96 Explorer possible transmission/motor failure?help plzzzzzzzzzz

[ford96explorer]

hello every1
I bought a 1996 Explorer Limited with 320,000km recently. Today while I was driving..going about 40km..someone came infront of me so I slowed down..after that when I accelerated the car wasnt running/pulling so I pulled the car over and changed all gears back and forth to check but nothing was working..then I switched off the car and tried starting it again but it wouldnt even do that...it would crank but a very different/wierd sound..nothing like click clack but something like mechanical/robot'ish?
I then opened the hood and tried cranking it again and saw that the pully wasnt moving.

Has anyone experienced this?or knows what Im talking about? Is there a possible connection with the tranny and motor? Im most certain its a broken timing chain but what doesnt get to me is that if thats the case how come the transmission gave up on me before..and after I switched off the car it wouldnt start again? Possible that both tranny and motor are gone? (timing chain?) Any chance of bent valves?

Please if someone can help me out with this.

 

[ford96explorer]

helpppppppppp plzzzz i want to fix before snow.(

 

[hazmat456]

likely just the motor but we need more information and time
dose the motor turn over, do you get spark are you getting fuel(wet plugs)?
what makes you think timing chain? what size engine?4X4,4X2,awd? have you had any work done recently? give these guys time someone will try to help if they can

 

[BrooklynBay]

Could you turn the engine pulley with a breaker bar or a ratchet?

 

[ford96explorer]

its 96 ford explorer 4.0L which have option 4x2,4x4 low and 4x4 high. i will check the plugs tomorrow if its wet or not.if its wet what that means?

when i turn the key the motor crank.i couldnt see properly the main lower pully cuz it was night but for sure the top belt and fan belt was not moving and its not the spark and fuel.i dont understand when i was driving how come the trany went free?i park the car buying pushing on the side of the road and that time motor was running but the gear was not shifting then i off the engine and tryed to start back so it was cranking but didnt start and the crank sound was diffrent didnt sound good to me it was like when the timing chain break and there is no compretion.still dont understand when the car was not moving how come the motor was running ?

 

[ford96explorer]

Could you turn the engine pulley with a breaker bar or a ratchet?

i will do that tomorrow ..if it turn or not what that means?

 

[Turdle]

Flex plate?

I would start by verifying the engine will turn with a long breaker bar. It will be very hard to move, but if you can, chances are the engine is not seized.

Then, pull the starter and check the big gear up in the hole in the engine block.

see if there is any movement to it at all. It should be rock solid.

 

[ford96explorer]

Flex plate?

I would start by verifying the engine will turn with a long breaker bar. It will be very hard to move, but if you can, chances are the engine is not seized.

Then, pull the starter and check the big gear up in the hole in the engine block.

see if there is any movement to it at all. It should be rock solid.

hi
sorry my english is not good well this month i fixed 2 cars one jetta which the timing belt was snaped and 3000gt which was my friends car and i fixed by diy on the net.i am sure i can fix my explorer if i will get good help
so you mean that with long braker bar with the socket i turn the bottom main pully and remove the starter if the big gear move then that mean the engine is good am i right?and if its turning and the chain is broken so do you think that the valves are bent?but still i dont understand the motor was running only the car was not moving when i was puting on gear.when i shut down the car then the car didnt start.it cranks but the main fan doesnt move and the fan belt and ac belt are install but not turning.

 

[ford96explorer]

can anyone give me the diy how to replace the timing chain and what thing need to be open and what tools i need to use.

 

[ford96explorer]

likely just the motor but we need more information and time
dose the motor turn over, do you get spark are you getting fuel(wet plugs)?
what makes you think timing chain? what size engine?4X4,4X2,awd? have you had any work done recently? give these guys time someone will try to help if they can

hi
like to know if the timing chain is broken can i work on the car without taking out the motor?and can you plz send me the diy link how to replace the timing chain and what tools do i need and how many tork do i need to use to tighten the bolts please.
Thank you

 

[ford96explorer]

Flex plate?

I would start by verifying the engine will turn with a long breaker bar. It will be very hard to move, but if you can, chances are the engine is not seized.

Then, pull the starter and check the big gear up in the hole in the engine block.

see if there is any movement to it at all. It should be rock solid.

i removed the belt and with the bar i turning the engine it was turning good.but i dont understand when turn the key to start the car why the main pully is not turning sound to me like flywheel am i right?if the timing chain is broken i think still when you switch on the key the main pully should turn.do you guys think it could be the trany and flywheel?

 

[Mbrooks420]

It's likely the flexplate (flywheel) They had a bad design, and cracked out around the center. It happened on my 96 as well. Don't get a used one from a junkyard, Ford actually updated the part with a better design.

 

[ford96explorer]

It's likely the flexplate (flywheel) They had a bad design, and cracked out around the center. It happened on my 96 as well. Don't get a used one from a junkyard, Ford actually updated the part with a better design.

I just removed my starter and could see the flywheel abit from the side and tried moving it with my finger and it spun freely...and when I crank only the flywheel moves and not the balancer pulley.

What does that mean?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Something is disconnected inside of the engine.

 

[CAHUNTERMAN]

Sounds like you have a broken flexplate. That would explain why the starter won't turn the engine over and also why the transmission won't work. Time to pull the transmission back and replace the flexplate.

 

[Mbrooks420]

CAHunterMan is correct. Your flexplate has cracked out in the center, and needs replaced. Make sure the new one doesn't look like the old one.

 

[ford96explorer]

is flexplate = flywheel?
Would anyone by anychance have a DIY removing the tranny and replacing the flywheel?

Also, I tried taking off the harmonic balancer but it wouldnt come off completely..so right now its out like half way?but its stuck. Is there a way that I have to put it back in?

Ive been working on the explorer outside and its so cold..as I don't have an indoor garage. Would anyone know how big of a job it would be if I gave it to a local garage? Winter is here..raining almost everyday so I'm not sure I'd be able to do it in this weather.

 

[BrooklynBay]

It depends upon the shop's hourly labor rate, and their mark up on parts. I would guess around $800.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Yeah a flex plate is the flywheel in an automatic. Your best bet for pulling the trans would be buying a manual, or one of the dealer repair cd's on Ebay. I might be able to find the one I had for my 96. I'll look when I get home. As for the Harmonic Balancer, someone else will have to answer that.

 

[ford96explorer]

Yeah a flex plate is the flywheel in an automatic. Your best bet for pulling the trans would be buying a manual, or one of the dealer repair cd's on Ebay. I might be able to find the one I had for my 96. I'll look when I get home. As for the Harmonic Balancer....?

didnt get the rest..

but yeah if u do find the manual. id really appreciate it.. let me know how much ud like for it..shipped to canada montreal h9a 2x2. Thanks