03 Expedition shutting off while driving.

[BBoudreaux2]

I've been having a problem with my 03 expedition shutting off on me while driving down the road and was looking for some feedback on this. It's very tempermental and doesnt happen all the time. At times I'll go weeks without any problems and other times it'll do it to me 2-3 times in one day. I've done research and the only thing i can find on google is it could "possibly" be a fuse box. I ran some Lucas Injector Cleaner through my system twice hoping that it may be just some clogged injectors but it still did it. Can any one give me some advise as to if it is indeed the fuse box or could it possibly be something else... Also anyone with my style expedition knows the problem with the fading plastic on the bottom of the vehicle, I've tried Mothers Back to Black but that was a joke and didnt do anything but piss me off. Any tips or tricks for this as well would be appreciated.

Regards,
Ben

 

[bedrck46]

Ben read these links they may give you some ideas concerning the fuse box

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f41/po430-code-non-start-issue-22423/#post180859

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f41/05-expedition-cranks-but-doesnt-start-21903/#post175219

could also be a bad wiring connection check, clean and tighten your battery cables

 

[BBoudreaux2]

I failed to mention in my original post that the check engine light doesn't come on ever so i can't run a diagnostic on it to find the cause.

 

[Mikes05expy]

Hey Ben, do the 03's have the message center on the dash in the gauge cluster? Also does yours have the AdvanceTrac traction control?

Sent from my S5

 

[stamp11127]

1) Check to make sure the "CEL" isn't burnt out. Turn ignition to run, CEL should come on during the test.
2) Read codes anyway, just because the light isn't doesn't mean there is nothing in memory.

 

[Hamfisted]

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed ? Does it start right back up no problem ? Does it stumble then stall? Or is it just a sudden stall like someone turned off the ignition?


-Mike

 

[BBoudreaux2]

I do not have the message center on my expedition. I've checked the CEL and it works fine when turning the truck on, and as far as the fuel filter... I've been having my truck for about 6 years now and i can't recall ever changing out my fuel filter.

Regards,
Ben

 

[BBoudreaux2]

Hamfisted, When it shuts off I'll pull over to the side of the road and it'll start right back up, no stumble no stall just dies out like someone turned off the engine

 

[stamp11127]

Look at this from a simple yet logical viewpoint. You need three things at the same time for an engine to run: air, fuel and spark. Take any one of them away and the engine dies.
Probably safe to assume your not in a vacuum so the air portion is present. That leaves fuel and spark. To me the easiest thing to check would be fuel pressure. I think you can still get the fuel gauges that can be left on the fuel rail. If you still have fuel pressure then your problem is spark related. if you don't have pressure then it is fuel related.
You need to know where the error is coming from before buying parts.

How the engine dies will also give clues. A complete shut down vs a spit and sputter can aid in where to look.

 

[65comet]

I would think if it was spark related you would get a CEL. I'm pretty sure that year doesn't have the fuel pressure sensor like the 05 later do. And I'm pretty sure it has the Schrader pressure valve on the fuel rail that you can connect a pressure gauge to, also no longer on newer years. I'd hook up a pressure gauge first to see what is happening there when it dies.
My suspicions would be loose or corroded connection or wire leading to the fuel pump (any where from ignition switch thru fuse junction box and inertia shut off to the fuel tank), something in the tank floats to the fuel pump pickup and clogs it then moves back away, fuel pump motor going out or a wire for fuel pump inside the tank going bad.
But it all starts as stamp says, with figuring out if it is fuel or spark. So find out what the pressure is doing when it dies.

 

[BBoudreaux2]

I would think if it was spark related you would get a CEL. I'm pretty sure that year doesn't have the fuel pressure sensor like the 05 later do. And I'm pretty sure it has the Schrader pressure valve on the fuel rail that you can connect a pressure gauge to, also no longer on newer years. I'd hook up a pressure gauge first to see what is happening there when it dies.
My suspicions would be loose or corroded connection or wire leading to the fuel pump (any where from ignition switch thru fuse junction box and inertia shut off to the fuel tank), something in the tank floats to the fuel pump pickup and clogs it then moves back away, fuel pump motor going out or a wire for fuel pump inside the tank going bad.
But it all starts as stamp says, with figuring out if it is fuel or spark. So find out what the pressure is doing when it dies.

I was also told that it could possibly be the cam sensor or the crank sensor also... Does this make since??? I'll definitely check all my wires I just think if it was something with a spark or fuel there would be some sort of sputtering or something going on but when it happens it just shuts off which leads me to believe that it's more of an electrical issue. I may be wrong and if I am please correct me and pardon my ignorance.

 

[stamp11127]

If the sensors are on the way out it should throw a code into memory. I'm on the diesel side of life, when they go you stop. We have had some that are failing but still run - not well though.
If your not getting codes I would suspect the ignition switch then the section of the fuse block covering the pcm.

 

[bedrck46]

just for thought check the relays in the fuse block Make sure they are in all the way

 

[stamp11127]

Are you loosing anything else when the engine dies? If your loosing the radio that would help point to the problem.
Also, if you have or get a code scanner leave it plugged in and drawing power from the pcm. Next time it dies if the scanner dies also the pcm is loosing power.

 

[brown3]

I have this issue too on my 2003 ford. It's happened to me twice. No notice when it ***** off it just dies and everything goes off. When you get to the side of the road and put it in park it fired right up like nothing happened. Both times it happened my battery light came on the dash. When I started it up it was gone and ran just fine. Both times it happened was right away after starting it up too and not even being a quarter mile down the road.

 

[stamp11127]

Is that how they say "shuts off" in Minnesota?

Sorry couldn't resist...

 

[65comet]

LOL. Oh hell, ROFLMAO. Ok, wiping the laugh tears off my face, back to the issue. I have seen the plug to the Fuel Pump Driver Module melt a little from the FPDM go out with its corrosion issue. A new FPDM gets put in but the melted connector goes unnoticed. Then hitting bumps, heat from the loose connection or just general vibration and one of the pins in the connector no longer makes contact and stops the fuel pump. A little cooling off or the movement from coming to a stop and connection is restored. Something else to check with all the other suggestions.

 

[bedrck46]

if we are talking about an 03 then I will add that the 03 DOES NOT have a FPDM they were only on the 05-05 expeditions

 

[brown3]

Haha ya! Guess I use to many bad words so my smart phone changes it

 

[bedrck46]

or did you mean it takes a dump