1992 Ford Explorer Speed Control & Cruise Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN SMOKE ASCENDED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND CONTACT COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER ALL PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE FLAMES IGNITED FROM THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUNCTURED THE HOOD DUE TO THE FLAMES. HOWEVER, THEY OPENED THE HOOD AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. ON APRIL 16, 2007 THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THE FLUIDS WERE AT NORMAL LEVELS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN OCCURRENCE FOR FORD VEHICLES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111,130.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION,VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STAND STILL WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *TT

ENGINE SPEED INCREASES TO 25OO RPM FROM IDLE WHEN IN PARK AND INADVERTANTLY CHANGES FROM 200 TO 300 RPM WHILE NORMAL DRIVING. *AK

I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE REVVED TO WHAT SEEMED TO BE FULL THROTTLE. I PANICED AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL BUT ACCIDENTALLY WENT PAST NEUTRAL AND INTO DRIVE. AT THIS POINT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. I GOT THE TRANSMISSION LEVER BACK TO NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FULL THROTTLE. I EVEN REACHED DOWN AND PULLED BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE ENGINE STOPPED THE HIGH IDLE ONLY WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF. WITH THE CAR STILL IN NEUTRAL, I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND IT RAN NORMAL. I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AND THE FORWARD TRANSMISSION FAILED. REVERSE IS STILL IN TACT. MY CONCERN AND FEAR IS REGARDING THE ENGINE. IF I HAD BEEN ON DRY PAVEMENT (THE PARKING LOT WAS SNOW-COVERED) I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I HAVE CONTACED FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I AM GOING TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, BUT I AM DREADFULLY AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL RUN WILD AGAIN IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

TWICE DURING SAME ROAD TRIP THE THROTTLE FROZE, ONCE IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION AND ONCE IN AN INTERMEDEATE POSITION. ON THE FIRST OCCASION I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE KEY AND ON THE SECOND IT RETURNED TO THE NORMAL POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE FORD GARAGE DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS STICKING AND APPLIED A CLEANING AGENT TO THE SYSTEM WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED, CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL.

SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, ENGINE ACCELERATED, LURCHED BACKWARD, HIT A POLE, ENGINE KEPT RACING, WHEELS KEPT SPINNING, VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF POLE REPEATEDLY, SHIFTED TO DRIVE, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, HIT A BUILDING, THEN STOPPED, NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, TO STOP VEHICLE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, PULLED AWAY AND KEPT APPLYING BRAKES , VEHICLE WAS IN A HIGH IDLE POSITION. *AK *SLC

SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT SPEEDS OF 5 TO 60 MPH.

WHEN ACCELERATING, PEDAL WILL STICK NOT RELEASING WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED. HAD TO PRY UP WITH SHOE. TT

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

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT.