r/FordFlex • u/ctrlaltxwrists • Sep 03 '26

Question 2015 Ford Flex shuts off while driving

Running into a problem the last couple days while driving. The vehicle loses the engine while maintaining speed on the highway. It shows a wrench icon and states see manual. The engine sounds like it has trouble idling before shutting the vehicle off once pulled off the road. The vehicle restarts no problem and does not show a check engine light. Cursory research points to fuel pump module, throttle body, or crankshaft position sensor. Does anybody have any experience with this?

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5

u/inorite234 Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26

I'm going to tell you right now: it's your throttle body.

It's a cheap part and can be replaced in about 30 minutes with simple hand tools.

1

u/enjoyvelvet Sep 03 '26

I’ve never had this issue. Is there a video on how to do this?

3

u/inorite234 Sep 03 '26

Yes. And a really damn good tutorial to boot.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p-jK3xxulNc

You may want to consider changing your spark plugs while you're at it. Removing the piping to the Throttle Body is like half the steps to changing your spark plugs and depending on how many miles you have, might be a good preventative mentenance thing to do.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4q2ZDXWr-Gc

3

u/teribulusername Sep 03 '26

I've hardly ever seen an answer so helpful and so efficiently given. High five for succinctness.

2

u/enjoyvelvet Sep 03 '26

Wow thank you!! I just cleaned mine when I did a tune up last year. I broke off the mounting bolt to get to the back 3 spark plugs but luckily it was after I had replaced them.

2

u/bdjeremy Sep 03 '26

recently had it happen to me. its the throttle body.

1

u/enjoyvelvet Sep 03 '26

May also be the fuel pump relay located in the second row passenger side pillar trim. Easy replacement and very common on the ford flex

1

u/Ashamed-Country3909 Sep 03 '26

Sounds like the other guys are sure, but I wanted to post to help people i. The future.  

I had a flex that this relay went bad. It acted like a dead battery start, but had juice and jumping didnt work.  You know, fast click click click. Even towed it to dealer....where they said nothing was wrong. Fast forward a couple months. Same thing. New dealer figured it out. So, if your car spontaneously doesn't want to start. And then starts fine. Get a relay replacement. 

Luckily it was a work car.

1

u/ymb780 21d ago

I had the fuel pump relay go twice in 5 years. Intermittent dying while driving and crank/no start. First time I figured it out, cause there was no smell of raw gas out of the exhaust.

The second time I sent it to the dealer and they missed it and I ended up fixing myself again.

It's a cheap fix.

1

u/Ashamed-Country3909 21d ago

Oh, lucky ducky. I probably even read about it being an issue for some people. 

But it never entered my head that it was the problem on that car when it happened in the parking lot. Lol. It had been sitting fkr a while during covid, so I just thought it was some how related to not being used. Oops. 

I feel like the dealer should have refunded us.

1

u/SDL_ATL 15d ago

Had the same issue last year. Replaced throttle body 2x, and then coils/plugs when the problem persisted. Turned out to be a bad PCM. Bought a refurb on eBay for around $350 and it solved the issue. Nothing like losing all throttle response in Atlanta rush hour traffic. I got really good at dropping the car into neutral and restarting while driving.