'97 Explorer questions...

[Jon89LE]

Hello everyone. I just signed up for a friend of mine because i have a few questions and im hoping someone here can help me out. A friend of mine is looking to get a '97, i dont know what model however. Is there anything in particular i shoudl know about this year? Recals, problems, things on the truck to check before buying, etc? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in Advance.

 

[Robb]

My bit: Check out the air conditioning real well. Make sure it works on all levels, not just MAX. '96-'97 Explorers have a problem with their blend doors. You can search this site for "blend door" for more info.

Robb

 

[Jon89LE]

Alright, i just checked a few threads on people how have the problem. But what exactly is the "blend door" problem?

 

[Robb]

Well, I can tell you first hand because my 96 has it. In MAX AC, you get loads of cold air. In any other position, you get loads of hot air. It is very difficult to regulate the temperature, but I have learned to live with it because I don't want to put the time or money into fixing it.

Robb

 

[BillWms01]

'97 Ex ?'s

I've got a 97 X, and I've only had a couple of problems.

1) Worst was an intermittent failure to start. Cranked over great, just wouldn't start/run. After searching/reading this message board, I changed the crankshaft position sensor, and it hasn't failed to start sense (3 months).

2) Whistling noise coming from the air filter. Again, after checking this board, I cleaned the Idle Air Control valve and it quit. Seems the air intake acts like a trumpet horn.

3) If you let it set for a week or so without running the engine, the valves make a clattering noise when it first cranks up. Doesn't last long, and I haven't chased this problem, for fear of what I would find!

Hope this helps.

 

[Robert]

If yours is a SOHC, the clattering could be noise camshaft tensioners. Ford extended the warranty on them through ONP 00M12 to 72K miles. If your noise started before 72K miles and you are over the limit it would have been cheaper (IE free) to have had it looked at sooner. If you are still under the mileage limits, consider letting Ford replace them at no charge if that turns out to be the problem. Do a search for "00M12" for more information.

 

[X24]

Originally posted by morrisey0
Well, I can tell you first hand because my 96 has it. In MAX AC, you get loads of cold air. In any other position, you get loads of hot air. It is very difficult to regulate the temperature, but I have learned to live with it because I don't want to put the time or money into fixing it.

Robb

I had mine replaced by Ford for less than $200

 

[Brans Freestyle]

Yea my A/C has been acting up since I bought mine used. In both MAX and normal A/C, after about 10-20min of being on the air will pretty much stop coming out all together ... you can still here it, but nothing comes out. I just flip it to normal vent mode and when air comes out I put it back into A/C and its back...

 

[EasyRhino]

Sold my '97 XLT 5.0 AWD last summer with about 86K miles on it. Never had one problem with it worth mentioning. Should have kept it - it was a really, really great truck. Good buddy of mine bought it and loves it to death, it's still like brand new.

 

[Robb]

Originally posted by 98FordX24
I had mine replaced by Ford for less than $200

How did you manage that? I have heard dealer fix costs of $700-$1000. Hell, for $200, I'll let them fix it since I think the plenum box itself is around $100.

Robb

 

[X24]

Dead Link Removed is a thread I started about how I did it.

If I'm not mistaken, I thought the recall started with the 97's. If thats the case, you're probably SOL.

 

[imq707s]

**** Rusted A/C Evaporator Canister***

I had this problem on my 97 and I've heard that it's pretty common on the everything up to 98. Ford puts an insulation wrap around the stock canister, and the insulaton tends to hold moister. And the moister rusts the canister. I've been told that the 98's don't come with the insulation around the canister. Mine was rusted out really bad, in finally developed a leak and then I had to put a new canister on. The new one didn't have the insulation.