97 xlt engine problems

[kingpin0810]

i have a 97 explorer xlt roughly 105000 on it. the engine idles rough and it runs horribly until its warmed up. it is like this most all the time. on occasion it will start up and run like its brand new.i usually only drive the truck back and forth to work which is only a few miles away, so it seems as if the problem never goes away,but occasionally when i do drive it for an extended periods of time it comes out of it.and other times it fires up and runs as if its brand new! im confused! no engine light is on although it may not work as it doesnt even light up when i start the truck

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome and sux ur x is having engine problems

 

[dogfriend]

Is it a 4.0L SOHC? If so, my guess is that the intake manifold o-rings are leaking. It is a common issue with the SOHC.

 

[kingpin0810]

honestly im not sure if its sohc or not it has the round air filter not the square, thats how the parts store determined which engine i had to give me the correct filter it is the 4.0 v6 though

 

[dogfriend]

I'm not sure the air filter is a good indication on a 97. My OHV has a round filter, but they once gave me a different filter at the parts store that was also round.

The easiest way to tell is to look on top of the engine: The SOHC has a cover that says: 4.0 SOHC. The OHV engine does not have a cover.

 

[marragtop]

How many miles since your last tune up? Since it's sporadic, I'd start by changing the fuel filter.

 

[kingpin0810]

is there any other way of determining the sohc vs ohv? i bought the truck used there was no cover on the engine, and i havent really looked close enough to see if maybe there used to be one there. im going to change the fuel filter and the intake gaskets this weekend, also i bought an inexpensive cold air intake, as the filter for the factory air box doesnt quite fit, i figured its close to the same cost as another filter and hell, it probably cant hurt right?! as for the tune up, i recently changed the plugs and changed the oil and air filter, but as i said the filter doesnt fit quite right. the old plugs looked ok, but i checked the gap when i pulled them and they were WAAYYY off.

 

[stifler27870]

look at your vin if it`s an ohv it should be a x in the 8th or 9th letter. i`m not sure what it is for the sohc.

 

[stifler27870]

look at your VIN. The 8th letter should be a X (for OHV) or an E (for the sohc):roll:

 

[ZBlackBeast]

Round air filter = OHV.. Check your vin anyway.. Also, try cleaning your IAC (idle air control valve).. they are known to get sticky...

 

[kingpin0810]

well guys i tried a little today, tho not much. i cleaned the maf and the aic and i think what was the throttle position sensor. after hooking the battery back up it ran like crap for a minute, but it evened itself out pretty nic, until i drove it, and the problem returned although it wasnt any worse. i have a new cold air setup coming on monday since i cannot seem to get an air filter to fit it and im going to try the fuel filter as well. i inspected all the vaccum lines as well as the plugs and wires which all seemed to be good.(the plugs only have about 600 miles on them) the guy at the parts store mentioned radiator cap since it runs like this only cold is there alot of truth in that?

 

[kingpin0810]

ok. well to help others out who may be having a similar problem, let me start off by saying thank u to all who posted because im sure the tips they provided definetly made a positive difference. my x didnt have an air filter when i bought it and that was the problem the whole time. i bought a short ram cold air tube and hi flow air filter, which little did i know was for the sohc not the ohv, which i have, lucky me! well after a little bit of manipulating, i was able to remove part of the factory air box and install this system on my x and voila! it runs like its brand new!now, i just need to find a good tranny (mine doesnt have first gear but i can start in 2nd and put it in D after 15 mph) and some interior parts. te guy i got it from was gonna make an off road mud truck out of it and got bored, so now its my project! once again thanks to those who posted cause im sure the advice that i was able to try sure didnt hurt, but only helped!