I know, it's weird subject heading.
Explaination: Three things...

One: The other day I was driving along and my onboard digital temperature gauge was reading 38 degrees farenheit. Then all of a sudden it starts flashing "ICE... ICE... ICE" at me . I started freaking out thinking the thing was going whacky. Ice doesn't form at 38 degrees and how would it know anyway???

Two: I'd been having a rough idle after starting the XLT in the cold. It would start fine, then would start choking like it wanted to die (400 rpm and below) then suddenly rev up to around 1000 rmp and back down. This would continue untill the vehicle was warmed up. Clogged fuel injectors? Then 3 weeks later the check engine light came on... go figure. Thankfully it's under warranty... any suggestions besides a 12-gauge and some gasoline?

Three: When I engage the LOW 4X4 from neutral I hear a "ka-chunk!" from the transfer case... is this normal?

Not sure on the first two, but three is OK.

First off welcome to the board. :) First off the overhead console flashing ice at 38 degrees is normal, for some reason ford thinks there is a possibility of ice forming and they want to warn you. The rough idle is a common ailment of alot of explorers and is generally very easily fixed. Generally you can clean the mafs and reset the computer and that will fix the problem. Do a search for "rough idling" or similiar terms and you'll come up with more than enough info. If the CEL came on and you have a warranty take it back to where you got it and have them read the codes, it's not that big of a deal. And the klunking when shifting into low range is normal.

remember,
brdiges freeze befor road ways.

Welcom to the site, don't be a stranger.

Yeah, the 38 degrees is probably compensation. The air is 38 degrees, but all the stationary stuff is probably colder.

This a common problem in Sohc motors if she is under 72k ford may fix it. It's a problem with the lower intake gaskets. My wife's does the same thing. I havn't fixed mine yet cause I live where it's warm. It dosen't bother it till it gets cold outside. The colder it gets the worce it will get! Do a search for this.;)

I had someone in my car once it was snowing like crazy and the thing is flashing ICE ICE and the person in the car goes..."How does it know?"

I just laughed

The next time somebody asks you about the "Ice" display, tell them your car is an Ivy League graduate. :D

Also, try cleaning out the IAC. It takes maybe 5 minutes or less, and can fix many idle problems. You may not even need to replace it. In which case, it's free.

The rough idle comes and goes on my '98. I've always been sure it was a sensor problem. Having been reading here for a few months, I'm 100% sure it's the Mass Airflow Sensor - Ford replaced the plugs and wires when I took it in under warranty. I'll get to cleaning the MAS soon. The Check Engine Light has come on a couple of times only when I've left it to idle for a while (like when hooking up the trailer). It's always gone back out on it's own after a day or two - again, I suspect the MAS.

The ICE thing, I'm sure is Ford being cautious about a temperature sensor of dubious accuracy (and some surfaces freeze before others). I think the ICE blinks for a few minutes, then stops - although I've never had the ICE come on after the vehicle was already running.

The Ka-Chunck is utterly normal. If you have just switched into neutral and the transmission is still carrying some inertia, the vehicle might actually lurch as the 4X4 low engages - even though it's in neutral. Keep your foot firmly on the brake...

BTW: If you haven't already had it done, check on the Timing Chain Tensioner - it's a rattling sound in the engine compartment at startup and usually goes away after a few seconds. When I first heard it, I though it might have been at the front of the transmission.

Yep, the 38 degree reading and ICE flashing is normal. My Cadillac does this as well. Most people think 32 degrees is the freezing point...well to some extent that is true for water...but ROAD surfaces is entirely different.

You can have "Black Ice" at 38 degrees, as Ice WILL form on certain road surfaces at that temp. Even if you are driving and the temp falls to 38 degrees, it will flash ICE for approx. 30 seconds. HEED the warning.

Your clunk when shifting to 4x4 low is normal. My 2000 Sport did this brand new, and my Ford dealer and my personnal mechanic both say the same thing-normal. If you have not engaged 4x4 low for a while, it WILL clunk, nothing to get nervous about.

Hey, thanks for the warm welcome :) and all your input. I'm really glad there's some people out there who care enough to share what they think and try to help. I'm gonna take it into the dealership and get it checked out.

With the ICE blinking thing, it didn't happen two days ago and it was 22 degrees. I have a hunch that along with termperature it may detect humidity. Any thoughts?

Yeah, the black ice thing is big time. A friend of mine just flipped her 2000 Blazer just a few days ago because of a patch of it. :confused:

BTW, w00ts the retired military folks in here :shoot: (saw at least one on this thread), I'm taking terminal leave in December. :us: (US Army) :us:

error_force,

I think the ICE thing is only when it's "borderline". I think they assume that we know it's icy if it's 22 degrees ;)

...and about the terminal leave... Congratulations and Thank You! :D :D :D

Originally posted by Stic-o
This a common problem in Sohc motors if she is under 72k ford may fix it. It's a problem with the lower intake gaskets. My wife's does the same thing. I havn't fixed mine yet cause I live where it's warm. It dosen't bother it till it gets cold outside. The colder it gets the worce it will get! Do a search for this.;)

As said above, if you have the SOHC V6 engine, run a search for 00M12 and 01M01 and you find lots of threads about the repairs you should have done...

Thank you all! I took it in for to have the codes read and it turned out to be the 00M12 recall, which as stated previously isn't covered if the truck is over 72k. I am at 79k and my own warranty covered it. The problem was exactly what you guys said, lower intake gaskets causing the vacuum leak, making it run lean... but also included in the kit was a new camshaft tensioner. No worries now! Thanks again to all!! :D