NHTSA Complaint #10167337 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

OVER THE PAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER (6 CYLINDER W/ SOHC ENGINE) HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT TIMES THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. WHEN IT DOES START IT WILL NOT IDLE AND DIES UNLESS THE RPM'S ARE MANUALLY HELD AT A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN. WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE WILL DIE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM A HIGHER GEAR TO A LOWER GEAR ALLOWING THE RPM'S TO FALL BETWEEN SHIFTS. THIS REQUIRES SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO RE-START WITH A LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. A FIRST IT SEEMED THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE DURING HOT DAYS. NOW THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CAR RECENTLY HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM SERVICED (ALONG WITH THE 65K RECOMMENDED SERVICE PACKAGE) AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I WROTE TO CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE AND THEY SUGGESTED I FORWARD THIS INFORMATION. *B