check engine light come on and code to pop up

Jan 5, 2014 | 11:04 AM

shorod

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Not necessarily. I've have a few Fords in the past where I could feel misfires before they triggered even a pending diagnostic code. The misfires have to be regular enough to exceed a threshold before a code will be triggered. I don't recall what the threshold is, something like greater than 200 misfires per 1000 revolutions. My OTC Genisys scan tool had a PID monitoring mode though that allowed me to monitor cylinder misfire counts real time and that's how I was able to spot the misfires in those vehicles (1998 Taurus SHO, 2002 Lincoln LS, and 2004 Lincoln LS).

I had a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer V8 that I was sure had a misfire, but no indications of such from the scan tool. I then checked pending diagnostic codes and found one for an intermittent MAF sensor. I replaced the MAF sensor and the truck ran like new again.

-Rod