NHTSA Complaint #721902 — 1992 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE AT A STOP IN A DRIVEWAY WAITING TO ENTER TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THROUGH SOME LACK OF ATTENTION THAT I HAD SOMEHOW STEPPED ON THE GAS. MAKING SURE TO FIRMLY PUT MY FOOR ON THE BRAKE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN 30 SECONDS LATER. AT THAT TIME I NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER WENT UP TO 1500 RPM. THIS HAPPENED ONE MORE TIME IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. I PARKED THE CAR AND LATER WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO CHECK FOR A PROBLEM THE ENGINE FAILED TO CRANK OVER. I FOUND THAT THE + CONNECTOR ON THE WIRE TO THE BATTERY HAD CRACKED MAKING A LOOSE CONNECTION. I AM AN ENGINEER WHO DESIGNS MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BELIEVE THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS INTERMITENT CONNECTION BRAKE TO THE BATTERY (SPIKE OR LOSS OF VOLTAGE) CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO RESET AND OPEN THE IDLE ADJUST CONTROL VALVE MOMENTARILY AS IF THE ENGINE WAS FIRST BEING STARTED. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY BE REPEATED IN A TEST AND I WOULD HAVE DONE IT IF THERE WASN'T A GOOD CHANCE THAT I COULD HAVE ZAPPED MY COMPUTER AT MY EXPENSE. I THINK THIS IS SERIOUS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK OR BEEN BEHIND A CAR AT AN INTERSECTION I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. THERE SHOULD BE A CHECK IN THE PROGRAM THAT PREVENTS THE VALVE FROM OPENING MAX IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.*AK