'97 U.K Explorer Heater control stays hot?

[Gazza]

Hi Folks, New Member!!! Had the Old girl just a few weeks, just sorting things out, found heater/temp control will not blow cold, only when A/C Max is selected. Fan speeds, direction selection all O.K. A/C seems to run especially on max!
Thought of buying new potentiometer, However small ventnext to airbag above glove box looks like it may have had a vac pipe (nozzel inside bulkhead)? and the blower box behind the glovebox has a similar nozzel to connect it to? Could this be my prob? Thinking this system may need to sense interior temp? Can anyone help me please?
Thanx
Gazza.

 

[Howard]

Hi and welcome to another UK owner.

The entire heat/vent system is vacuum controlled and I think that there should be a pipe connected. You should be able to see the actuator move as you move the temp control.

 

[UK Explorer]

Hi Gazza, Welcome - Hopefully Howard has just answered your question

I think he has been inside and looked at every nook and cranny on the X

 

[Gazza]

Gazza.

Many thanks Howard, I was hoping to find someone with the knowledge!
I intend to try some assorted pipes connecting up to the two nozzels this evening. However, is it possible to see the actuator? as the nozzel I think that I spotted was on the top of the console blower housing box. Bit worried now as missing pipes are not usually a good sign!!! Engine runs nice and cool and heater is lovely today, but when summer arrives........its a/c max or drive in my pants!
Thanks also to UK Explorer.
Gazza.

 

[Howard]

Hmmmm. If you can take a pic and post it then I can compare your setup with mine and see whats what. Or come to the meet we are planning and compare it for real.

If I get a chance I'll take one of mine and post it.

 

[SmokeGrinder]

Not forgetting that some of the wires in Howards glove box are for the P910i handsfree install.

 

[Gazza]

Gazza.

Thanks for the piccy Howard, Looks the same except for the extra wires!
The nozzles are in fact the location pins for joining the dash vinyl to the bulkhead/dash frame......Doh, silly me! the other (what I though was) nozzle is at the far left corner of the console blower box, and fortunately yours clearly has nothing joined-to or coming from it. Therefore as visually everthing looks intact, I think I should try a new pot as there is nothing else at this end that could control either the flow of coolant to the heater matrix? or whatever electronic device that receives the signal from the control dial pot? I shall be spending the weekend fitting new rear discs (as the originals squeek like a rat with a firework up its ....!) I then have a third and Hopefully!!! final problem (torque converter) which I won't bother the forum with just yet, afterwhich I'll gladly attend the next meet.
Thanks again guys!

 

[SmokeGrinder]

It would be great to hear about your torque converter problem. My explorer has been through 3 new transmissions. One of them was because of a shot torque converter.

 

[Gazza]

Gazza.

Smoke Grinder: Torque Converter.....Hmm that may be a lucky (or more like, unlucky guess!) Basically, 8 out of 10 times when I start her up cold, I get a rattly noise from the bell housing area, sounds exactly like a loose baffle in an exhaust cat, in fact I was so convinced that was the problem, I bought the bugger like it! (thinking at worst I needed 1 x cat!) Still I've a months worth of warranty left to I.D. the prob and just maybe the garage will pay?
Soon as I drop her into D, or any other gear its gone, even when I put it back in P. or N. AutoBox changes up and down sweet as a nut, and once warm she'll only make the noise (re-starting the engine) if I start her on a slope, nose uphill?
I'm fairly sure there is no noise whilst driving, however with all the racket coming from the rear discs I cannot be 100% certain, hence the urgency to replace these first! Does any of this sound familiar? and just how much did you pay for the Torque converter and the box repairs?
Oh no, I can feel divorce heading my way.....!!!

 

[SmokeGrinder]

Gazza,
My torque converter exploded while I was driving.
1st symptoms were a sound like radio control car makes when pulling away… like a loud whine sound.
This went away and I was left with a clattering sound from the tranny when I shifted into drive after starting.
It would then slip gears when going up hill.

I was quoted 1,500 for a trans rebuild because bits of the torque converter found their way around the rest of the transmission. I did not pay that of course I managed to cut a deal with the guy and got it all done for about 900.

My exhaust rattles like anything. Howard’s did too until he started ripping bits off it in the drive!
Might just be that. check the guards on the under side of it....

You might want to check your trans fluid.
1.) drive the car for 15 mins
2.) idle the car and with your foot on the break slowly shift through all the gears.
3.) Put the car into park and check the trans fluid dipstick…..it should be cherry red in color….. when my torque converter blew this was dark brown.

Hope that helps somewhat POST A PHOTO OF THE OLD GIRL

 

[UK Explorer]

now you have both got me worried!...I've had an intermitent rattle for sometime - but I had convinced myself it was the exhaust !

 

[SmokeGrinder]

I had an exhaust rattle..... just get someone to step on the gas a little while you go under the car and have a look.

 

[Gazza]

Gazza. Some good news & some not so!!!

UK Explorer: Don't panic! Its not the Torque con or the Auto-Box (thank God!)
The culprit is the N/S Front Cat! as I previously suspected on the O/S, the internals have broken loose inside the box, and boy does it rattle!!! Remaining exhaust is fine, however first bad news: local motor factor recons nobdy lists these! Any ideas folks? can I import one?
Good news : Fitted new rear discs, but not after a weekends work where I had to borrow oxy/acet and cut the originals off!!!. more bad news: hand -brake shoes are completely shot... O/S had no linings whatsoever! Guess what....not listed either, and Fords want £120.00+ vat!!!! same question guys?
Finally......new Heater control pot fitted, all wires and vac tubes (visable!) are connected, but still no joy...double doh! Haynes manual is as vague as ever (or maybe its me) I can't figure out what the wiring from the heater control connects to, or how the hell the hot coolant is diverted from the heater matrix? (whatever happened to good old heater control valves?)
any clues before I spend my hard-earned on a Auto-Electrician?
Thanks in Anticipation.

 

[SmokeGrinder]

these guys will sort you out gazza
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131724

 

[UK Explorer]

UK Explorer: Don't panic! Its not the Torque con or the Auto-Box (thank God!)
The culprit is the N/S Front Cat! as I previously suspected on the O/S, the internals have broken loose inside the box, and boy does it rattle!!!

Good

And bad - looks like I might have to find one as well

I know you are ment to have a cat - but what happens if you remove it?

 

[Howard]

If you remove it you will fail the MOT on emissions.

 

[UK Explorer]

Does that cat remove that much?

What are my options then?...spend loads of money to replace them?...or is there a 'fix' ?

 

[SmokeGrinder]

my whole Exhaust system has been on the car for 176,000 miles.
I dont see how you can have a problem

 

[UK Explorer]

cant stand rattling!

 

[Gazza]

Gazza. Cats & Handbrake Shoes!

As the 4.0 sohc was designed to run with 2 x cats (1 to each bank of cylinders) I doubt if she'd run without, plus you'd never get past a straight M.O.T. test! At 94,000 miles externally my exhaust is fine but I can't stand rattles either! therefore I am about to cough up £200.00 for the nearside cat. N/B The offside is around £50-£70 dearer!!! Most places don't even list these as I believe there is currently only one u.k. manufacturer who makes them. Eveywhere will refer you back to Ford who will only supply a full system + fitting I recon you'll be lucky to get change out of £800!
Handbrake Shoes:two choices= Fords or get them relined! Nobody at all list them in the u.k. even with discount you are looking at £100 for these and my local relining co. wanted £25 a shoe because of the odd size! So I'm over £300.00 lighter in the pocket this weekend, and have two jobs to complete!
Finally, hasn't anyone got any Idea how the blasted heater runs? to be specific what happens at the other end of the heater control???

Gazza.