$200 V8 Project

[CDW6212R]

@CDW6212R

I've never looked at the Explorer wiper linkage, but most I have looked at use nylon bushings, which can be replaced.

Good thought. I'll look at my 99 soon when I pull the cracked cowl trim off(hail damage), and look at the linkage.

 

[CDW6212R]

The multi-function switches are fragile parts that do wear out at this time. I'd change that soon or before considering the GEM etc, for the wiper functions. I've worn out about three of those stalks/switches over the years. They do run $65 or better these days though.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I've got both from my 99 when I pulled the dash sitting here, did pull the old GEM tonight, isn't even the one that came in there, it's out a 98 4x4, I thought the lights for 4WD would flash in the cluster when the wrong GEM was installed? It smelled like it had been too hot, so I'm gonna stick the one out the 99 in there tomorrow, if that doesn't work, I have two good MFS I can try out, they run $82 a piece for reference. I doubt it's a wiring issue since I've never really heard of wiring issues on Explorers. The thing about my 99 is wiring wise it's identical to this 2000 so I can just pull off that and then just replace whatever I use next JY trip.

 

[CDW6212R]

Interesting, the 302 trucks might be able to use either GEM. The 4WD system requires three modules, the 4WD, TOD, and GEM module for it to work. So without the 4WD or TOD, maybe it can't light up the dash light.

Thanks for the idea, I should hunt a few extra GEM modules. I'll put that on my list of things to buy spares of, before they get too old and rare etc.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

If this fixes my wipers and whatnot I'm going to be buying at least two more, one for my Eddie Bauer V8 swap and it's good to have at least one spare.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, those get expensive to find or repair later.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So, I replaced the GEM, that fixed the windows where the switches are normal and the auto-down on the drivers side works right now, however, the wipers are still screwed up, also replaced the MFS, used the one from my 99 and it feels a lot better than the worn out one that was in there, plus it's considerably more responsive. So, now then, what's the next reasonable step on the wipers? I'm not a big electrical work fan but these wipers being stuck with two speeds is getting on my nerves.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So, I figured it out, I figured out that it couldn't be anything wiring related since the two top speeds worked fine, it had to be something to do with just the low speeds, so I sat down and dug through the service book that was posted a couple weeks ago, and the issue was the wiper park relay, put one in and the issue went away on the spot, it looked like the old one had been extremely hot, would jammed wipers have caused that at some point in the past?

 

[CDW6212R]

That'll do it, and yes maybe ice/snow packed someone turned them on for a bit. When the GEM didn't fix it, I also would think another component is part of the symptom. Where is that park relay, under the dash near the column?

For these vehicles and their age, it's about time to replace certain wear parts that people don't usually think of. I think all of the fuses and relays should be made new, and of course collect best versions of the electrical components that are expensive or hard to get, like the GEM. I'm planning to keep mine for a long time, I might need those things a lot in ten years.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

It's in the relay box underneath the hood, and yeah that's probably it to be fair, the car has been all over the northern states so the receipts I found under the seats and whatnot show. As for mine, I haven't decided on this car long term, I have got full intentions of V8 swapping my Eddie Bauer and keeping it long term, it's perfect inside and out and I want it a V8 while the parts are easily accessible. Also did the blower motor fan and the resistor too, fan was the one from my 99, looked newer than the one that came in there and was lighter, resistor was bad anyhow. Just running through this thing at this point fixing what's been put off and allowed to add up.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So I haven't had much to say in a while, been working a lot, and decided for sure to V8 sawp my Eddie Bauer, in the meanwhile I've been fixing up this car, I put door lock actuators in all the doors and that was easier than it used to be, rolled 260K happy miles, changed both front tires since they were just worn out, and replaced the rear hatch with a matching one, and a good layer of wax and various things. Can't link photobucket, but I have Gyazo if anybody knows what it is, if not click the link. https://gyazo.com/203da05bbd915c61efed0b8ec54203f3

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So an update, I rolled 261K miles, happy camper, oil change with 10w30 at 4,700 miles and it's smooth and quiet, start tackling the issues to get things up to stuff, and have a general list that's mostly quarter million mile things, such as, shocks are toast, most are leaking and the front LCAs both hit the stops when you hit a bump, the rears aren't any better more likely than not, so gotta tackle that, brakes aren't so hot, had a alignment issue the other day, apparently the right front caliper piston(s) stuck and trashed the rotor and the pads, had all that stuff on the shelf except the rotor so that wasn't a big deal, door locks are a work in progress, got the front doors and hatch working, rear doors don't even have actuators installed, I got a pair with it so I'm gonna install those this weekend, and the speakers are shot, which isn't a real surprise considering door speakers here don't hold up well in old age. I imagine there's more, but I'm keeping it, also started my V8 Eddie Bauer, that's actually easier than I thought it would really be. Just a general update, also anybody got pointers on front window replacement? Mine are rough and I want to get them tinted but I want a good set installed first.

 

[CDW6212R]

Do you mean replace the glass? I've changed one, it's not too bad, just several things to do. Remove the trim from the top edge inside and out. Remove the window motor, three bolts and one electrical connector.

Remove the window channel from around the top, it's a big piece that wraps from the top to the front bottom. I don't think the glass will come out with that left in, I tried to leave it and decided to pull it eventually. remove the rear guide piece first, it's straight and short, one bolt holds it in, very bottom of the door at the rear of it.

You have to knock the rivets out of the bracket at the bottom of the glass. Which means just lower the window a little to get the rivets to appear through holes near the top of the inner door. You have to drill out the rivets, and then the glass will be free to lift up and out. I bought all of the side glass to replace in my 98, the fronts weren't very expensive.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So an update, besides rolling 262K, I was washing it, discovered the LCAs have been hitting the hell out the rubber stops, a LOT, so I got curious because neither of my other trucks have had that, and since I was gonna do a mild TT anyhow since it was on the ground in the front basically, I decided I'd just do the TT and then shocks, be it I'm not mistaken, one full turn on the bolt is 1" of height? I have 4.5 turns in 1", the first 3.5 were loose and didn't feel like I was doing a thing on either side, what caused that? I'm new to that and that sounds extremely wrong, it rides a lot better now though. Other news is I'm gonna get the manifold swap done next week, the one on there is obnoxiously loud, and I'd swear it's getting louder, it sounds like an open manifold now, and I'm tired of being on the highway running 65 and all you can hear is exhaust, that inner collector bolt looks like a PITA.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

Another update, bought tires for it, the front tires didn't even have tread on them, they were just slick, and the rear two were just some cheap junk I had off the 99, they were close to slick and sorta crappy so I replaced them. As for the replacements, I traded my four old wheels and bald tires for a set of Goodyear Wrangler Radials with about half tread, on the rims, holding air, off a parts 95, with $40 cash thrown in too, so far, I love them, they're quieter than the tires I had before, especially the RT/S I had, and they ride well and took tire gel really well, so they look brand new.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

So, Friday night I rear ended someone, 2 door Saturn threw out the anchor faster than I could and my ABS didn't work and the light wasn't in the cluster and I didn't know it and slid into them, as some of you have seen, first impression was it was totaled, tore the left front wheel off with the spindle, broke the lower ball joint out it's casing and the caliper off, the spindle broke off the tie rod and the upper joint sparing them and ran off into someone's yard, with the CV axle. So, I spent the past weekend fixing it, put the fender on off the 99, bumper, all that, don't match and aren't too good in shape but they got it road worthy. I did all the work, including body work myself, and I still love the car, and am still going to V8 my Eddie Bauer. Lesson is, learning is expensive, and rest assured, I learned. Also, yes, the frame is straight, and the core support underneath I straightened out myself, was the hardest part of it all.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm sorry to hear that. Things happen, so I hope everyone was all right, and the cars can be fixed.

How rough was the radiator support? I ask because I know mine was tweaked since the left corner is about 1/2" lower where the fender bolts down. It looks like the previous owner got it beaten to take the fender in kind of the right location. But I'll have to take the front fender and all apart, to see the radiator support underneath it all.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

It was messed up, I pulled it straight enough to get everything working like it goes, it's visible from the top and bottom that it's pushed back a bit, maybe an inch on the drivers side and mashed a bit, nothing rubs though and everything is in order mostly, eventually I plan to take the clip off my old 99 since it's perfectly straight and put it on this car, since I've seen that done, and I'm not intent on getting rid of this car anytime soon. As far as my body work skills, I was assisting someone for three months that did totaled vehicles, so I have a lot of various skills with bodywork.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yeah I learned a lot that way, hanging around a body shop when my 93 was being rebuilt. I did a lot of the mechanical work and grinding etc, fitting the body panels, moving the body on the frame etc. I want to keep this one forever, and I'd like to have it perfectly straight for the body lines. We'll see how it is someday next Spring.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

My Eddie Bauer is like that, it's gonna be a 5.0 swap and it's pretty well a forever vehicle to me, it's near mint condition and it's the cleanest 2nd gen I've ever seen in person. Learning the body shop stuff I never thought would benefit me but I did really well considering none of my donor panels off the 99 were dent free anymore, I got them aligned perfectly and it would look great if it was matching paint.