electronics problems.. - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

Limited96 · 08-08-2002, 05:29 PM

ok.. lets see..

ive got grinding in my windows now thanks to an ******* mechanic who felt it was necessary to make sure my truck could take the abuse of off roading... jerk. anyway i think i might have sand or mud in there somewhere, and just want to know what i should do to remove it...

also.. my power locks went out.. they used to lock, but not unlock.. but now they dont do anything. i havent checked the fuses.. but im going to do that here in like 10 seconds.. but could it be the drivers side switch making them ALL mess up? if so.. yay.. but if not.. what else should i check???

my back passengers door wont lock either.. someone told me it was a bent rod.. i can see where the door had been hit before.. how hard would it be for me to fix... being im pretty much a novice... but have a few friends who work on cars rather avidly..

oh yeah.. should i change my front u bolts if i just had my back one's changed??? this guy told me i dont need it.. they had been changed recently. *(how recent i dont know..)* but i just am a bit worried. this guy really pulled one over on me.. im pretty damn upset.. and about 200 dollars later wiser to assholes who claim to be mechanics... so now on i do my work myself.. unless someone here is from the michigan area and is willing to help me out....

Limited96 · 08-08-2002, 08:02 PM

im bumping this up because i KNOW someone here can help...

*dogfriend* · 08-08-2002, 08:02 PM

I don't know about the other problems, but I'm fairly sure that your door lock problem is a failed solenoid. They start out by not locking all of the time when you push the button, and eventually they won't work at all. You can test this by looking for voltage at the connector which attaches to the solenoid and working the button.

Ive replaced two of them (pass door & rear hatch). It isn't too hard, but it is somewhat of a pain because you have to remove the door panel and it is difficult to get your hands in the part of the door where the solenoid is.

I would recommend getting a repair manual like Haynes or Chilton (I have both) so that you can look at the drawing that shows how everything is connected together.

Besides the normal hand tools, you will need a drill to drill out the rivet which holds it to the door. Ford includes a new rivet to install the new part, but I didn't have a rivet gun big enough to install it (it is a BIG pop rivet, usually installed with an air powered rivet gun). I found that I could substitute a #10 button head cap screw (a good hardware store will know what this is) for the rivet and still have clearance for the door to close (you can see the rivet head on the edge of the door near the bottom when the door is open)

good luck

08-08-2002, 08:02 PM	#2
Limited96 Wannabe Elite Explorer Grand Rapids, MI 96 Limited Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 110 Vehicle Specs	im bumping this up because i KNOW someone here can help... __________________ 1996 v6 4x4 limited ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION..

08-08-2002, 08:02 PM	#3
dogfriend Human-Animal Hybrid Carmichael, CA '97 Sport 4x4 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 8,236 Vehicle Specs	door locks I don't know about the other problems, but I'm fairly sure that your door lock problem is a failed solenoid. They start out by not locking all of the time when you push the button, and eventually they won't work at all. You can test this by looking for voltage at the connector which attaches to the solenoid and working the button. Ive replaced two of them (pass door & rear hatch). It isn't too hard, but it is somewhat of a pain because you have to remove the door panel and it is difficult to get your hands in the part of the door where the solenoid is. I would recommend getting a repair manual like Haynes or Chilton (I have both) so that you can look at the drawing that shows how everything is connected together. Besides the normal hand tools, you will need a drill to drill out the rivet which holds it to the door. Ford includes a new rivet to install the new part, but I didn't have a rivet gun big enough to install it (it is a BIG pop rivet, usually installed with an air powered rivet gun). I found that I could substitute a #10 button head cap screw (a good hardware store will know what this is) for the rivet and still have clearance for the door to close (you can see the rivet head on the edge of the door near the bottom when the door is open) good luck

08-08-2002, 05:29 PM	#1
Limited96 Wannabe Elite Explorer Grand Rapids, MI 96 Limited Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 110 Vehicle Specs	electronics problems.. ok.. lets see.. ive got grinding in my windows now thanks to an ******* mechanic who felt it was necessary to make sure my truck could take the abuse of off roading... jerk. anyway i think i might have sand or mud in there somewhere, and just want to know what i should do to remove it... also.. my power locks went out.. they used to lock, but not unlock.. but now they dont do anything. i havent checked the fuses.. but im going to do that here in like 10 seconds.. but could it be the drivers side switch making them ALL mess up? if so.. yay.. but if not.. what else should i check??? my back passengers door wont lock either.. someone told me it was a bent rod.. i can see where the door had been hit before.. how hard would it be for me to fix... being im pretty much a novice... but have a few friends who work on cars rather avidly.. oh yeah.. should i change my front u bolts if i just had my back one's changed??? this guy told me i dont need it.. they had been changed recently. (how recent i dont know..) but i just am a bit worried. this guy really pulled one over on me.. im pretty damn upset.. and about 200 dollars later wiser to assholes who claim to be mechanics... so now on i do my work myself.. unless someone here is from the michigan area and is willing to help me out.... __________________ 1996 v6 4x4 limited ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION..