2000 Explorer 4.0 SOHC Stalls when cold, restarts

[dempseypw]

I have a 2000 Explorer XLT 4.0L. 230K miles. My car has been stalling off/on over the last 3 or 4 months. It almost always does it when the engine is not fully warmed up, and when I am decelerating (foot off the gas). It seems when I first take foot off gas, the engine idle drops way low, then stalls. I have stopped that at times by shifting into Neutral and coasting to the stop light. However, the "Check Engine" light almost never comes on. When it has, the codes have been P0171 and/or P0174 (Lean Air Banks 1 & 2). Most of the time no Check Engine. To restart the engine, I have sat for a minute or more and then restarted the car. Usually it will restart on the first attempt, but sometimes it has taken several minutes and several tries. Then I"ll drive off as if nothing was wrong. I'm thinking a loose connection somewhere? Bad TPS? My local corner auto mechs are guessing bad G.E.M. module, but I'm not so sure after reading these posts. Any ideas folks? Thanx.

 

[Greg_DonWindsor]

Upper and lower intake manifold gaskets sounds like. Mine did this years ago when the temperatures dropped. Replaced both, no cold weather issues since.

 

[dempseypw]

Update to 2000 Explorer 4.0 SOHC stalls, etc.

The auto shop took these actions: 1) Cleaned MAF sensor; 2) replaced neg battery terminal; 3) Cleaned throttle body & IAC; 4) checked/adjusted TPS; 5) replaced computer control relay (E.E.C. relay?). The only problem is, the next day, with the engine fully warmed up and accelerating onto the interstate, the engine DIED! Same ol', same ol' problem. No Check Engine light. It started up, but it did it twice more before I returned home 10 miles later. The next day it ran without stallng, but I got the C.E. light--P0171 & P0174--Lean Air Banks (again). Today it stalled twice more. Any ideas, folks? Did I waste money replacing the relay? It does idle a lot smoother, thanx to all the stuff being cleaned, but I don't know that the root problem has been fixed. Thanx.

 

[BustedKnuckles24]

Nope. The root problem us still there. Upper and lower intake manifold gdkets, as mentioned above. I had the exact same problem, and chased a dirty MAF, looked for, but never found, a cracked or leaking vacuum line, even ran a fuel pressure check. After a really cold morning while camping in the mountains, the engine idled very rough, stalled twice, and the CEL came on with those two codes. Finally decided to replace the upper and lower intske manifold gaskets. The Fel-Pro kit was around $20-25 and a couple of hours with a set of torx sockets on a Saturday morning, and I haven't had a problem since.

 

[dempseypw]

Any idea what the book calls for in labor to replace manifold gaskets? I can't do it. Shop would have to. Thnx.

 

[BustedKnuckles24]

Any idea what the book calls for in labor to replace manifold gaskets? I can't do it. Shop would have to. Thnx.

My sister bought a 1999 with the 4.0 SOHC. There was a shop receipt in the glove box for an independent shop that did the upper and lower gaskets for around $350.