Low gas, now service engine light

[redstal95]

Hello, yesterday I was driving to the gas station and a few miles before I got there my explorer started to sputter. I've never run out of gas before so I don't know how that feels, but this felt like a cylinder was mis-firing. Weird part is that the car said I still had 20 miles before empty (so I'm not sure if the issue is related to low gas or not).

I filled up the tank, let it idle for a few minutes, and started my drive home. The sputter problem never went away and the service engine light came on. I was able to get up to highway speeds and drive 10 miles home, it just seems to lack power. The service engine light was solid at first and then began blinking off a few times and then going back to solid each time.

Any ideas what's wrong? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Andy

2002 Explorer V6 4x4 117k miles

 

[swetrid]

Flashing engine light indicates a misfire that could damage cats.

 

[redstal95]

Yes it is mis-firing. Firestone (went since they are open Sundays) said the injector for cylinder 3 is spraying continuously instead of pulsing so it needs to be replaced. They also said this has " overwhelmed" my engine and the upper intake manifold warped and needs to be replaced. Overall they said it will be $2,500 to fix. I had them put it back together and took it to a mechanic I trust who can look at it tomorrow. Hoping it doesn't actually cost that much.

Does this seem reasonable or is Firestone way off?

 

[D Hook]

I would get a second opinion.

"Overwhelmed" is a pretty strange diagnosis. Did they tell you what codes were showing up?

 

[RKelly2233]

Yes it is mis-firing. Firestone (went since they are open Sundays) said the injector for cylinder 3 is spraying continuously instead of pulsing so it needs to be replaced. They also said this has " overwhelmed" my engine and the upper intake manifold warped and needs to be replaced. Overall they said it will be $2,500 to fix. I had them put it back together and took it to a mechanic I trust who can look at it tomorrow. Hoping it doesn't actually cost that much.

Does this seem reasonable or is Firestone way off?

I call bull.... ford can rebuild your engine for less... just my 2 cents. let us know what happens..