97 model explorer with 3 problems

[JB-1956]

Hi everyone, we’ve just got a 97 model explorer with 3 problems.

1. The electrical system constantly discharges the battery at a rate of 3.5 amps (3.5 x 12v = 42w which is equivalent to the 2 brake lights being permanently stuck on). This is a problem I’ve come up against on other vehicles and is usually down to a component which has a constant electrical supply like a clock, radio or Alternator. Are there any components that are noted for causing this problem on the Explorer?

2. The brakes on my explorer are excellent but just as I come to a standstill the ABS comes in and while the car stops okay I can feel the ABS through the brake pedal. As yet I’ve not received the workshop manual for the car so I’m unsure of the ABS sensor layout but from experience I’m wondering if I’ve got cracked ABS ring on a drive shaft or a faulty or badly adjusted wheel sensor? Has anyone had experience of this problem and what the fault turned out to be?

3. I’ve just come back from a 24-26 mile run and the engine management light has just come. Any ideas why? And can this be reset by disconnecting the battery?

If anyone has had any problems like the ones I’ve just described or knows to any known components that cause any of these problem it might save me some time locating the faults

Thanks everyone for reading this
JB

 

[janolsson]

Hi everyone, we’ve just got a 97 model explorer with 3 problems.

1. The electrical system constantly discharges the battery at a rate of 3.5 amps (3.5 x 12v = 42w which is equivalent to the 2 brake lights being permanently stuck on). This is a problem I’ve come up against on other vehicles and is usually down to a component which has a constant electrical supply like a clock, radio or Alternator. Are there any components that are noted for causing this problem on the Explorer?

2. The brakes on my explorer are excellent but just as I come to a standstill the ABS comes in and while the car stops okay I can feel the ABS through the brake pedal. As yet I’ve not received the workshop manual for the car so I’m unsure of the ABS sensor layout but from experience I’m wondering if I’ve got cracked ABS ring on a drive shaft or a faulty or badly adjusted wheel sensor? Has anyone had experience of this problem and what the fault turned out to be?

3. I’ve just come back from a 24-26 mile run and the engine management light has just come. Any ideas why? And can this be reset by disconnecting the battery?

If anyone has had any problems like the ones I’ve just described or knows to any known components that cause any of these problem it might save me some time locating the faults

Thanks everyone for reading this
JB

Hi JB
You may want to come and say hi to the guys in the uk, we have our own section.

UK Section

1) You could try pulling fuses one by one to narrow it down. But b4 you try that try turning the arc suspension off (switch in rear compartment where jack is) just a hunch
2) currently a thread on abs in our section but probably one of your front wheel sensors dirty or U/S. Test specs do a search in uk section, discussed many times.
3) yes battery off would clear code but you should read it first!! it will give you a heads up on a pending problem (P0174 would be upper and lower intake gaskets or blocked fuel filter/dodgy fuel pump for example). It can be read using a cheap ebay obd II scanner

welcome to the fold

 

[JB-1956]

Hi JB
You may want to come and say hi to the guys in the uk, we have our own section.

Thanks for the reply Jan, I actually thought I'd registered on the UK section. I'll re-post.

I agree with your answers for 1 & 2 but engine management systems are a complete mystery to me…
…What happened to points and carburettors,

 

[janolsson]

Thanks for the reply Jan, I actually thought I'd registered on the UK section. I'll re-post.

I agree with your answers for 1 & 2 but engine management systems are a complete mystery to me…
…What happened to points and carburettors,

You mean those things that need cleaning and setting bang on regularily and those things that chuck an indesciminant amount of fuel into the engine LOL

I know what you mean though, back to the mechanical days, ahh.
Once you get your head around the control systems for the engine ie their purpose and how they monitor/work its not much worse than the intracies of a dual carb.

The whole ODB II thing should be easy as its plug and play, ie just plug into the port and follow a few basic instructions to get the code. Its interpreting the code that becomes tricky. If you get the codes read post them here or do a search on that code and the guys will help.

Best of luck on the other stuff