Help with 4.0 issue

[Stangman Don]

my 96 explorer 4.0L has had an intermiten issue for a year that seems worse when the temp is milder or the truck is hot. It starts just runs rough bogs,backfires etc never smokes though. Sometimes it stalls and wont restart(if you walk away and leave it for 30min it will start up and run perfect). Sometimes when it wont start the power locks will keep locking and unlocking when you are trying to start it. I have done fuel pressure tests,vacuum tests,spark tests all came out good and put close to $600 in sensors tps,crank,o2,map,idle control,maf,coolant temp sensor,egr valve,mudule,wires,plugs, etc! I have cleaned every + & - contact on the truck as well and checked all relay/fuses/wires for corosion found nothing.
When it is running it runs perfect no issues. When it acts up once you get it running and go 2 truck lenghts it smooths right out and runs great till you shut it off for anywhere from 10min -45min if it sits longer than that it does not act up!

anything that people suggest would be acting up all the time not just once in a while and only if hot and shut off between 10min-1hr any shorter time or longer time than that always starts and runs perfect. Plus if it was something else it would not smooth right out once you drive the truck litterally 2 truck lenghts. (wont smooth out untill you put it in drive and go have tried sitting with it running to get it to smooth out aand did not work have also tried reversing that also did nothing only works in drive) Totally messed up. I have talked to several mechanics ,and ford techs on numerous occassions they are all completely baffled!

There no codes either. A side from burning the P.O.S. I do not what to do next as the ford dealership tech have no I dea what else I can test or replace everything is new or tests out good!

 

[schlutzer]

I have exactly the same issue, minus the doors locking.

The truck bogs out and misses, pretty badly. But clears up after a short drive or holding the gas at a steady RPM and after about 5 seconds the RPM will pick up. During this time you can smell raw fuel pretty badly.

Two things you should look at, as they are the two things I'm going to look at are, the fuel filter ( always overlooked), and plugs/wires, even if you got knew ones, if you have bosch, or other "gimic" plugs they could still be your issue. Just use regular plugs in these engines.

I'm putting my money on its being ignition related for me, as I can hear the miss, and a few seconds of throttle it clears out, and power returns, like it's burning off excess fuel from a weak cylinder.

My problem has gotten steadily worse as I've driven it so this weekend it's supposed to get above freezing I'll test it out and let you know.

 

[Stangman Don]

yours sounds like the emissions coolant temp sensor which is common .It tells the computer the engine is cold when it is axtually hot which causes it to over fuel the engine. it is a $14 part You should change that part first 99% of the time that is it!!. Mine has new fuel filter,plugs,mudule,wire and does not run rich(no raw fuel smell!
mine will not clear out unless you drive 2 truck lenght in drive will not clear out even if you sit with steady throtle for 10minutes but if yougo 2 lenght in drive it is perfect. Have changed all parts 3-4 times each over the past year with none making any difference so 3-4 of everything cannot all be bad! Never misses when running or any other time. Change your coolant temp sensor (emissions not the one for the gauge) You will save yourself alot of time and money !!9trust me I have been there before and that was the last thing I replaced and the cheapest and it fixed it