I have a 94 XLT 2WD V6, over 230K miles. About once a month, the vehicle would just stop running shortly (within 15-30 seconds) after start. The check engine light would come on at that point. If I attempted to restart, the engine would crank but not start right away. I learned that if I waited about 3-5 minutes, it would start again without further problems for days-weeks.

All service checks by ford and a local service place came up negative...electrical, fuel, etc.

So off I went driving, knowing it would happen again. Sure enough, this morning I was driving down the highway at 60mph and the the check engine light came on (flickered really) with a split second loss of power (ignition?). I almost thought I imagined it until it happened again about a minute later. Each time the engine ran fine after these short events. Then five minutes later the engine just quit entirely. I coasted to the side of the highway, up an offramp, over to a parking lot and into a parking spot. I waited 3 minutes, without once attempting to start the car. Then it started right up and I drove home for 30 minutes without a problem...

Any suggestions on where to start (no pun intended...)?

I plan on checking the connector to the crankshaft position sensor, as I recall it being cracked a year ago. If I replace this and the problem occurs again...what do you think I should do next from cheapest to most expensive?

Thanks in advance.

 

1st thing I would do is pull codes from the computer (I assume the other mechanics did that, but I don't know for sure). Only requires a paper clip, so this is probably also the cheapest place to start. See Ken00's tech infor post at the top of the BII or Ranger forums. If you do end up with all pass codes from the computer, then go from there. If you find a trouble code, then that will give you an idea of where to start.

 

If you don't have an codes, could be an intermittent electrical error like a poor connection. Saw a recent post where the truck hadd intermittent spark problems and finnally got traced to a poor connection on the ignition switch - right where all the electrical signals start.

So if you get to the point where the problem is faily repeatable, ie happening most of the time, you can check for the bascis - air, fuel and spark. Can alos pull the plugs and see what they look like. One or more might point to the problem.

 

Sounds good for starters, I'll come back to the forum when I know more. Thanks!

 

If codes don't reveal much, take your ignition module to a parts store that has a tester, they tend to act up in the manner you describe. Good hunting.

 

Thanks Savage, I'll do that when I get the chance (or have too because the truck quit again)