Quits in extreme hot weather

[Kelly6]

I have a '99 Explorer XLT V6 SOHC with the dog of all problems - the intermittant problem. The problem is serious because the engine quits. It happens in near 100 degree outside temps. The "fix" is to run with the hood just open to the safty latch, so the problem seems to be engine compartment temperature. Engine coolant temp is normal.

Any suggestions as to what component would be temperature sensitive to cause this problem.

I have pressure washed the radiator to remove bug, etc. to increase air flow and so far, it is ok.

 

[my98nnj]

Mine has also done that once... Starts right back up after the hood is opened for a bit.

 

[Kelly6]

Quits hot weather

Nice to know I'm not alone. Hope someone has a solution.

 

[joe doe]

i think the whole hood opening thing is just a farce .

when you encounter this issue try adding fresh cool gas to the tank ,if it starts running correctly right away then your fuel pump is going bad from overheating .
i have this issue .
on long drives on a hot day (90 and above)my 2000 sport will lose power ,want to stall,buck and carry on but it has always got me home .

i suspected it was a fuel delivery problem and on a whim i pulled into a gas station when it was acting up .i put fresh gas in it and whalla it ran fine all the way home .
the fresh gas cools the pump and lets it run normal again for awhile .i been limping mine along near 2 years now on that pump as it only gives me trouble on 90 degree and up days on long drives (out driving around town a hour or more)the hotter it is out the sooner it will act up .
i have discussed this before in other threads .

i suspect you have a fuel pump issue .

good luck.

 

[Kelly6]

Quits hot weather

Fuel pump is something I hadn't thought of.

When I raise the hood, it starts right up. Then I close the hood and it runs for maybe a mile - Stalls and quits. I raise the hood - same thing. After several of these, I tried leaving the hood open to the first catch and it ran all the way home - no misses, no stalls, no stops.

I still have to think engine compartment temperature.

 

[joe doe]

Fuel pump is something I hadn't thought of.

When I raise the hood, it starts right up. Then I close the hood and it runs for maybe a mile - Stalls and quits. I raise the hood - same thing. After several of these, I tried leaving the hood open to the first catch and it ran all the way home - no misses, no stalls, no stops.

I still have to think engine compartment temperature.

post up if you figure it out .but i would be wary of driving around on just the hood catch ,i had a hood fly open and smash my windshield once and it wasnt pretty.

 

[2000StreetRod]

any modifications?

Is your engine stock or are there modifications you or a previous owner performed? Do you have a "cold air intake system" that draws superheated engine compartment air into the main air filter?

 

[Kelly6]

Quits hot weather

Engine is 4.0L SOHC stock.

 

[deweyville65]

Here's something you mighf try. I don't know if it will work on the Explorer or not, it is something we used to do in the early 70's for drag racing. It was a poor mans cowl induction, raise the back of the hood. I used to put a spacer over the rear bolt between the hinge and the hood. When I closed the hood, it would raise the hood a couple inches off the cowl. This just may allow hot air from the engine compartment. Dont know if it will help you or not. But is a damn sight safer than driving around withe hood unlatched.

 

[crazymind]

I've had the same problem for the past two years now. What I've done is wrap my fuel line with heat resistant stuff changed both the coolant temp sensor and the fuel pump. So far I haven't had the problem this year. And in Colorado we had a week strait of temps 100 or above and she hasn't died. Just hope it holds out this year kinda sucks when I have my son and than the car dies.

 

[Kelly6]

Quits hot weather

Here's something you mighf try. I don't know if it will work on the Explorer or not, it is something we used to do in the early 70's for drag racing. It was a poor mans cowl induction, raise the back of the hood. I used to put a spacer over the rear bolt between the hinge and the hood. When I closed the hood, it would raise the hood a couple inches off the cowl. This just may allow hot air from the engine compartment. Dont know if it will help you or not. But is a damn sight safer than driving around withe hood unlatched.

Thanks, I'll look at that

P.S. I also tie a bungy for safety.

 

[alohamonte]

Could also try some fender vents on the cheap off of fee-bay in various sizes.

 

[desertsky]

I have a similar problem with my '99. It has happened 4 times in two years. Every time, the outside air temp was over 98F. Three times I had around 1/4 tank of gas, but the last time I had 3/4 tank. Mine will act like someone is turning on and off a switch to the engine every second. It gives no fault codes. I was going to attach a gas pressure gage but my gage has a GM fitting, not Ford. Opening the hood may be just coincidence since mine would not run correctly unless I allowed everything to cool down for 20-30 minutes. I think that once the tank gets hot, the extra heat from the engine under the truck is causing the fuel pump to act up. I guess I'll just have to get a new pump and give it a try.

 

[Kelly6]

Quits hot weather

I have a similar problem with my '99. It has happened 4 times in two years. Every time, the outside air temp was over 98F. Three times I had around 1/4 tank of gas, but the last time I had 3/4 tank. Mine will act like someone is turning on and off a switch to the engine every second. It gives no fault codes. I was going to attach a gas pressure gage but my gage has a GM fitting, not Ford. Opening the hood may be just coincidence since mine would not run correctly unless I allowed everything to cool down for 20-30 minutes. I think that once the tank gets hot, the extra heat from the engine under the truck is causing the fuel pump to act up. I guess I'll just have to get a new pump and give it a try.

My '99 starts as soon as I raise the hood (within 2 minutes). If I then shut the hood, it will run for a few minutes then start missing and quit. If I leave the hood open to the 1st catch, it runs normally for as far as I have to go.
It has happened twice in all the time I've owned the car - 13 years. Both times in 96+ temperatures and both times I was working it hard.

 

[desertsky]

My '99 starts as soon as I raise the hood (within 2 minutes). If I then shut the hood, it will run for a few minutes then start missing and quit. If I leave the hood open to the 1st catch, it runs normally for as far as I have to go.
It has happened twice in all the time I've owned the car - 13 years. Both times in 96+ temperatures and both times I was working it hard.

The first couple of times I was working it hard (towing a trailer in the mountains). The other two were just tooling along the freeway with no extra load. I am going to replace the fuel pump and filter this weekend. If it works, great! If not, I may sell the thing! I need reliability when towing my boat.