T.M.391
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- December 8, 2013
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
Hello all, this is my first post here, so please bear with me.
I recently purchased a used 2001 Explorer Sport, currently with 121,500 miles on the odometer. The past week or so, I've noticed that, especially when in neutral or park, the idle RPMs bounce from 300 to 750 RPMs. Since I purchased it, I've had an oil change, radiator flush, belt change, and the fuel filter changed.
There doesn't seem to be any specific pattern or circumstances to cause the RPMs to do this aside from I've only ever noticed it in neutral or in park, as stated; it hasn't done it while in drive or reverse. I have noticed that when it does it, it sounds like something is cycling on or off under the hood. Like something turns on with a slight 'click' which drops the RPMs, then after about a half second, it comes up to 750 then settles down to an average 600 RPMs. It sits there for a few seconds, then I hear the click again and the process repeats. Sometimes it drops to the point where it seems like the engine might stall out, but it hasn't. There's a noticeable dimming in the headlights and interior lights when the RPMs do drop.
If it matters any, the original owner did have a remote start installed in the truck.
I live in New Hampshire and it's been averaging in the 30s and 40s since I bought it, dropping down into the teens at night. Oddly enough, it doesn't do it when I start the truck cold first thing in the morning, but only if I've driven it around for awhile letting the engine temp come up to normal, then parked it somewhere. But, it doesn't always do it either; maybe 60-70% of the time.
Would anybody have a solid idea as to why this might be happening? I've done some searching around here but haven't found a thread with similar symptoms; some common ones, but some that are very different or aren't happening with mine.
Thank you,
Tom
EDIT: A little further information: The check engine light isn't on, and there is no difficulty starting the engine. When starting the engine cold, the oil pressure gauge reads nothing and the 'check gauge' light comes on, but after 10 minutes or so, the pressure gauge springs up and the light goes out. It is a 4.0L v6, though I don't think any other engine was offered in '01 on the Sport model(?)
I recently purchased a used 2001 Explorer Sport, currently with 121,500 miles on the odometer. The past week or so, I've noticed that, especially when in neutral or park, the idle RPMs bounce from 300 to 750 RPMs. Since I purchased it, I've had an oil change, radiator flush, belt change, and the fuel filter changed.
There doesn't seem to be any specific pattern or circumstances to cause the RPMs to do this aside from I've only ever noticed it in neutral or in park, as stated; it hasn't done it while in drive or reverse. I have noticed that when it does it, it sounds like something is cycling on or off under the hood. Like something turns on with a slight 'click' which drops the RPMs, then after about a half second, it comes up to 750 then settles down to an average 600 RPMs. It sits there for a few seconds, then I hear the click again and the process repeats. Sometimes it drops to the point where it seems like the engine might stall out, but it hasn't. There's a noticeable dimming in the headlights and interior lights when the RPMs do drop.
If it matters any, the original owner did have a remote start installed in the truck.
I live in New Hampshire and it's been averaging in the 30s and 40s since I bought it, dropping down into the teens at night. Oddly enough, it doesn't do it when I start the truck cold first thing in the morning, but only if I've driven it around for awhile letting the engine temp come up to normal, then parked it somewhere. But, it doesn't always do it either; maybe 60-70% of the time.
Would anybody have a solid idea as to why this might be happening? I've done some searching around here but haven't found a thread with similar symptoms; some common ones, but some that are very different or aren't happening with mine.
Thank you,
Tom
EDIT: A little further information: The check engine light isn't on, and there is no difficulty starting the engine. When starting the engine cold, the oil pressure gauge reads nothing and the 'check gauge' light comes on, but after 10 minutes or so, the pressure gauge springs up and the light goes out. It is a 4.0L v6, though I don't think any other engine was offered in '01 on the Sport model(?)
