ACWhammy
New Member
- Joined
- November 10, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Houston, TX
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 95 Ford Explorer
Hi all, new to the forums here.
I have owned my 1995 Ford Explorer since 2008 and I'd like to keep it, yet I'm having some problems that need serious attention and mechanics can't seem to figure out what it is. Perhaps you can!
It has 200k+ miles (Odometer stopped working at 137k before I bought it!) and it is an automatic.
Main problems I'm having:
1) Stalling: After I stop, then start going again, it may stall on me. Sometimes it stalls when I'm going 30-40mph+ as well. It starts right up with no problems. It will sometimes stall 2-3 times on the way to work.
2) Check Engine Light
It started randomly stalling a few years back, but NO check engine light. I took it to a shop and they said I need a tune up. So I got a tune-up. Didn't fix it. At this time it would still pass inspection.
As time went on, it started stalling more frequently. The check engine light also came on. I took it to 4 different places and they all said their scanner couldn't read the computer to find out what was wrong with it.
Until tonight, I learned after doing some research that I needed an original OBD scanner, not OBD II, and that many mechanics are fooled by the OBD II dummy plug on the 95 Explorers. It amazes me the incompetence of some shops. Shouldn't they know this stuff? Anyway, I found an O'Reilly with an original OBD scanner and these codes came up:
P0302: Cylinder #2 Misfire
P0455: Evap emissions system
But when I look these problems up, neither one describes the symptoms I'm having. I found on these forums that it may be the IAC valve, but it seems to idle fine when in park, and it doesn't stall when idling, it stalls after I try to get going when I put my foot on the gas, or while I'm driving. Also there is no whining sound, which I read is typical of a bad IAC valve.
The cars Blue Book value in this condition appears to be $810.00 :/
I'm even willing to spend this much for a guaranteed fix, just because I'm more comfortable putting my money into my own car rather than buying a used car and not knowing it's history. Or is it better to just cut my losses and move on?
Thanks for your time!
Tony
I have owned my 1995 Ford Explorer since 2008 and I'd like to keep it, yet I'm having some problems that need serious attention and mechanics can't seem to figure out what it is. Perhaps you can!
It has 200k+ miles (Odometer stopped working at 137k before I bought it!) and it is an automatic.
Main problems I'm having:
1) Stalling: After I stop, then start going again, it may stall on me. Sometimes it stalls when I'm going 30-40mph+ as well. It starts right up with no problems. It will sometimes stall 2-3 times on the way to work.
2) Check Engine Light
It started randomly stalling a few years back, but NO check engine light. I took it to a shop and they said I need a tune up. So I got a tune-up. Didn't fix it. At this time it would still pass inspection.
As time went on, it started stalling more frequently. The check engine light also came on. I took it to 4 different places and they all said their scanner couldn't read the computer to find out what was wrong with it.
Until tonight, I learned after doing some research that I needed an original OBD scanner, not OBD II, and that many mechanics are fooled by the OBD II dummy plug on the 95 Explorers. It amazes me the incompetence of some shops. Shouldn't they know this stuff? Anyway, I found an O'Reilly with an original OBD scanner and these codes came up:
P0302: Cylinder #2 Misfire
P0455: Evap emissions system
But when I look these problems up, neither one describes the symptoms I'm having. I found on these forums that it may be the IAC valve, but it seems to idle fine when in park, and it doesn't stall when idling, it stalls after I try to get going when I put my foot on the gas, or while I'm driving. Also there is no whining sound, which I read is typical of a bad IAC valve.
The cars Blue Book value in this condition appears to be $810.00 :/
I'm even willing to spend this much for a guaranteed fix, just because I'm more comfortable putting my money into my own car rather than buying a used car and not knowing it's history. Or is it better to just cut my losses and move on?
Thanks for your time!
Tony