'02 Explorer Sport hard starting, running at idle.

[Rob Mastropietro]

This problem began today- engine was warm, and began to idle very roughly, and misfiring. CEL is on and flashing. There is a very rich smell of fuel mixture. The problem has not corrected itself by shutting the engine down and restarting.

A few weeks ago experienced this problem with a cold engine, but it smoothed itself out quickly with no further problems untill a few days ago when I noticed a very rough idle and rich fuel smell, along with excessive exhaust smoke. I shut the engine down and restarted, everything was fine.

I have not connected it to any diagnostics equip. but I am told by a friend that Auto Zone will do that for you at little or no cost.

Any thoughts on a possible solution?

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It sounds like it's running too rich, and it's getting flooded. It could be a bad fuel pressure regulator, ECT sensor or MAF sensor. Get the codes read.

 

[Rob Mastropietro]

2002 Ford Explorer Sport

Codes P0303, 0304 and 0306 show that Cylinders 3, 4, and 6 are misfiring, so I am assuming it's an ignition issue.
Car has 65k on it and well maintained.

 

[Rob Mastropietro]

I got codes read this morning- P0303, 4 and 6 indicating misfiring in the 3rd, 4th and 6th cylinders- so I assume I have an ignition problem

 

[rrgone]

I got codes read this morning- P0303, 4 and 6 indicating misfiring in the 3rd, 4th and 6th cylinders- so I assume I have an ignition problem

Rob, If that's a 2002 2-door, then you've got a Gen 2 platform and will likely get better help posting in the 1995-2001 forum. Could be an intake manifold gasket failure. Good luck.

 

[Rob Mastropietro]

I'm sorry about that- will be sure to get onto the correct forum in the future. Thx.