Truck seems to die while driving

[Gnobes]

Hey everybody hope you’re doing good. Got a weird one…

Have brought my 2020 Lariat to the dealer twice for similar issues already and it seems to be getting worse.

The truck is a 2020 Ranger Lariat. While driving the thing feels like it dies, loses power, but then immediately comes back on. The truck cycles through Warning lights on the screen to the left such as “normal cruise active braking off.”
If at a stop the truck has died completely. For example: I left auto start-stop on yesterday and the engine would not come back on at a stop sign yesterday. It tried… twice. I had to shift to park and hit the start button. Truck also fails to start sometimes at random.

videos:
Video 1:


Video 2:


Video 3:



~35k miles.
Dealer replaced battery once.
Dealer reprogrammed wireless key fobs once.

I’ve decided to start keeping a log of when it occurs. They look at me funny when I say it’s random. Providing a video of the issue somewhat helped - I started recording EVERY time I started the truck until it happened and finally caught it on video.

The log:
8/19 12:16 pulling out of pita way, and I have pulled up to a stop sign in the parking lot and the auto start stop engaged, and the engine shut off. When it tried to restart, it failed to restart I had to put the truck in park and then push the start button again



8/17 1:12 would not start after being parked for 20 minutes



8/11 5:09 it happened a second time while doing 65 mph



8/11 5:08 have been driving around for an hour or so and getting onto the highway about five minutes after getting onto the highway driving around 60 mph the whole truck shuttered and felt like it died while driving



8/10 10:19am truck started and then immediately died.

—- after having the issue twice I then drove another 2+ hours with no issues.

8/9 12:27 while driving with cruise control the truck displayed error about adaptive Cruise control, and the speed started to decelerate



8:9 12:20pm while driving on the highway around 70 mph the truck felt like it died and the active cruise control error message displayed on the left screen on the dashboard. I have been driving for over two hours at this point.

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[airline tech]

Define would not start, no crank or cranks but does not start?

What are you doing to get it started when it dies?

 

[Gnobes]

Yesterday it cranked the engine over a little and then quit. I hit the start button again and it tried again, shortly, and then quit.

I then put the truck in park, pushed start button, and then it started.

When I am driving the truck at speed and it dies I do nothing. For example, when I was driving with cruise on set at 70mph the truck died and showed errors. Then started decelerating because cruise was deactivated. However, it comes back on immediately afterwards. So I hit the gas and set cruise again and it keeps going.

It has happened without cruise control. It has happened with auto start-stop being “disabled” as well. For the last year or more i have disabled it every time I start the truck. It once died as I rolled away from a stop sign. I had to stop truck entirely and put in park and restart.

I am worried it’s going to die in a turn and I’m going to lose control of the vehicle.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

It’s too bad this is happening. What do you mean by “it tried“?

1. Did it do absolutely nothing when you pressed the Start button?
2. Did the starter simply click repeatedly without cranking?
3. Did the starter crank the motor but not start it up?
4. Same questions for when auto start/stop “tried”.

This type of information will help folks better understand whether it’s an electrical, mechanical, or fuel issue.

 

[Gnobes]

Added two videos to original post

 

[Gnobes]

It’s too bad this is happening. What do you mean by “it tried“?

1. Did it do absolutely nothing when you pressed the Start button?
2. Did the starter simply click repeatedly without cranking?
3. Did the starter crank the motor but not start it up?
4. Same questions for when auto start/stop “tried”. Engine cranks for short period of time

This type of information will help folks better understand whether it’s an electrical, mechanical, or fuel issue.

See the videos I added.

1. Did it do absolutely nothing when you pressed the Start button? Yes, sometimes. Sometimes it cranks very shortly and then stops.
2. Did the starter simply click repeatedly without cranking? I do not hear the starter clicking unfortunately.
3. Did the starter crank the motor but not start it up? Yes, sometimes, but not for any extended period of time. If it cranks its always short... the same amount of time it takes to start normally.
4. Same questions for when auto start/stop “tried”. Engine cranks for short period of time.

Sometimes it just does nothing.

Yesterday, it cranked but SHORTLY... its like 2 "chugs" of the engine and it gives up. Which is the same amount of cranks it takes when it starts normally.

I recently drove 4.5 hours from Ohio to Indiana. Everything was fine for 2 hours. It randomly "resets" on highway... truck feels like it loses power for a split second, lights come on dash, error messages on second panel, but then I hit the gas with my foot and everything seems normal again.

My fiance says it "feels like a bad gear shift" when it happens.

 

[Gnobes]

3rd video added of errors that display - this is while driving so I can't constantly be recording. very dangerous. I was only able to catch it shortly after.

 

[got3fords]

Sounds like when my F150 would die, checking the high pressure fuel line, I only got a trickle.

 

[airline tech]

I would check all battery cable connections including the ground at the frame.
With a high priority to (Connection C) and the (+) Battery Post
This feeds the BJB - (Battery Junction Box) Engine Bay Fuse Box
Now this box is 3 layered, the upper box is 2 sided, upper & lower (in same unit)
but if you remove that box there is another (High Current) fuse box under it.

Note: Ensure the small (wedge) beside the positive post is oriented just like the pic, if it is not (its backwards and will not allow the terminal to be fully tightened.

The Connection (C) from above feeds this (High Current Junction Box)
This is located under the upper (engine bay fuse box)
This houses 2 high current fuses (non-tremor)
They are the BCM & DC/DC Convertor

I feel you have a lose connection between the battery and this point.

If these are all good, then either the PCM or BCM has a lose connector

This should be triggering a code, for a power loss (communication) to hopefully give a direction to go.
Whatever it is - it ties to a main power or ground feed, and this may require a deep dive into the wiring to find it.

 

[theprinceofsnj]

You know you can start in Neutral?

 

[RangerBill]

I would get someone (auto parts store ?) to read the DTC trouble codes and go from there. This should point you in the direction to take in troubleshooting the issue.

 

[NotBudule2]

Just curious ? if you have had the truck since new and this just started out of nowhere?

 

[Gnobes]

You know you can start in Neutral?

I do now.

I would get someone (auto parts store ?) to read the DTC trouble codes and go from there. This should point you in the direction to take in troubleshooting the issue.

I'll see if they can find any.

Just curious ? if you have had the truck since new and this just started out of nowhere?

I purchased the truck new. Its been happening for a while. Have already asked the dealer to fix it twice. You can see the mileage in one of the videos is only 18k.

 

[Gnobes]

AutoZone said there are two codes showing up:

U0131-00 lost communications with PSCM
U0104-00 lost communication with cruise control module

 

[NotBudule2]

I purchased the truck new. Its been happening for a while. Have already asked the dealer to fix it twice. You can see the mileage in one of the videos is only 18k.

I was hoping you would say you just got it or it had been in a wreck because now it appears it can just happen to any of us for no apparent reason other than driving it ? ... it does remind of a loose connection or ground ...

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