A few newb questions

[MikeM]

I just bought a 95 XLT 4X2 and have a few dumb questions. First, theres a small red light thats always lit under the dash, drivers side, seems to be some kind of anti-theft indicator. Is that standard on XLT trim, its got me wondering if at one time it had keyless entry, and the remote was lost or broken. Any easy way to tell if it has kyles entry

Second Question is what features come with the tow package? I noticed a small, roughly 6"X6" radiatior located in the front, bottom, center of the engine compartment several inches from the front of the tranny. Is this part of a factory tow package. I kinda doubt it because there's no added hitch or connectors on the back bumper.

Thanx in advance for any info or tips.

 

[FORDisKING]

Sounds like a tranny cooler to me! That red-light may be aftermarket though.

Jason

 

[JoshC]

Alot of explorers have those lights. It just flashes when the truck is off right? That is just kind of a "joke". Doesn't do anything. I have no idea about the keyless thing though. For the tow package, i think it came with 3:73 gears, skid plates, and i don't know what else! I've forgotten everything else! But that's what i know.

Happy trails!

 

[Robert]

If your red light doesn't say anything, then it is aftermarket. The Ford alarm flashes "Theft" i red. The light may or may not mean it has an alarm. Some people put them in since a would be thief won't know until after they break in.

The tow package includes a limited slip rear differential of the highest available ratio for the tires that it is equipped with, tranny cooler mounted to the front of the radiator, and a trailer wire adapter that plugs into a small round connector mounted to the rear-most frame cross-member (in front of the rear bumper). It never included a hitch before the redesign in 2002. The axle ratio would most likely be a 3.73 if it has 15" wheels or a 4.10 if it has 16" wheels. From the sounds of what your are describing as a tranny cooler, the location isn't where Ford puts it. I have seen a lot of aftermarket tranny coolers that mount under the vehicle, near the transmission which is the way it sounds that yours is mounted. The Ford cooler is mounted in front of the radiator on the passenger side. Check to see if you have one there and whether or not you have a limited slip. If not then you do not have the tow package.

 

[ajevenson]

If you do have factory keyless entry, there should be a white tag when you pop the hood that's right next to the air conditioning tag and drivebelt diagram.

 

[MikeM]

Thnx for the tips, Ill check for the label for keyless when the wife comes home. The tranny cooler is still a bit of a mystery. Its definately not a factory tow package, 3.27 open gears and no skid plates, etc. The strange thing is that it has 57k miles and carfax confirmed it had one owner. Theres no evidence it was used to tow much, no harness for trailer lights, and plastic cover where the ball mounts. I wonder why someone would go through the trouble to install an aftermarket cooler. Thanx again for the advice

 

[Robert]

Probably because the V6 automatics are notoriously weak. They fail pretty frequently. A tranny cooler helps in more situations than just towing. Whenever it is hot out, driving up long grades, stop and go traffic, all are good candidates for a tranny cooler.

 

[Stephen S]

It's not a tranny cooler. It's a power steering fluid cooler. It is small with exposed fins, silver in color, under the truck, not in front of the radiator. Trace the lines and you'll find that it's for the power steering fluid.

The trailer tow package came with factory trailer wiring, at least a 3.73 rear end (usually), and a tranny cooler. You do not have the tow package.

 

[unabonked]

If the light is on the left side of the steering wheel, and is a small red LED, then it is probably Lo-Jack. when my parents bought their x off a factory lease, they had Lo-Jack installed and basically the only visible part of it was that light. Always on means that the system is off. The system is armed when the light blinks.

This is the standard Ford Dealership install area. Lo-Jack does come with a keyless remote entry, but it tends to fail. My parents haven't used it in years.