2010 engine goes off while driving

[joelPost]

Discussion Starter · #1 · 6 h ago​

my 2010 Ford explorer is a salvage vehicle gotten in 2020.
on Tuesday 15.11.22 was a recent experience. I drove it for about 180km without any issue. but in the night of same day. driving on off road of about 3km, it shuts off 4 times (the only difference was the AC was on). after entering a dual carriage way, it didn't shut off for about 60km even in off road (with no AC).
then the following day 16.11.22 for about 850miles trip, it shut off 3times. the first and last shut off was without AC.
I gave the vehicle to a mechanic who ONLY work ford vehicles. the scanning of of it returned no fault.
drove it for about 180km on Friday 25.11.22 (with AC) shuts of on me at about 175km of the trip. drove it without AC this morning 28.11.22 for about 180km, didn't go off.
though the shutting off happened more when AC is on, it also go off when it wasn't.
help. the mechanic seems not to know the exact fault. trying suspected options may cause other problems.
thank you.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Shooting in the dark I’d suspect fuel pump. I doubt the ac has any real effect on it.

 

[joelPost]

Shooting in the dark I’d suspect fuel pump. I doubt the ac has any real effect on it.

thank you; the mechanic will check that with the fuel filter and will give you an update, please. fuel tank hasn't been touch since I got the vehicle.

when the vehicle goes off; if it is put on park and restarted, it start but goes off after about a minute. the trick is to take off the battery head for some moment. when replaced and started again, you can drive for a hundred km, without stopping.

thank you.

 

[joelPost]

Shooting in the dark I’d suspect fuel pump. I doubt the ac has any real effect on it.

the fuel tank was checked tiday. pump tested OK. fuel filter minimal dirt. the tank is very clean.

 

[joelPost]

the fuel tank was checked tiday. pump tested OK. fuel filter minimal dirt. the tank is very clean.

rightly, the AC doesn't have a problem on the shutting down.
if the vehicle is restarted immediately after it shut down, most often it will start but dies in about a minutes but removing the battery head for some seconds and replacing, clears up the system and allow it to fire without issue (at least for the rest of the trip).

 

[joelPost]

the culprit, in my case, was the air filter. when the dirt is much, the shutting off of the engine occurs. cleaning it resolved my issue.
thank you.

 

[Blackhawkxx]

the culprit, in my case, was the air filter. when the dirt is much, the shutting off of the engine occurs. cleaning it resolved my issue.
thank you.

Thanks for telling us how it was fixed.

 

[ThunderbirdSport]

I'd think that air starvation (running rich) would be noticeable to the point that the power loss, exhaust smell, and other symptoms would be extremely noticeable, no?

 

[joelPost]

I'd think that air starvation (running rich) would be noticeable to the point that the power loss, exhaust smell, and other symptoms would be extremely noticeable, no?

hello,
I didn’t noticed that; it's not significant enough, I think... moreover, our expertise differs.
meanwhile, I have tried the option of cleaning the filter twice and the result was clear.
I got a new filter (FA-1695) to change the old one.

 

[joelPost]

this issue wasn't fixed as assumed in my post of July 4, 2023... with this issue, I can embark on a 900km journey and end up getting to the destination... despite this, having a vehicle that shuts off abruptly is a concern.

 

[joelPost]

this issue wasn't fixed as assumed in my post of July 4, 2023... with this issue, I can embark on a 900km journey and end up getting to the destination... despite this, having a vehicle that shuts off abruptly is a concern.

Is is possible for catalytic converter to be causing the shutting off of vehicle?
I noticed that one of the catalytic converter in the vehicle have been tampered with.
Kindly help.

 

[dvdswan]

It is possible for a cat conv to do that, but usually when the cat is clogged the vehicle really wont restart of it will run very poorly. A loose/rusty/dirty ground can also cause intermittent engine shut off. I would check ground in the back of the vehicle for fuel tank, taillights, or trailer harness grounds. I have seen this happen on a loose ground causing the fuel pump to shut off.

 

[joelPost]

It is possible for a cat conv to do that, but usually when the cat is clogged the vehicle really wont restart of it will run very poorly. A loose/rusty/dirty ground can also cause intermittent engine shut off. I would check ground in the back of the vehicle for fuel tank, taillights, or trailer harness grounds. I have seen this happen on a loose ground causing the fuel pump to shut off.

thank you for your response.
I had changed some items MAF, throttle body, fuel pump, spark plugs, etc. the last item I planned to change was ignition switch.
In the cause of doing all this, I realised the cat conv was compromised. I do not know exactly when it happened. I was now thinking the cat conv removal was the culprit because the shutting off of the engine has been on since 2022 Nov, and I have been careful not to give the vehicle to mechanic indiscriminately.

 

[94Eddie]

Do you know the reason for the salvage title? Was it due to flooding, an accident, etc. If clearing the stored learned data keeps the problem at bay for a longer period of time, this might help to focus on looking into areas that rely on learned data to function. As a way to increase the reliability, you can install a battery terminal switch that will enable you to easily clear the learned data when you park it overnight, etc. I have one of these on my Mustang GT to keep the battery from draining when it is parked for extended periods of time. I can connect and reconnect the battery easily. Also, have you ever checked for trouble codes being tripped immediately after the engine dies before you turn the ignition off? Lastly, when the engine dies does all electrical function stop or does the radio, lights, etc. keep working?

 

[joelPost]

Do you know the reason for the salvage title? Was it due to flooding, an accident, etc. If clearing the stored learned data keeps the problem at bay for a longer period of time, this might help to focus on looking into areas that rely on learned data to function. As a way to increase the reliability, you can install a battery terminal switch that will enable you to easily clear the learned data when you park it overnight, etc. I have one of these on my Mustang GT to keep the battery from draining when it is parked for extended periods of time. I can connect and reconnect the battery easily. Also, have you ever checked for trouble codes being tripped immediately after the engine dies before you turn the ignition off? Lastly, when the engine dies does all electrical function stop or does the radio, lights, etc. keep working?

it's accident (got it via Copart).
I haven't checked trouble codes immediately after the engine dies.
yes, the radio, lights... keep working.

ordinarily, the check engine light ought to be on because of the compromised cat conv (or the two cat conv have to be out before the light comes on?)
as though the perpetrator did more than just taking out the cat conv... (I planned to get an electrician to check the system around this too).
January 2021, in the cause of oil change, I went into the pit... I have a video which cover the enter length; I wasn't on the look out for anything specific but the cat conv was intact then. that was the last time I recall seeing it that way until recently when my attention was drawn to it.

 

[joelPost]

Do you know the reason for the salvage title? Was it due to flooding, an accident, etc. If clearing the stored learned data keeps the problem at bay for a longer period of time, this might help to focus on looking into areas that rely on learned data to function. As a way to increase the reliability, you can install a battery terminal switch that will enable you to easily clear the learned data when you park it overnight, etc. I have one of these on my Mustang GT to keep the battery from draining when it is parked for extended periods of time. I can connect and reconnect the battery easily. Also, have you ever checked for trouble codes being tripped immediately after the engine dies before you turn the ignition off? Lastly, when the engine dies does all electrical function stop or does the radio, lights, etc. keep working?

thank you for your responses; I'm grateful.
I responded to your questions.

 

[94Eddie]

thank you for your responses; I'm grateful.
I responded to your questions.

Seeing the damage to the front, I wonder if there is something in the in the collision detection system that might be kicking in randomly that is shutting down the engine for safety reasons.

 

[joelPost]

Seeing the damage to the front, I wonder if there is something in the in the collision detection system that might be kicking in randomly that is shutting down the engine for safety reasons.

possibly.
but I do not know how to go about it to ascertain if it's the culprit.
meanwhile, I want to start with checking the programme/system of the car - why check engine light is not coming up (the light only shows when the key is turn to on but goes off when the car starts)... then move to checking if the cat conv is block.
thank you again for your help.