93 Explorer - bogging down

[Calvynandhobbs]

I've been searching the board this morning for similar problems, but haven't run across anything that is like mine. Mine was running great until last Wednesday. I went to start it and it was difficult to start. Once it started it hesitated and every time I pushed the gas it would just about cut off on me. I tried getting my son to school, but it couldn't make it up a small grade. I had it towed to a shop and they found the fuel filter full of some type of black tar looking stuff. They replaced it and now I can get it to run, but only after it's good and warm. Even after being warm it's still got a hesitation and what sounds like a missing rumble at take off from a stop. I pulled the plugs this weekend and they are white and ashy so it looks like it's running lean. From the stuff I read it looks like it could be the IAC, MAF or something else? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Roger

 

[MrShorty]

Before I started messing with the EEC-IV sensors (MAF, etc.) I'd run the self-diagnostic tests (see stickies in the under the hood forum and EEc-IV forum). EEc-IV isn't 100% perfect at seeing faults, but it makes good sense to at least ask the computer if it sees the fault.

Where there was some issue with the fuel filter recently, I would be a little concerned with the fuel pump and the rest of fuel delivery. Put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail and see what the fuel pressure looks like (refer to sticky in under the hood forum)

 

[unclemeat]

I would also try some injector or fuel system cleaner.

 

[btexpress]

And change that fuel filter more often, my shop recommends every 15K, as well as the dealer I worked for. I find Ford filters clog faster than almost any other makes.

 

[marragtop]

Clogged filters also makes the fuel pump work harder which will shorten it's life. You might also want to check the vacuum connections at the tree on the drivers side by the firewall.

 

[Calvynandhobbs]

I ran some fuel injector cleaner through it yesterday and it seemed to run a little better. I bet whatever was in my filter is also in my fuel lines between the tank and filter. I had changed that fuel filter about 18 months ago so I think I got some bad gas somewhere with junk in it. I think I'm going to run 2 or 3 more tanks of gas with fuel injector cleaner through it and change the filter again and hope I get the rest of the junk out of the system. I'm also going to do a fuel pressure test this weekend just to make sure I haven't damaged the fuel pump with the extra strain it's had. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Roger