"Failsafe mode activated"

[Paraphoe]

Didn't find much on a search for this one, so let's see if you guys can figure it out. My dad was driving his '04 down the highway today (yes, we keep it in the family ) when he got the message "Failsafe mode activated" and the engine shut down. He was able to pull to the shoulder where he checked all fluid levels, pressure, and temps. Everything checked out OK. Gave the truck a few minutes, started her back up, and drove home without a problem. Before the message and shutdown, it was running fine, shifting fine, etc - nothing out of the ordinary. The manual said failsafe mode was for the cooling system on a V8, but my dad's truck is a V6, and the coolant level was fine and the temperature OK.

So, what's the deal here? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

My guess would be a glitch in the system somewhere. The fail-safe mode is only applicable to the V8 as you mentioned. I don't think I'd get too nervous about it unless it did it again. Then it may just be a simple re-flash of the PCM to cure it.

Kind of like mine when I turn the key off, sometimes the "AdvTrac Off" warning lights up on the message center and a chime sounds. I looked up a TSB on it, but it involves replacing the instrument cluster. Forget that...I'll live with it.

 

[ISULarry]

Fail Safe Shutdowns

My 05 was shuting itself down for a while. It usually happened When coasting down to 30 from 45 mph. Turns out that mine is an early 05 and still had an older fuel map that caused a lean condition and sent the X into shutdown. This could be your problem. A quick visit to the dealer for a new fuel map and the problem was solved.

Hope that helps
Good luck!

Larry

Didn't find much on a search for this one, so let's see if you guys can figure it out. My dad was driving his '04 down the highway today (yes, we keep it in the family ) when he got the message "Failsafe mode activated" and the engine shut down. He was able to pull to the shoulder where he checked all fluid levels, pressure, and temps. Everything checked out OK. Gave the truck a few minutes, started her back up, and drove home without a problem. Before the message and shutdown, it was running fine, shifting fine, etc - nothing out of the ordinary. The manual said failsafe mode was for the cooling system on a V8, but my dad's truck is a V6, and the coolant level was fine and the temperature OK.

So, what's the deal here? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

 

[viper777]

hello

i am new to this and i got a question for you .. i have a 2005 ford explorer and my failsafe is actived ..how do i fix it??

Thanks for your help

 

[JTX]

Try resetting the computer. Unlug the battery for five minutes and plug it back in.

 

[frobie15]

What are the odds that an aftermarket tuner (Hypertech, Jet, Etc.) would fix the fuel map issue?? My girlfriends Exploder is going into failsafe mode frequently. I haven't had a chance to pull the codes recently, but at one point there was a code referencing the TPS. Anything?

 

[Stic-o]

what about the oil level? my '99 did this but my truck dosn't have a display.

When my cps shaft broke, I lost oil presure, after a short time the truck just shut it self down, would not even crank till the temp came down

 

[Bhamexplorer]

Just got my 2005 Explorer fixed. I had alarms start with Gas Cap, then Avdtrack, then ABS and finally the dreaded fail safe mode. After a new PCM, Thottle body and pedal. Two weeks and $1,900 later, the tech found a Junction box mounted to the frame just below the passenger side door was full of water. He loaded it with dielectic grease and I am cruising.

 

[super-d]

Sorry to bump an old thread but it has some good info and my issue is directly related.

My explorer has been stalling when idle or coasting at low speeds. I put in some gas additive by Lucas and it seemed to fix issue.

Months later and issue has returned worse than before. Tried same additive and it went away for two weeks. Today it's doing same plus now it went into this fail safe mode. Parked at home for now.

There was a major rain storm. Is that possible these are not related or it is that junction box?

Thanks

 

[Bhamexplorer]

I doubt it. Mine would go into the "Fail safe" mode where it would idle but you could not accelerate.

 

[super-d]

Update:

Over weekend I used some throttle body cleaner and did a thorough job on cleaning out the throttle body based on various items I read on the web.

Also cleared out my codes that came with the fail safe mode.

Its been running great so far.

I read on multiple sites that these Fords are very suseptible to a dirty throttle body/fuel system. So that is where I'm starting as I'm at 150k miles and these steps are a lot cheaper / easier to do.

I'll update for future generations as needed.

I'd also like to point out that at 150k miles this is the very first time I've had to do anything beyond the normal maintenance (bought it new). So anyone crying foul over a Ford truck, needs to just stop.

 

[Bani]

Fail safe mode came on low fuel warning

yesterday my battery died and I had it replaced at home. I don't think the mechanic used a Secondary battery to save the memory.
The fail safe mode came on with low fuel warning. The engine would start and die.
The mechanic with a hammer banged under the fuel tank a few times and the fuel pump seemed to have opened and the explorer started just fine. Though it seemed different while driving as it has to learn my driving habits again.

Today I drove it no problem except curiously the reading of km/100 keeps going up or down quite rapidly. Maybe the computer is trying to settle down.

I am not a mechanic but an experienced user. My guess
1. Change battery with a secondary battery.
2. My fuel pump may be dieing (few days ago I put gas with the enginerunning as. I had to charge my old battery on a low fuel level)

As all seems fine, I will drive around as usual unless a problem arises again.

Just wondering if any one has any thoughts.

 

[Bani]

Just an update to my last post. The explorer today had Low fuel warning light come on when the tank is almost full. I pressed the re-set button and it went away. Hope the light does not come back.
I have had the problem with the sending unit for about 5 years which does not work from the full tank to 3/4 mark and the needle drops and the engine light comes on. But after the 3/4 mark the sending unit works fine.
But I have never had a low fuel warning when the tank was full.
Few days ago I made the mistake of filling the tank with the engine on. THAT may have affected the fuel pump or sending unit.
Today I intend to put the fuel cleaning fluid in the gas tank and hope that helps clean the sulfur?
BUT I don't know why the fuel low sign came on when the tank is almost full.
Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

 

[Bani]

Update: So the low fuel light came on again twice (and 0 km left), a total of 3 times yesterday which I reset. (Apparently when I filled 60 litres of gas a few days ago with the engine running the computer did not register, and still showed low fuel which it was prior to 60 litres of gas filled. I am guessing it is still trying to register 60 litres)

The low fuel light did not come on today, which may be because the computer has finally registered that I filled 60 Litres gas a few days ago or MORE LIKELY because my sending unit does not send signal (since last 5 years) between full and ¾ tank. So it is not sending a signal of low fuel.

Future strategy: So I will keep running the EX until the low fuel / sending unit starts to send and then fill up with the ENGINE OFF. The new quantity of gas (say 15 Litres or whatever) will register hopefully. And then I refill again when the 15 litres come down to the low fuel level, till the whole tank has accurately registered the correct quantity of fuel.

On a side not, I am very worried that the Failsafe sign does not come on again! (It should not as I think Exs have been driven to 0 fuel levels)

The fuel pump seems fine as it performing the 2 functions it is supposed to 1) SEND FUEL 2)SEND IT RIGHT PRESURE. So just for replacing the sending unit and or float I am not ready to spend $1,500 (and change a good working fuel pump) as I can still see on the dash how many Kms the Ex has done.

PS I have been reading many related Posts here as such I can write the above.

 

[Bani]

The Ex is coming back to normal. No more low fuels signs, fingers crossed.