A few small problems with my Ex.

[crossman]

I've got a couple questions with little problems with my Ex, so here we go:

1.) When I'm on the highway and cruising around 65 mph, the Ex starts to shudder, almost like it isn't getting enough gas. It only does this when the RPMs are in the 2300-2500 range. I can have it in 5th gear and bring the speed right up from 45 going up a hill with no problem, but when it gets to that RPM range, it shudders and shakes. When I get over that RPM range, it is fine. It seems to do this mostly in 5th, but I have noticed it in 3rd and 4th gears, but only at that RPM range. Does anyone have any idea of what it could be? I replaced the gas filter a few months ago and the problem went away for about a month and then it came back.

2.) I am also having a problem with the gas system because when the fuel gauge gets below 1/4 of a tank, the car will die if I go around a sharp turn quickly. I can only figure that the gas is sloshing around in the tank and the sending unit is sucking air, but why would it be doing this at 1/4 tank?


3.) Are the valve cover gaskets prone to going bad and leaking? When I got the Ex. with 50K on it, the gaskets were changed and then I had them changed again around 83K and now they are leaking again (just shy of 100K now). I used the Fel Pro gaskets last time and I think I'll go with the Ford gaskets this time. Could there be any reason that they are going bad this quickly?

4.) Every once in a while when I start up the Ex, I can smell antifreeze inside the car. It doesn't use any antifreeze at all, I check every week and it doesn't go down. I can't seem to figure out why it would be smelling like that when I'm not losing anything.

5.) This is a weird one. Over Thanksgiving, I was going to long island and driving for a few hours at 70 mph. I noticed that the low range indicator light started glowing and then would go out. It wouldn't fully come on like I pressed the button, but just glow lightly. It did this a few times on the ride down. The 4x4 light also did it. Does anyone know what could be making them start glowing?

I've been having problems with the electric 4x4 switch not always working, but I've been looking at the other threads about it, so I think that the motor brushes are dirty or need to be rebuilt. Other than this, my Explorer has been running great for the past 50K miles. Thanks for any help!

 

[Alec]

1 and 2) may be that you need a new fuel filter or fuel pump. I'd for sure change the fuel filter, as this is a maintenance item. See if it gets better with that. Also try running some injector cleaner through the fuel system (you know, just the stuff you pour in the tank). The shudder is either your fuel or spark system, but lets hope this kills 2 birds with one stone.

3) Has the same person always changed them? Maybe they're doing it wrong. The surfaces the gasket mates do could also be damaged, eating the gaskets.

4) Is this with the A/C or heat on or off? Check to see if there are any small coolant leaks on the passenger side towards the firewall. You may have a small leak in the heating system that doesn't use too much coolant.

5) Dunno about this one. Could be a gremlin, another light in the dash lighting up, crossing wires, or a problem with the 4x4 control module. We'll see if anyone else has any ideas.

Good luck!

 

[crossman]

The fuel pump was changed last year and the fuel filter a few months ago. I'm going to change the filter again when I go home for Christmas break. I have run several bottles of injector cleaner through already with no difference.

The dealer that I got the Ex from changed the gaskets when I bought it and my local mechanic did it last time. When I change them again, I'll have whatever mechanic that does it check out the surfaces to see how they are.

Thanks for the help.

 

[lonestar]

5) 4x4 light

I could have swore I have seen mine light up while driving, but I believe it is just the sun shining on them, making them appear to glow. If it was night time, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Alec]

Crossman, if the fuel filter is only a few months old, then I see no reason to change it again. When was the last time you changed your plugs and plug wires?

 

[crossman]

They were changed around 82K, so about 18K miles ago. Plugs, wires, and air filter were all changed.

 

[TPLYNCH]

1) You sure it's just not the notorious 65MPH vibration that was common in the 1st generation Exs.

2) Could your gauge be reading high (1/4 instead of E)? Or, maybe something the tank that is clogging the intake...

5) Other people have reported this..... I don't think it means anything, but try searching for 4x4 light glow and you should find a few threads discussing it.

 

[Opera House]

My 92 would start to die on right turns

This and some other problems happened after I changed the fuel pump. Found the problem to be the fuel pressure regulator. Cut it open and found the spring was slightlly off center so the seat only wore on one side. With the higher flow rate of the new pump, it would sometimes slip to the side and hang open. So now I don't trust old fuel pressure regulators and have found others with the same experience. I found my problem by pulling the pump fuse and wiring in a 10A meter in its place. Monitored the current when driving. Should be around 5A and when the engine had trouble it would drop below 3A. Current usually doesn't vary more than 1/2 amp.

 

[91Exploda]

I would pull the pump and check the filter sock on the end of the pump. I'd get an injector flush done.

I think at on time you had so condinsation in this tank. Check your float sending unit. Also in the tank there is a diverter that the pump has around it. It helps keep the gas around the pump settled. I think it is spot welded into place or rivited. Sometimes it gets loose and slids around. It could be right under the float and the float is sitting on it when it's at 1/4 tank.

Valve cover gasket are common. Go with the ford ones. They refine them and fix them when something goes wrong with new vehicels so they have an up-dated version for sure.

You could have a seapege on the heater core. It's a small crack not too big to gush coolant but enough to get the area around it wet. And some times it takes a long time to see a lose of coolant with a small seapege.

The electric 4x4 is always a problem. 99.9% of the time it doesn't work. Get a replacement motor for the T-case. Also think about up-grading to a manual locking hub. So when you wan t 4x4 you lock the hubs and u will have it! I don't know why the indicator light is "glowing" but have you been messing with the 4x4 because it's not working right. Have you pulled on some wires or something. Chances are you have a chafted wire.

 

[crossman]

I'll check out the things with the fuel pump and regulator and see if there are any problems there.

I already have manual hubs. I replaced them soon after I got the Ex because the auto. hubs just plain sucked. I haven't messed around with any of the electrical stuff for the transfer case, so I didn't screw anything up that is causing the lights to come on. When I can get my Ex. into a garage, I'll have a look at the engagement motor and see what is going on with it.

Thanks for all the info!