My explorer feels like it might be miss firing...today while driving home the engine light turned on and it felt as if the engine was "hopping"? Anyone know anything about it?

If it was misfiring there would be a code and the check engine light would be on and flashing.

may have a bad sensor or low fluid levels somewhere.. some have safety sensors that cut into the operating systems to keep from blowing the engine..

Feel like running out of gas is usually an engine miss fire. Brake noise is usually low brake pads. A long shot that both these relate to each other is broken breather hose (what kind of noise are the brakes making?) Engine miss fire is either worn plugs or ignition coil.

Likely an issue with the transmission. Check the transmission oil level with the engine running. If too high or low, then have a garage check your system. The 6 is sometimes prone to obvious transmission wear around 150,000 plus km.

the car needs to go on the diagnostic computer asap DO NOT DRIVE OVER 25 MPH.it could cost you an engine.....

check the ht leads and the coil pack and also get it plugged in to a fault code reader to find out why engine light is on

Sounds like a short...be very careful.

Check Coil Packs for ARK Traces & Wires

Acroding to the codes it is a # 2 cylinder miss fire , sounds to me like there is a lot of carbon build up

chances are fairly good it's the coils - I've posted about this on Edmunds. the OEM design is truely idiotic & has a vent that allows moisture down into the plug well - that shorts the spark & causes misfires. On our 2004 MPV I got away w/cleaning & drying them extremely carefully then sealing the vent w/silicone as a temp measure, then ordered perfect replacement after-market coils off ebay that sealed the wells & stopped the problem -and- were a tiny fraction of the OEM price.  good luck, BK