Vapor Lock?
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 85
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From: Bothell, WA
Vapor Lock?
I'm not entirely sure what the symptoms of vapor lock are but that was the first guess from my dad after I explained what has been happening with my 93 explorer. I'll be driving along and the tach will drop from the rpm it is at to around 500 to 300 rpm and it feels like you tapped the brakes. When it happens the drop is extremely fast and the whole event probably happens in a second. It has happened three times now, each time has been on the highway above 50, I'm wondering if it is vapor lock because it has happened in the last few days when we have been in a heat wave here in Washington. Tomorrow I'm suppose to leave to head down to Oregon for a few days and I'm a little concerned about driving in this heat with this going on. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
Vapor Lock?
It is next to impossible for these EFI engines to "vapor lock." The pressurized nature of the fuel system won't allow the gasoline to vaporize in the lines. However, it could still be fuel delivery problem. I've heard of fuel pump relays that will intermittently stop feeding power to the pump when they get hot. However, the intermittent nature of this is going to make it difficult to diagnose. Did the CEL come on? You might try retrieving any trouble codes from the PCM and see if that points you somewhere.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Bothell, WA
Vapor Lock?
That's the thing, no Check Engine Light came on and the computer didn't store any codes. I'm going to take down to central Oregon today and I'll see what happens. Thanks!
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1
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It is next to impossible for these EFI engines to "vapor lock." The pressurized nature of the fuel system won't allow the gasoline to vaporize in the lines. However, it could still be fuel delivery problem. I've heard of fuel pump relays that will intermittently stop feeding power to the pump when they get hot. However, the intermittent nature of this is going to make it difficult to diagnose. Did the CEL come on? You might try retrieving any trouble codes from the PCM and see if that points you somewhere.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,450
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
To Dull: You should ALWAYS pull the codes. Even if the CEL isn't on, there may be codes stored. Not checking for codes is like shooting in the dark which can result in a waste of time and $$$. As a new member, perhaps you haven't experieced the frustrations associated with trouble shooting these types of problems. If so, feel fortunate.
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