i have a '98 explorer 4.0L SOHC. my fuel gauge will tell me i have 1/4 tank, then it will stall occasionally when i make a left hand turn. i can put in park, turn it off, and start it right back up, however the problem persists. what is the cause of this problem, and how much will it cost me to fix it? please help, i am a woman and know little about cars, and dont want to be ripped off by my mechanic.

 

Merry Christmas !
If you need to worry about getting ripped off by your mechanic, it's time to find another.
The quarter tank subject, did you mention that thinking it was low on fuel? Please clarify.
It is possible that could influence the problem. Can you get it to stall with the vehicle not moving and turning the steering wheel all the way to the left? Based on your reply may be able to make a more intelligent suggestion.

 

Merry Christmas to you too.

i didnt think i was low on fuel, and no it does not stall when standing still regardless of which way the wheel is being turned. its happening only in drive on hard lefthand turns, which to me seems like perhaps it has something to do with my fuel pump or my fuel lines, however i am admittedly no expert on the matter. now the problem is not every lefthand turn, it happened twice yesterday, and maybe 4 other times this week. also my fuel gauge doesnt accurately show how much gas i have, could the issues be related? any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much and have a safe and happy holiday

 

I have seen where a poor ground connection where the fuel system is involved did give symptoms like you are describing. Does anything else unusual happen at the same time that the stall takes place? If so it might help to eliminate some of the many possibilities.

 

no, no other symptoms to report, it simply stops running, i can put it in park and it starts back up without hesitation

 

Unless you've worked on a problem like this previously, it can take a lot of time to chase it down. There is one pretty sure way to find the cause,however, and that is to use a scan tool that has the snapshot function available. This feature will record past events for a specified period of time and these events can be examined for faulty readings which can direct the technician to the problem area. A good shop and all dealers have this equipment. Wish I could be of more help.