u/Sweaty-Society7582

2012 Ford Escape xlt, recently got a check engine light. AutoZone code reader led me to change the purge valve solenoid.

Before changing the solenoid there were no noticeable issues with performance. After the change the engine idled slightly rough, when pressing the accelerator there would be no/little power initially but would then surge, and the engine would die usually when braking.

Assuming the new solenoid was bad I replaced it. Most problems were now fixed, but the engine now dies sporadically.

I've driven the car fifteen to twenty miles since to test it, and there are no noticeable similarities to suggest any one action causes it to die. Each time the car starts immediately. There has been no check engine light since initially replacing the solenoid. I've tried various searches, and nothing I've come up with fits the issue in having. Has anyone else had a similar problem or know a fix?

Edit to add, 2012 Ford Escape xlt with the 6 cylinder engine

Yesterday code reader at AutoZone told me small evap leak at the purge valve solenoid. I changed that, started the car, and the light was gone, so I assumed I was good. I didn't drive it at the time. This morning, while driving to work, the engine seemed a little off. The car would lag a bit when I'd press the accelerator then seem to surge a bit. A block from work the engine died but restarted immediately and was a little bit rough as I got into the parking lot.

This part is possibly unrelated, but a couple of months ago I disconnected the battery attempting to reset the entertainment system, and driving after that the car acted similarly. I tightened the battery connectors which seemed to fix the problem. Knowing this, after work I tried to tighten the cables again, but I only had a small channel lock, and the connectors seemed tight.

The car ran poorly on my way home. Once at home I disconnected the battery and cleaned the posts and the connectors and reattached everything. I also checked the solenoid as well as the hose and the electric connection to the solenoid.

I started the car and let it run, revved the engine a bit, and test drove it, and everything seemed fine. A couple of hours later I needed to run a couple of errands, and the engine was running rough again but didn't die until I was almost home. It restarted fine and for me home .

While driving the car the accelerator didn't seem to react initially but would then surge, and the car would fairly quickly accelerate but not in a way that felt imminently dangerous. While idling in park it usually is about 500 rpm but will jump to 1000 then slow back to 500.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.