4th gen problems

[rocco123]

Do the 4th gen explorers have the same problems as 3rd gen, such as broken rear springs & wheel bearing wearing out frequently?

 

[edwx]

I don't know about all 4th Gen. problems. It seems more like problems with a particular year.......like spark plug removal and radiator, and tranny issues. My wheel bearings are still intact @ 70k on my 4th Gen. '06. I've had a Gen. 2, 3, and 4, and IMO the Gen. 4 is the best so far. My '06 has a lot more technology than my '03.

 

[rocco123]

Can you expand on "more technology"? I'm sure my next car will be an explorer to replace my '94, but just want to see what issues exist.

BTW, I'll be heading past SYR Thursday to bring my son to Oswego.

 

[edwx]

I've owned the XLS version of the Gen 3 & 4. Besides general design improvements that each Gen has had over the previous Gen, (the Explorer has come a long way) weird door handles on the Gen 4 excluded, The Advancetrac, and Roll Stability Control are near the top of the list. The little message center (including Tire Pressure Monitoring) is definitely a plus, but they did take away 2 gauges. They gave us back a radiator cap on the Gen 4.......still no tranny dipstick. I'm sure there is more, but this was just what I could quickly think of. I was in Oswego yesterday.

 

[waskly]

Can you expand on "more technology"? I'm sure my next car will be an explorer to replace my '94, but just want to see what issues exist.

BTW, I'll be heading past SYR Thursday to bring my son to Oswego.

sync, rsc, the suspension is even better then the 02-05, tighter turning radius, simplified dashboard, tach/mph/fuel/temp.... nobody cares what charging is anyway and every other gauge since they are all padded. message center, and best thing ever floor shifter!

child safety window switches, its had alot of updates over the years.

 

[willied]

and best thing ever floor shifter!

I do and don't like this. It's precise and easy to use, but it takes up so much useful room in that area. It just gets in the way where it is.

 

[BrianDye]

nobody cares what charging is anyway

Are you talking about the voltmeter!? If I own a vehicle without one, thats the first thing I install....hell I had 2 in my 2nd gen! Stock and aftermarket

 

[waskly]

Are you talking about the voltmeter!? If I own a vehicle without one, thats the first thing I install....hell I had 2 in my 2nd gen! Stock and aftermarket

yup. never understood why the put that thing in cars, the light is more then enough and if the car dont charge you get a battery light who cares how much volts it is. its going to die one way or the other.

 

[BrianDye]

Yea man shoot, why put temp gauges and speedos in there even. Who cares if the engine overheats, im sure it'l eventually shut off.

 

[waskly]

Yea man shoot, why put temp gauges and speedos in there even. Who cares if the engine overheats, im sure it'l eventually shut off.

the big difference is, temp gauge you can judge when to shut down the car/truck etc a volt gauge does nothing, once the alt dies, dont charge, you are sol. sub 10.5 or 9.5 volts the pcm shuts down anyway so....

its a waste of space gauge. temp can be used to determine when its safe to start to limp home and with a volt gauge, oh look its at 6 volts and stalled out. what to do.

wait i know, it can be used for the obvious. you get up one morning to start the car, its dead, you jump it, take the jumpers off it dies. hm do i need a gauge to tell me the truck don't charge?


i need a speedo, silly cops and speeding tickets. and speed limits. do i need a tach no but its nice to know how fast the eng is running. esp for towing. do i need a volt gauge nope does nothing. do i need an oil gauge? nope oil temp is more needed for towing then oil pressure. and a trans temp.
some gauges are just worthless. the volt one is just one of them. esp since the minute the alt dies you get a nice little red battery light and the cluster shows check charging.

 

[rocco123]

Any problems with the stability control you know of? Overall I do like explorers. Very versatile, and plenty of room & power.

 

[waskly]

i think only the early 05/6 had abs problems with rear sensor rings.

 

[rocco123]

Thanks. Been working on my 02 avtrack issue for many months now. Posted issue under transmission / drivetrain with no responses at all.