# 2001 Ford Explorer runs rough and cuts off 2-4 times, then fine

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-explorer-runs-rough-and-cuts-off-2-4-times-then-fine/22170>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 17, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-explorer-runs-rough-and-cuts-off-2-4-times-then-fine/22170 "2008-11-17T01:42:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-explorer-runs-rough-and-cuts-off-2-4-times-then-fine/22170/1 "2008-11-17T01:42:56Z")

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2001 Explorer with 124K, starts right up but runs rough 3-5 seconds and then cuts off. Restart and it does the same thing. Restart 2-4 times before it finally runs good. Does not happen every time, about 2-3 times a week. Spark plugs have less than 25K on them. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-explorer-runs-rough-and-cuts-off-2-4-times-then-fine/22170/2 "2008-11-17T02:22:37Z")

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You may have a weak fuel pump.

When was the fuel filter last replaced?

Any codes show up? There doesn’t always have to be a CEL on to have codes register.

Let me just add: a fault in the ignition system may cause this interruption.