Hi, 2001 Sport Trac Problems

[TheDudeMan]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

I have recently acquired a 2001 Sport Trac with lots of problems

I really like the car but I'm ticked off about all the problems I have had to fix on it and still more to go. The truck only has 90,000 miles on it.

Anyway, I'm having an idle issue. When the car gets warmed up and I am sitting at a stop light or it is in park the idle struggles until the engine almost dies and then it revs up to try and balance out the idle. This up and down idle fluctuation happens continuously in a loop.

I have done a lot of research and I have taken my car to the Ford dealer and several other mechanics for help. The dealer looked my car over several times and finally came back with the problem being my FTP sensor on my fuel tank. I guess it is operating at 1.3 volts and it should be operating at 2.6 volts. This supposedly causes a problem in the fuel tank with either the pressure, vacuum or gas fume emissions building up in the tank, I cant remember exactly what he said because the guy was angry and trying to get rid of me. They want 600.00 to fix it.

However, I can't find anything online that talks about the FTP sensor causing this problem.

My online research points to the PCV valve(I have a job 1), the dealership said they checked the PCV and it was fine.....but that I should probably replace it just to be sure...?

I have replaced the IAC and got new air intake gaskets but that did not fix the idle problem.......but it did fix my ruff start problem.

Any suggestion or info would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

[swshawaii]

Check engine light or trouble code numbers?
Ford OBD-II Trouble Codes
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2054355&postcount=2

Early 4.0 SOHC's are known for failed intake gaskets.
2000StreetRod's Helpful thread list
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263665

 

[TheDudeMan]

Hey swshawaii,

Thanks for the reply.

I wish I had an engine light that would help me narrow down the problem!

Yea, I replaced the intake gaskets already and that did fix one of the problems, but not the idle problem.

 

[swshawaii]

CEL is not needed to retrieve trouble codes stored in memory. Scan for them just in case and report back. GL

 

[TheDudeMan]

Ok, I will go down to the local Auto store to have the codes checked out.

The dealer told me that they looked for codes and no codes popped up, they also said that it looks like the guy who had the car before me cleared out the codes right before I bought it.....the dealer looked for the codes 3-4 weeks ago.

 

[TheDudeMan]

Trouble Code: p1450 - Unable to bleed up fuel tank vacuum.

Possible causes:
1) Contaminated fuel vapor elbow at EVAP canister or the EVAP canister is restricted or canister purge valve stuck open.
2) CV solenoid is stuck partially or fully open or filter is plugged
3) Evap canister tube or EVAP canister purge outlet tube blocked or kinked between fuel tank, purge valve and EVAP canister.
4) FTP sensor is damaged
5) Fuel filter cap stuck closed

The Ford dealership said my FTP sensor was working at 1.3 volts instead of 2.6 volts like it should be....so I guess this probably could be whats causing the rough idle.

What do you think?

 

[ExplorerSport 4L]

P1450

Howdy, Dude!

Yours truly just had his 4.0L 2001 Explorer Sport throw a P1451. It's that blasted EVAP control system Canister vent solenoid.

On my Ex Sport, it's tucked away top side of the spare tire, which is underneath the cargo area. You have to drop the spare tire, unwind the cable, gently let 'er down, take it off the cable and holder.

You'll see a black plastic shroud about 12 inches by 10 inches. I got pics but don't know how to attach 'em.)

I'm here in the "Rust Belt," and those three lousy 10mm headed bolts holding that things were one heck of a pain to get out. The salt and brine used here on the roads rounded the heads off for me! I didn't even get the chance to round 'em off!

DO NOT USE A TORCH OR HEAT TO GET THESE 3 BOLTS OUT, since the charcoal canister behind the shroud channels gas vapors. You don't wanna catch your hair on fore or risk a K-Boom!

I wound up grinding the heads off--BUT, "armor" or cover ALL fuel vapor lines first with thin sheet metal, heavy wet cardboard, or whatever to deflect/catch the sparks. Wear safety glasses AND ear guards. (I got a stray spark ricocheted underneath there in one of my ears today. YOW!)

I tested the rusty canister vent solenoid by using 2 wires from a 12v lawn/garden battery to touch each male pin on the solenoid. It was dead as a door nail. Blew through one of the ports and the breath came out the other port unrestricted. It's obviously closed in the "open" mode.

Working properly, all the solenoid does is audibly click open and closed in response to the main computer, allowing built up gas vapors to be re-routed back to the throttle body to be burned up when you give it gas.

Also, take your el cheapo volt meter, set at 20 volts, and pin one of the two female holes on the electrical fitting once you take out the solenoid. Turn the key to "ON" and touch the frame with one lead (GND) and hit each pin. You should get 12.0V and about .4 v on each of the two pins.

I'm heading to RockAuto to get me a new solenoid; 'bout $30 I reckon.

P.S.
I never give much credence to Dealers. Run your trouble codes and fix 'em yourself!

check out this YouTube: this new one works (hear the "click")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk5BjXgRoXI

this baby is dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73s5xj0mkXc

 

[ExplorerSport 4L]

like the post prior to mine said, a problem could be:

canister purge valve stuck open

Yep--that's what mine was, flat out OPEN when it died.

it's why it threw the P1451 code for me.

P.S.

Here's some diagrams:
the solenoid is at the Red Arrow:

here's what the whole shebang looks like. the solenoid is laying close by the charcoal canister, (the two rectangular dudes) and is held in by a large plastic clip

the canister vent solenoid valve is 6 inches long, about 1.5 inches in diameter, with a half-metal casing and the rest polymer.

 

[TheDudeMan]

Wow, hey thanks for the info EXPLORER SPORT 4L, you really put some time into those emails! I wish I could buy you a beer for that!

Were you having a rough idle problem on your truck as well?

I own the Explorer Sport Trac, the pick up version, I wonder if that part is in the same place as the Explorer Sport.

 

[ExplorerSport 4L]

All my pleasure, DudeMan. Heck, if we can't help each other out, what the heck good are we anyways?

A beer? SURE! Coors Lite. plz!

Yeah, I am like 98% sure your SportTrack has this solenoid in the same place.

After I ground off the heads of those three 10mm bolts holding the cover, I kinda boogered up the plastic covering shroud.

Hey--nothing a little or lot of Bondo or JB Weld can't patch back up. I'll slather the epoxy on, and then use new bolts, BUT use OVERSIZE fender washers to hold that plastic shroud back up there. They will have beau-coup "purchase" in holding it up being they are so large in diameter.

There ain't much we can't make right. Like I tell people:

"I can fix anything 'cept a broken heart!"

 

[TheDudeMan]

OK sir, I will give it a try soon, hopefully this weekend, I will let you know when I get it done.

Thanks for the info again!

If that doesn't fix the idle problem, then I will try the FTP sensor next.

Thanks!