1997 Explorer Limited, just picked up, a few things to do

[SparkyGT]

Well im back after a few years, my 1998 has a bad death rattle, and i love explorers, so i found this 1997 limited with the 5.0, needs a few things and has been stored for a while now.

it has been sitting in storage for a few years, so runs a bit rough with bad gas.

Tuneup - mostly done November 2024
Broken driver door handle - fixed/new handle installed August 2024
Heater issues, blend door stuff, actuator was clicking, have run a toggle switch to run fan full speed, Oct 2024
heater motor doesnt blow - New motor installed Sept 2024
dash lights dont work, everything else does
might be missing the rear interior light - found in the back of a seat/ will get a bulb.
left side courtesy lights dont work - fixed/bulb August 2024
Cruise control on steering wheel left side , barely holding onto wheel.

But i drove it home.

But a few things i can fix easily. I may rob alot of stuff of my 1998 4.0 sohc . it had a bad rattle , threw a bunch of codes and wouldnt hardly run. and not sure what happened so parked it 4 years ago. Of course today after getting this i started it, rattled away, but no codes and decent rpms. has a few flat tires so cant test drive it.

Anyways im glad to be back, this community is great with all the info to keep these beasts on the road.

 

[410Fortune]

Huge upgrade for you! That 97 limited can outlast all the sohcs on the road

Well done! Grab as many parts as you can from your old 98 or just keep it around as your parts donor

Check all your fuses and bulbs
Try Messing with the dash light dimmer wheel see if any of those courtesy lights come back on

Congrats! How many miles on the 97 5.0?

Somebody has changed the coil packs on that 302 probably chasing a misfire

I would plan on doing a fuel pump,’strainer and fuel filter asap they don’t like to sit
I use Bosch fuel pumps only

 

[SparkyGT]

Huge upgrade for you! That 97 limited can outlast all the sohcs on the road

Well done! Grab as many parts as you can from your old 98 or just keep it around as your parts donor

Check all your fuses and bulbs
Try Messing with the dash light dimmer wheel see if any of those courtesy lights come back on

Congrats! How many miles on the 97 5.0?

Somebody has changed the coil packs on that 302 probably chasing a misfire

I would plan on doing a fuel pump,’strainer and fuel filter asap they don’t like to sit
I use Bosch fuel pumps only

its around 260k km - 162k miles

i will see whats up as above, im not sure if the plugs were changed so starting there and with fuel filter. i will be starting to check some stuff quick. if i run out of summer temps, then may have to sideline it for the winter. but am hoping to get it going. first time having this period of 5.0 so will have to brush up on them.

 

[SparkyGT]

A few updates today
1- oil leak was a really loose drain plug, i could have tightened it more with my fingers
2-driver door handle fixed, new installed, but its black, repaint later, I used button head screw(stainless) for attaching.
3-fuel filter changed, a big pain, havent done it with one of these.
4-courtesy light in door just blown out.

 

[410Fortune]

That’s not bad considering it’s almost 2025! These trucks just hold up!

 

[4rd Xplora]

Wanted this exact same truck for years. Close as I got was putting the Limited grille on the '96 Eddie Bauer I owned at that time.

 

[SparkyGT]

Wanted this exact same truck for years. Close as I got was putting the Limited grille on the '96 Eddie Bauer I owned at that time.

I have looked for a while myself. the wifey aint too happy with me getting it, but i just used overtime cash i had saved , so no real out of pocket expenses for her. Im hoping i can get it done up before winter hits. driving my mustang in the winter isnt possible

 

[SparkyGT]

A few updates
-Running rough, really bad plugs, .090 gap on a few, and they were messed up. runs not bad now, but throws a occasional code P308. so might have bad plug wire, the number 8 was the worst fitting of all. Auto stores here dont have aftermarket plug wire sets available, so will have to source some.

May be suspecting a injector as well, not sure. I used a maxsimizer obd setup, all cylinders under load are pretty even. better than 2002 GT mustang.

-Heater motor was seized, the resistor was fried. New heater motor installed, cleaned out airbox as best i could, seems some critter stored some seeds in it. resistor removed, and am running a relay to turn fan on full speed only. Basically a ground switch to relay to enable ground to the motor.

Been driving around to work everyday so am liking it so far. With winter coming anything else will have to get looked at shop, as im doing most of it in carpot.

 

[410Fortune]

Misfire code that shows up quickly is usually an injector issue

Could also be a valve/ compression issue

Good idea to keep an eye on the spark plug in the cylinder in question. Can read the pounded if it’s dry, wet (with fuel) or gets oily deposits on it

Rockauto has United motor product wires for $45 plus shipping they are about 3 times as good as the parts store offerings

 

[SparkyGT]

November 2024 update, was throwing P308 codes every day. ordered a set of NGK spark plug wires, i only replaced the #8, and it seems to have fixed it. No codes, in 10 days. I will change the remaining plug wires later when warmer. I liked the ngk wires , they were numbered as well. Only bad thing is the clip on the valve cover broke off when i was unclipping the old wire, have ziptied the wires up a touch.

If anyone has some mods on the clips, im thinking about just getting some ones that use the valve cover bolts.