I'm having a problem with my Explorer thats a little hard to describe. It started about 2 months ago (after it sat for about a year in my driveway, with startups just to keep it going and that battery charged)
I've been using it daily now, and there is a grinding noise that happens only when going over 30 or so mph. If I have my foot on the gas, I don't hear anything. But if I take my foot off the pedal, then I hear a noise which I can only describe as grinding. It only happens while coasting. Me and my mechanic friend took a look at it, and he noticed that the u-joints could use replacing, and the front of the driveshaft was a little loose.
His logic, which made sense to me at the time, was that the u-joints had a decent amount of play in them. When I hit the gas, they locked up and didn't make noise. But when I coast, it loosens up, and the play in there is what was causing the noise. We replaced everything, but the noise still happens.
Now we took another look, and he thinks that theres a little play near the transfer case, and the back end seemed a little loose (but not very) to him. Those were the only two apparent problems remaining, but he did say if it's neither of those, it has to be something in the transfer case (maybe the chain?)
I know a decent bit about cars, but this is way over my head. I know he can solve the problem (eventually) but I was just looking for some additional information. Maybe somebody else knows something or has experienced a similar problem. What is likely causing the problem/what should be replaced.
On a side note, I have recently noticed the grinding noise (VERY soft though) at highway speeds of 65 and over. I am guessing that it is related and has something to do with the fact that the car has so much inertia at that point, that its similar to coasting, which is why I am getting the grinding, just very light. I could be wrong.
On another side note, can anyone tell me, or point me towards some information about the way the 4wd works. I have 3 buttons that say 4WD Auto, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. I understand High and Low, but what exactly is Auto? Someone else on the web suggested I run it in each mode on a dirt road to see if something is just stuck. Could it really be that easy?
Thanks
I've been using it daily now, and there is a grinding noise that happens only when going over 30 or so mph. If I have my foot on the gas, I don't hear anything. But if I take my foot off the pedal, then I hear a noise which I can only describe as grinding. It only happens while coasting. Me and my mechanic friend took a look at it, and he noticed that the u-joints could use replacing, and the front of the driveshaft was a little loose.
His logic, which made sense to me at the time, was that the u-joints had a decent amount of play in them. When I hit the gas, they locked up and didn't make noise. But when I coast, it loosens up, and the play in there is what was causing the noise. We replaced everything, but the noise still happens.
Now we took another look, and he thinks that theres a little play near the transfer case, and the back end seemed a little loose (but not very) to him. Those were the only two apparent problems remaining, but he did say if it's neither of those, it has to be something in the transfer case (maybe the chain?)
I know a decent bit about cars, but this is way over my head. I know he can solve the problem (eventually) but I was just looking for some additional information. Maybe somebody else knows something or has experienced a similar problem. What is likely causing the problem/what should be replaced.
On a side note, I have recently noticed the grinding noise (VERY soft though) at highway speeds of 65 and over. I am guessing that it is related and has something to do with the fact that the car has so much inertia at that point, that its similar to coasting, which is why I am getting the grinding, just very light. I could be wrong.
On another side note, can anyone tell me, or point me towards some information about the way the 4wd works. I have 3 buttons that say 4WD Auto, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. I understand High and Low, but what exactly is Auto? Someone else on the web suggested I run it in each mode on a dirt road to see if something is just stuck. Could it really be that easy?
Thanks