This makes telling if you have a bad fuel pump vs bad fuel filter very challenging. It Could Also be Your Explorer’s Fuel PumpĪ fuel pump that is going out is going to feel the same as a bad fuel filter. Here’s a great video on using your eyes to diagnose the fuel filter: It could certainly cause the problem though. If there’s been zero warning that the fuel filter could be going bad (hesitation, difficulty starting, etc) than a clogged fuel filter might not be the place to start. If any of these things aren’t present, the engine won’t turn over at all. If the fuel filter has become so contaminated that the minimum amount of fuel has not been let through it, the engine won’t start at all.Īt the most basic of levels your Ford Explorer needs three things to start: Air, fuel, and spark. Often it’ll be bad spark plugs, or a bad coil pack. Instead, we’d recommend taking a look at the ignition system first.
2005 ford explorer limited edition fuel pump code#
If your car is difficult to start, a clogged fuel filter would probably not be the place to start looking, especially if you are getting no trouble code for fuel pressure or the oxygen sensors. This because there’s not enough fuel pressure to properly atomize the fuel as it enters the combustion chamber. One of the best indicators of a clogged fuel filter is going to be that the your Explorer is difficult to start. If you get P0420 or P0430 trouble codes with a scanner, it very well may be the catalytic converter causing these symptoms. If you are unsure, check out this article on troubleshooting catalytic converters. A bad catalytic converter will not feel as jarring. Both conditions will make the motor feel like it is running out of wind when you hit the gas. Now, a bad fuel filter can also feel a heck of a lot like a bad catalytic converter. That’s what it feels like with a bad fuel filter. Typically, if you are heading up a hill (or accelerating) the engine may start to feel like it is just running out of steam. The only way that you are going to know that your Explorer’s fuel filter may be going out is that it is no longer letting enough fuel through to keep the engine running under a heavy load, or at high-speed. Here are the most common symptoms of a bad fuel filter in your Ford Explorer: The real issue with diagnosing a bad fuel filter is that it resembles many other vehicular issues in terms of symptoms. Sometimes when there is low fuel pressure, you may also get an oxygen sensor related trouble code as well. Any trouble codes that exist could be a clue. This trouble code detects that the fuel rail/system pressure is too low. The engine may throw a P0087 trouble code. Before taking anything apart, check to see if your engines computer has any trouble codes saved in it. There are physical signs that you can feel when your Explorer’s fuel filter is clogging. Signs of a Bad Fuel Filter: Ford Explorer Typical Fuel Filter It doesn’t matter if it’s in-tank or in-line. The good news is, no matter how old your Explorer is, the symptoms of a bad fuel filter are universal. It really still isn’t that difficult to deal with, as long as you give the vehicle a few minutes for the fuel pressure to go down. Repairing them means getting under the vehicle and disconnecting steel fittings. These fuel filters were more reliable, but they also were tougher to change. It was put in the steel fuel line, between the gas tank and engine bay. This meant the fuel filter was no longer left under the hood. Higher fuel pressure meant that a more robust fuel filter would be required.
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Fuel injection requires higher fuel pressure. This was in the era of carbureted vehicles. It looked like a little pill, and it would be quick and easy to replace. For a long time, you’d find it under the hood. With that in mind, most of the symptoms of a bad fuel filter revolve around the vehicle stalling out.įuel filters have been making a rearward progression for the last 50 years, literally. Without fuel, the vehicle will not run at all.
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When the filter goes bad, it can limit the amount of fuel that enters the engine. One of the worst problems that can happen to your Ford Explorer is a bad fuel filter.