engine sputter

[explorer1995]

After diving my 95 explorer with a 4.0 and shutting it off for 30 minutes or so then when i start it up again the engine sputters and feels like it may stall. once i put it in drive and go it goes away. if i leave the car parked over night, the next morning it starts no problem and doesn sputter.

I was going to change the fuel filter to start, anyone have any other suggestions?

I should add that the check engine light isnt on. I have replaced plugs and wires, tps sensor, cleaned the maf and the iac. I also added seafoam in the gas tank. I havnt done it with the pcv vavle.

 

[2000StreetRod]

ECT sensor & fuel pressure

You may have a defective engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor that reports the engine is cool when it is actually warm. The PCM would respond with an excessively rich mixture.

You could have a weak fuel pump in addition to a clogged filter.

 

[explorer1995]

The fuel pump in these cars are in tank correct? and do u know if i could great an access door to it instead of lowering the tank down?

I am going to change the fuel filter and see what that does, if it doesnt help my bet is on the fuel pump, cuz the car has a slow acceleration up until 45 mph.

 

[explorer1995]

sluggish i should say instead of slow, but it is rather slow to my opinion

 

[2000StreetRod]

test the pressure before replacement

If it has been more than 30,000 miles since your fuel filter has been replaced then you should replace it. I believe clogged fuel filters significantly contribute to early fuel pump failure.

I encourage you to check your fuel pressure before replacing your fuel pump: Fuel pressure test procedure You might have a bad pump or a defective fuel pressure reguator. Yes, the fuel pump is in the tank. Search the forum for replacing the pump. There are threads for cutting an access hole if you choose to go that route. For expensive and labor intensive replacements I encourage members to determine if something is defective before replacement.

 

[explorer1995]

I bought the car about 6 months ago, so I am not sure when the last time the fuel filter was changed, so I will do that this weekend, I will also change the ect sensor this weekend. After shutting the car off the temp gauge stays in the middle for awhile, it goes down slowly, the car has been off for 4 hours now and the needle is still about 1/3 of the was up.

Hopefully the filter is the problem and no damage was done to the pump, I will post any updates during the weekend.

 

[2000StreetRod]

not the temp sender but the ECT sensor

The sensor that drives the temperature gauge on the instrument panel has no effect on the engine. It is only for driver information. The other sensor, the engine coolant temperature (ECT) is connected to the PCM. That is the one that needs to be tested. See BrooklynBay's helpful threads for the one that lists a table of resistance vs temperature for the ECT sensor.

 

[explorer1995]

Gotcha! thank you for clarifying that, I will check out that chart for sure. the fuel filter is going to get replaced either tonight or tomorrow, I may just buy the ect sensor i think they are like 15 bucks so that's not too bad.

 

[explorer1995]

update: I changed the fuel filter last week and it made alittle bit of a difference, I am going to get a new ect sensor, but mine has an oval connection and i believe it looks like ill need to get a new rectangular connector and a ect sensor with a rectangular connector, the parts store dont seem to have the one with the oval connector from what i ve seen, I havent looked too much into it though.