Guess I'm looking for some independent opinions on this issue before okaying another repair bill - two days ago my 2000 V-6 Explorer (73,000 miles)hesitated on start up, but seemed to run fine for a few miles. After sitting about an hour (cold weather) it stalled out completely shortly after starting and driving about 500 feet to a stop sign. I could not re-start. Had to have it towed to a Ford dealer since it was in the evening and the tow truck would not drop at an unoccupied facility - the dealer diagnosed insufficient fuel pump pressure, dropped out tank, replaced pump, filter, and did other things that appear associated with that. When I went to pick up the vehicle, as I stepped into it in the repair garage, the check engine light was on. I inquired, the person that drove truck up said "I noticed that..." - they offered to diagnose why the light was on (at another charge). My question, could the repair have triggered a check engine light to go on, and if so, and in anyone's opinion, should the repair facility have offered to check it out at no extra charge. The service writer denied the check engine light would go on due to the repair they had done...he suggested that I drive it thorough 3-4 cold start cycles, or disconnect battery for a while to see if light went out - if it did, no problem...if staying on, then possible 02 sensor. I am looking for others' opinions - this is 3rd year in row that when cold weather hits, $5-700 repair also hits (throttle control, "bad plug wires", etc. etc.) Last time the motor would want to die but could be kept running by feathering the accelerator. Vehicle has been maintained regulaly.

 

Hi, welcome to the site!

You can usually get the codes scanned for free at Autozone, as they hope that you'll buy any needed replacement parts from them. The computer can be reset at the same time and then as suggested you can run it through several start cycles and see if it comes back (though by having the codes read you should already have an indication of the cause of the problem.)

A code scanner is good investment if you want to work on the car yourself. For OBD-II systems I belive they can be found in the 50-80 dollar range.

And you've found an excellent online community here in which many users give their time and advice to help others out, so we can guide you though many of the repairs that you'd have to shell out big bucks for. That's what it's all about...