Cutting out/shutting off when the weather is hot and the A/C is on

2000 FORD EXPLORER
240,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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LYNDEL
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  • 2 POSTS
It tries to shut off or cut out when stopped and idling. It will do this if it is a very hot day and i have been driving around town a lot doing errands or whatever, if it shuts off at stop i have always gotten it started with a couple tries, but always continues to cut off trying to shut off again. usually if i get to a gas station and put more gas in it, it will then again run fine for the rest of the time or if i shut it off at stop lights before it shuts off or cuts out the first time, then i am usually okay. this has never happened in winter months only when the weather turns hot and second the vehicle will do the same thing if i run air conditioner if i quickly shut the air off before i stop i'm okay, and it can run for about ten minutes or so running just fine then it will start cutting out and try to shut off at stops. This happens no matter if i put cool gas in it or not. if you are driving on a highway with air going you can drive for about 30 minutes just fine then it will begin to cut out if you turn air off immediately when it first jerks i'm usually okay, but then come to a stop either air off or on and it is going to shut off. sit for about 15 minutes it will start sometimes cutting out badly trying to shut off until you go put fresh gas in it and once you do that usually good to go if you do not run air conditioner. i don't recall ever driving down a highway even on a hot day with air off and it is cutting out, only when the air is on. When it does completely shut off and i try to start it, it sounds like it is out of gas, will have a strong gas smell and when it does start sometimes it will run for a second then chug, chug, like no gas, shuts off again and then start it will run badly for a few seconds, i rev it up throw it in gear and we are off to the nearest gas station hoping we have no stops before we get there and again never one time in the winter does it cut out. thank you
May 5, 2022 at 5:04 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • Experienced Mechanic
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Good morning,

This sounds like vapor lock in the fuel. That comes from low fuel pressure and the fuel will heat up and boil.

Check the fuel pressure and verify it is within specs.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Fuel Pressure .................... 65 +/- 8 PSI

Roy
May 5, 2022 at 7:38 PM
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LYNDEL
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Hi Roy, i ran the pressure test with key on it is about 45, start it's 47, and in reverse it is the same. so even if pressure isn't that low, can this be causing my problems?
Jun 15, 2022 at 10:53 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 52,796 POSTS
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