1995 Explorer Strange Noise

[John Whittingto]

Hello fellow Explorer owners, I am new to this forum but from what I have seen, it looks pretty good!! I hope my problem is something somebody will have seen. I have got 240,000 miles of almost trouble free use from my 2WD, 4 door 1995 XLT. I have put on an oil pump and other than maintenance items, clutch, brake pads and tune up items, that is all. About 50,000 miles or so back I started hearing a low rumbling noise around 50 to 60 mph regardless of what gear I am in, oh yeah, I have a Mazda 5 speed manual transmission. If I put it in neutral or push in the clutch, the noise disapeers. I have replaced the U-joints, drained and replaced the rear end fluid and transmission fluid. It sounds like the noise comes from the gearbox area but when I have sat in the back seats, sometimes it sounds like it is from the rear end. Then, in the last 2 weeks, twice I have had the gearbox lock up in various gears and be sometimes almost impossible to shift. Then in shutting the car off and back on, it will start working again without a hitch. I don't know if these latest symptoms are related or not. Any ideas out there?

 

[mrboyle]

From the description it sounds like the tranny is going out. You have honestly gotten a lot of miles out of the tranny, so you can't really complain, but it looks like you need a new tranny.

 

[John Whittingto]

1995 Explorer Noise Problem

To mrboyle, I got your response to my noise problem on my 1995 Explorer. I concur with your advice. You are right, I shouldn't complain about any component on the Explorer as far as reliability. I sort of suspected either the transmission gearbox or the rear end. Thanks yfor your response and help. Have a great day. I let you know how it turns out.

John

 

[CodePoet]

It could be the release bearing binding up...that could cause nosie while in gear. The Mazda 5-speed is really a pretty good tranny (even though I had a gear litterally detonate a couple months ago). Inside about the only things that might go wrong is a bearing getting worn (can be replaced). I was told by the guy who rebuilt the tranny in my truck that there is also a plastic "funnel" thing that collects oil that is slung up by the gears and routs it to these bearings, this funnel can get clogged up over time which would result in a bearing seizing up. Have you checked the level of fluid in there? Its pretty easy, just take the drain plug out and the fluid should be about level with that opening. If it's low you can replace with dexron (I THINK!) atf. If you have a haynes manual it does a really good job of describing the causes of symptoms like yours.

Good Luck!!!
CP

p.s. good to hear that your experience with the explorer has been so good!