2000 Explorer Sport sputtering and dying, only while HOT outside

[Fenuxx]

So, I live in Phoenix, AZ, and I have a 2000 Explorer Sport (it's an Arizona Edition! ) that has recently started exhibiting a problem only while it's insanely hot outside.

The problem, is while it's ridiculously hot (109* F or higher) it will sputter out and die. If I park it, turn the ignition off, and start it back up, it will immediately start back up, but can within a couple of minutes of driving sputter out and die again.

For the sake of thoroughness, here's all the relevant information I can provide:

The truck itself has JUST shy of 130K miles on it, engine is the 4.0L OHV.
I always use quality gas, (QuikTrip or Chevron) 89 octane
Fuel pump is just over 2 years old (HERE is what the fuel pump is, or the closest match to it)
Fuel filter is rated for 50K miles, I have about 25K on it
The engine is NOT overheating when this happens

Also, here are the instances when it's happened:

Driving on surface streets about a month ago, with about 1/2 a tank of gas, would sputter out and die while making left turns only (was 109*+ F)

Yesterday, while on surface streets (was 110* F) died a couple of times, while making a left turn, and also while driving straight. Finally, it died again while on the freeway, and again while making a left onto surface streets from the freeway. This was while I was at about 1/4 a tank of gas.


Each time it's done this, I can just turn the ignition off, and start it back up, but I roll the dice on whether or not it'll do it again.

I've seen a couple of different things on what it could be, such as vapor lock, (though I don't think this is the case since it's fuel injected and the fuel pump is in the gas tank) the fuel pump overheating (which could be it, explaining why it does this with 1/2 or less of a tank of gas).


Suggestions/solutions are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I can't remove the heat from the situation lol

 

[Fenuxx]

As an update, it just happened again today, while it was 115* F. This time, however, the gas tank was full.

 

[joe doe]

mine does this too .been limping it along over a year now this way .i think its the fuel pump .
try this .....run the gas down some(since you now have a full tank) .

then the next time it acts up try adding a 1/4 tank fresh gas ,if the problem goes away right away then your pump is overheating and shutting down .

i believe this is whats happening to mine (same truck 2000 sport) .when mine acts this way i can pull in to the nearest station add fresh(cool) gas and the problem goes away . i just been putting it off .my ex has over 150k on it .on the original pump and filter .

 

[Fenuxx]

I did today, just to see, got about 2.5 gallons of gas (since I'd driven it a bit) and it was fine for about 15-20 minutes, then it died again while making a left.

I'm leaning towards the fuel pump as well, since when it was replaced 2 years ago, it was my only option (at 2AM, and I was stuck quite a ways from home, I got it at a 24 hour AutoZone). Looking into it online, it was $100, and the Ford OEM model is $200.

I think I'm going to wait until it gets cooler (come November, sigh) and replace it with a better model (I don't really want to be dropping my fuel tank in 115* weather).

Anyone have any suggestions on a fuel pump that can survive this heat? Or any other suggestions as to why this might be happening, maybe something I'm missing?

 

[eternalkernal]

dude had the same exact problem. i live in tx have a 2000 sport ohv and only when its hot and turning after driving for a few min it would die turn it off and back on it would go. so heres what i did.changed fuel pump but i dident drop the tank made a trap door check this thread http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182160&highlight=fuel+pump+trap+door
as well as fuel filter, air filter, oil, oil filter, and spark plugs 4 prong plat, as well as check your power steering. hope it helps

 

[Fenuxx]

OK, as an update to what's going on:

Changed the fuel filter Saturday morning to see if that would do anything, and it did, ran fine up until yesterday.

Yesterday, it started acting up again, idling rough, dying on left turns, etc.

Today, same thing, idled rough, died on left turns.

Now, here's the really weird part. When I changed the fuel filter, I unplugged the battery for about 20 minutes just to reset everything in case the computer was trying to compensate for what seems to be a fuel problem. Today, after it started acting up again, I went to my dad's, and just for giggles, unplugged my battery and let it sit for about 20 minutes again.

Plugged the battery back in, and voila, it works fine again. No hesitation, no rough idling, no nothing. Smooth as can be.

So, what could be the potential problem then? Unplugging the battery, and thus, resetting the computer, is seemingly fixing the problem, at least, temporarily.