I'll make this as short as possible, I have a problem with the Explorer dying at stop lights or when left idiling in the driveway. I thought it was the IAC valve and replaced it but the problem is still there. I have a friend who is a mechanic and he brought home a scanner to look for codes, but nothing comes up. The check engine light has never come on. ALSO this thing is getting extermely poor gas mileage, I can't give you eaxct numbers but its costing between $75 -$90 week in gas to go approx 50 mile a day round trip mostly highway. Since no codes are being pulled I don't think the dealer could help me so I am hoping someone here might have had a similar problem in the past and knows how to fix it. Any info would be greatly appreciated

 

How many miles are on it. Fuel filter could be clogged or you may have a vacuum leak.

 

It has 74512 miles, I changed the fuel filter about a year ago. If it was a vaccum leak where would I start to fix that?

 

Fordfan I have a similar problem but with the 2001. I do get codes but they are generic (running lean) anyway just wondering what yours turned out to be, thanks

 

trying to find the problem is not going to be easy w/o monitor hooked up while you drive. the reason you can't find a code is the systemn hasn't hard coded, that would leave a code for you to trace. the only way to find these ghost problems is to have the garage or dealer hook up a loaner scanner type unit. you will drive around with this hooked up and hope the problem happens while you have this unit hooked up. they then can down load the info and look at all the parameters, read voltage drops and operations of the sensors and systems. this is the only way to catch the culprate. it could be a voltage spike or drop to a sensor closing the throttle, cutting spark from the coil etc. anything, fuel you name it.

other than that you are out of luck. more times than not the shop cannot duplicate the symptoms and these problems don't happen close together this is the only option. but again I wasn't suprised you didn't find the codes, you didn't have a part failure but more of a glitch, the glitch can be traced but the computer needs to be hooked up to read it. more for future readers if they have same problems, if you haven't fixed yours by now.