# 2003 Ford Explorer 4wd 6cyl loss of power and speed

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 22, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060 "2007-07-22T14:11:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![staffco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@staffco](https://community.cartalk.com/u/staffco)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/1 "2007-07-22T14:11:23Z")

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About halfway through my 600 mile trip, I started to experience a lack of power at about 65mph. It took a bit of doing to get it upto 65. The next day I started to check the obvious things air filter, pcv. They were in decent shape,but I decided to replace them anyway. I added fuel injector cleaner to the the tank. Took it for a test drive - no change; the problem acutally got worse. I was going to the parts store for a fuel filter. Shortly I could not get over 30. RPM’s were very limited when trying to rev the engine in park. I have my suspicion, what do you think?

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**Author:** ![Craig58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Craig58](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Craig58)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/2 "2007-07-22T14:13:38Z")

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Did you try the new fuel filter yet?

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**Author:** ![staffco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@staffco](https://community.cartalk.com/u/staffco)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/3 "2007-07-22T14:23:21Z")

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I have the same symptoms after changing the fuel filter

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/4 "2007-07-22T15:09:16Z")

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Is the CEL on? If the problem is mis-fire or ignition related, the ODB-II system should detect it, and set a trouble code.

If not, the problem is typically fuel and fuel delivery. I’d check the fuel pressure. The problem could be with the pump or the regulator. A pressure test can eliminate both of these.

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**Author:** ![staffco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@staffco](https://community.cartalk.com/u/staffco)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/5 "2007-07-23T01:31:48Z")

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Thanks, the CEL is on. I will check the codes and get back to you.

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**Author:** ![staffco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@staffco](https://community.cartalk.com/u/staffco)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-4wd-6cyl-loss-of-power-and-speed/2060/6 "2007-07-25T00:38:12Z")

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It turns out that there is a hole in my intake manifold which is made of some sort of plastic. How the heck could this happen.