2002 Sport Trac

[dvdswan]

Update on tires. So, we had a little bit of snow this past week, about 2" each night / early morning then mostly melted during afternoon for 3-4 days. Tires did great in early morning snow, didn't use 4wd except on a S-turn hill and still had not a stitch of slipping. They are a little louder at low speeds but nothing annoying. Low rumble. 3 months old about 3,000 miles so far. Still happy with purchase.

 

[sandsprayer]

Ok, time for updates, some good some not so good.

1st bad, 4WD quick working and it's not a fat electron this time... well at least at the switch like last time. Bummer.
2nd, more of a review for the radio I just installed. Don't buy it IMO. It doesn't connect to the phone 60% of the time when you call someone or answer a call from someone, then when it does connect with the phone it won't release and go back to music when you hang up. The microphone does not pick up voice very well (it sits right on top of the steering column). The old Kenwood radio, the microphone was in the same spot and didn't have any issues with picking up voice. Also, the radio volume is low, I didn't look but I don't think it has an amp inside like most 4 channel radios. I'm keeping the radio in the truck until the new year and look for a better one.

So, Friday I will be having tires installed. LT265/75R16s ATRs pictures to follow. I've purchased and received all new front suspension parts and all for 4 shocks. I'll probably have it all installed by Thanksgiving weekend and hopefully have the new body mounts installed. All the silly weather has made extra work around the homestead and a trip outside of the states for a week didn't help.

I do have a 4-day weekend this weekend so hopefully I get stuff done, but there is a ton of yard work.

I hit the junkyard today because I took a day off to take my son in for day surgery. Found a 00 Explorer Limited that had the overhead console like mine all intact and a diming rearview mirror or auto headlight mirror. I'll be going back on Friday to pick those up. It had the dual sun visors but they are tan. It also had heated mirrors with puddle lamps where the lamp is on the mirror and not on the base. So, I might get those as well.

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a 00 Explorer? And are there any other parts I need to get for the rearview mirror if its auto headlamp?

Any insight would be great. Thank you.

I have that same head unit and have had no issues.
I have Android Auto though.

 

[dvdswan]

I have that same head unit and have had no issues.
I have Android Auto though.

iPhones suck IMO. I hate it, but work pays for it, so I have it.

 

[dvdswan]

Small update. Drove to Portland one morning and left the headlights on, killed the battery. Got it jumped and everything seemed fine. Tried 4WD and its not working again and realized the headlight warning bell/buzzer didn't go off when I shut the truck off. So, this weekend is going to be a nice weekend I plan on working on it and finishing some items that I hadn't completed and some troubleshooting now.

 

[dvdswan]

Body mounts are now completed. FINALLY! I really hate doing only half at a time. But, in all the passenger side only took about hour and a half compared to the driver side which fought me. While I had the pass. kick panel out I disconnected/reconnected the 4x4CM plugs. 4WD started working again. So, I disconnected the connectors again and cleaned pins with electronics cleaner and a Q-Tip. Next time I pull the center dash bezel out I'll do the 4x4 selector switch. Earlier in the week I purchased a jumper box of amazon I got a rare screaming deal, with coupons and flash sale I saved 87%. Yeah me.

 

[dvdswan]

Another update. Since the mounts were non-existent on the front 3 body mounts on both sides. The truck now rides a lot better and not as noisy. Yes, the poly mounts do transfer noise, but it is far quieter than having the bad mounts in there.

 

[dvdswan]

Fixed and installed a few things today.

Installed a new 3rd LED brake light.

Also, fixed my driver's door jamb switch so the interior lights come on now. Turns out it was just disconnected. Not sure if I knocked it off when I replaced the dr. window or if it was always disconnected. It's out of the way so it is a very good chance that it was just disconnected.

 

[410Fortune]

Nice light! I like that one better than the one I am running. Love the close up of the peeling of the protective cover hahaha
Safety flash is a nice feature
Now I need one

Liked and subscribed!!

 

[dvdswan]

So, today I gave the ST some much needed love. Wash, rubbing compound, polish, and wax.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Debating on buying new headlamp/turn signal assemblies or polishing them. Most likely will buy as the t/signals and dr. side h/lamp have moisture in them.

I plan on pulling off the steps and redoing them, but I need to find a restore or repaint for the front bumper, side molding, and rear bumper gray color. All I can find is the black trim restore which I'm not going to use.

 

[410Fortune]

I really like the adrenaline front lights the black background really sets it off… but that is just me

Your red trac looks fantastic after that paint work!!

Pardon Our Interruption...

These w matching tails and a matching high mount brake light really update the sport trac

 

[dvdswan]

I really like the adrenaline front lights the black background really sets it off… but that is just me

Your red trac looks fantastic after that paint work!!

Pardon Our Interruption...

These w matching tails and a matching high mount brake light really update the sport trac

Those look very cool. Thank you for the idea.

 

[dvdswan]

So, the ST is making me kind of... starting to worry. Like it's possessed or something. Out of the blue the key buzzer/chime started to work. I haven't tried the headlamp warning or seatbelt. I started getting a vibration at highway speeds not long ago, so I wonder if the dust is starting to shake off components.

Strange for sure.

As for the vibration, do STs have a center support bearing? It's in the seat of the pants and not in the steering wheel so it is rear based. I'm not hearing a stuck rock at slow speeds, but even though the tires are new it could have thrown a weight. Not severe but speed it does start is getting lower which leads me to the bearing. It's not a u-joint because it doesn't go away on coast or decel. The several times I've been underneath the truck I've never noticed the d/line. I've been concentrating on the issue at hand.

Thoughts?

 

[410Fortune]

No carrier bearing in a sport trac

Highway vibes started after new tires and wheel balance? I would start there
Rotate tires see if it moves
Look for lost weight
Check pressures

Rear pinion u joint? With truck in neutral and rolling on flat ground, chock a tire and check for looseness at rear pinion or u joint

 

[dvdswan]

I'm off tomorrow so I will rotate the tires. I'll check the u-joints but pretty sure it's not them as accel, decel, and coast are no change in vibration I figure the tires or center support. No center support leaves just tires. @410Fortune Thank you for the reply.

Plus, I haven't been in any mud so I'm leaning to the thrown weight.

 

[410Fortune]

Well it could be a few things for sure! U joints are my first suspect after we rule out tires

Next would be a worn trans mount, loose exhaust mount, bad cv axle, bad shock, but I’m guessing it’s a tire
Tire balance is usually the issue with highway speed vibes in my experience it’s
Amazing how many things can be slightly loose or worn and still go smooth down the road lol lol

 

[dvdswan]

Got an email from Wally World saying I needed a tire rotation. When I bought the tires, I paid for lifetime balance/rotate. Since I had to travel to Portland today, I stopped in and had them balance and rotate the tires. Vibration is gone and tire rumble is low again.

Cruise control switch broke, well the cover did. Ordered new one. So many things to do, actually want to do, so little time.

 

[dvdswan]

So, I've been experiencing a lot of PFM lately, or at least noticing it. May it's due to the tires being slightly out of balance that they shook things up.

Key buzzer and headlamp warning have started working again. That means I'm holding off on buying a GEM module for now. 4WD hasn't acted up since I had to jump the truck. I did have to unplug/plug the 4x4CM connection. But it works perfect again.

Since I bought the ST yr and half ago, I've been meaning to pull the interior and give it a good cleaning. The center console has lots of dust for the controls and vents on the back of it. When I did the body mounts, I cleaned the areas I could reach but there are a lot of areas I know still have dust. POs must have followed a lot of other people down dusty roads.

I'm hoping to get some small things done this weekend provided the weather cooperates. Replacing CC switch on steering wheel, install new speakers in rear doors, and possibly replace the shocks. Fingers crossed.

 

[dvdswan]

Did truck stuff again today. More than I should have.

Drove an hour to pick up some 4x12x8 landscaping stones. 91 of them, fit in the bed just fine but just I just calculated them at 22.5-30 lbs. each. Which makes the load at 91 x 22.5 = 2047.5 lbs. oops. Truck did fine it was squatting about the same when I did the bricks last year.

I might go back for some 6x16x8 blocks but I'll have to only take 50 at a time as those are 30 lbs each.

On a side note, I keep trying to put parts on the truck, but honey-do lists are killing me. Not that I mind, it's all yard stuff and building things so I'm happy.