My car cranks but won't stay running until I drive it while, what could be wrong?

Asked by Cheyenne Nov 25, 2015 at 11:36 PM about the 1999 Ford Explorer 4 Dr Eddie Bauer SUV

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When I crank my car up after it's been sitting
for a couple of hours it turns right back off. I
have to put it in neutral and rev it up til I
Keeps running sometimes that doesn't even
work. It's makes a loud high pitched noise til
its running for a while. My grandfather thinks
it could be a thermostat issue but don't want
to spend the money until sure.

4 Answers

73,320

Thermostat would not kill the engine when cold. Try a tune-up, the vehicle is seventeen years old. Change the fuel filter, it probably hasn't been changed. And if you want to do the less expensive thing first, get a can of throttle body cleaner and do that.

73,320

The whistle you hear could be a vacuum leak, hopefully.

10

Could be belt slipping or bad power steering pump but the stalling issue sounds like a bad fuel pump and may not be getting enough fuel to fuel injection area

Your Answer:

Explorer

Looking for a Used Explorer in your area?

CarGurus has 2,041 nationwide Explorer listings starting at $6,990.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    OJ
    Reputation
    30,850
  • #2
    TransAm77
    Reputation
    7,790
  • #3
    Gene Arnett
    Reputation
    7,280
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Ford Expedition
19 Great Deals out of 669 listings starting at $7,894
Used Ford F-150
314 Great Deals out of 13,742 listings starting at $3,800
Used Chevrolet Tahoe
13 Great Deals out of 822 listings starting at $9,980
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee
131 Great Deals out of 3,674 listings starting at $5,555
Used Dodge Durango
51 Great Deals out of 1,897 listings starting at $6,987
Used Toyota 4Runner
26 Great Deals out of 542 listings starting at $9,999
Used GMC Yukon
14 Great Deals out of 981 listings starting at $3,000
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
214 Great Deals out of 8,009 listings starting at $1,500

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.