A lot of problems..HELP!

[CamJ255]

So, i purchased this new explorer (02 with 70k miles) without getting it checked out first. Big mistake. Perfect on the outside but it is truly an evil soul. This thing has been nothing but problems. window problems, warped heads from the last guy not replacing a faulty water pump, and now unknown but BAD transmission problems. My 4x4 went out completely. I am too broke from spending over 2k repairing the heads so the car would stop overheating to even get it checked out. Anyway the light is on, i dont know the code. The car drives but gets in the neighborhood of 10mpg city now. (i have a v6) Its like its slipping badddd. Sometimes it wont down shift from overdrive when i need it to. it gets stuck in overdrive going 20 and when i need to accelerate it more or less wont unless i pop it to the right gear manually. Normal driving it doesnt want to shift until 4500rpms in every gear.. that is IF it decides to shift on its own. I really dont know that much about trannys or whats happening so what do you guys think? Also how much do you think it will cost to replace. At first I had troubles with the 4x4 locking into 4x4 and the car shifted fine and all but it was impossible to turn. This is with 4x4 off. Then one day I heard a loud pop and havent had the 4x4 problem again except I cant get 4x4 even if i wanted to now. And now I have the shifting problem. One of my friends suggested it could be just the transfer case. Anyways, how much do you think this is gonna cost me and what do you guys think the problem is?


Also that big tranny problem isnt even why im here right now. I need the part number for the thing that controls how fast and far the door opens and closes. I've always known it was a little bent. Which made it hard to open, I tried to bend it back today in the cold and it just snapped. Stupid me. Still, i hate this car. One more major problem and im selling this ####er.

 

[aleej]

man i thought mine was bad.. im so sorry bro

 

[jeffescortlx]

At first I had troubles with the 4x4 locking into 4x4 and the car shifted fine and all but it was impossible to turn. This is with 4x4 off.

Sounds like you have the original defective 4x4 modual. It's behind the glove box and can be replaced easly, at about $150.

Then one day I heard a loud pop and havent had the 4x4 problem again except I cant get 4x4 even if i wanted to now.

Driving on dry pavment with 4x4 locked can break stuff.

Maybe your tranny problem is just some valve body soleniods sticking? I dont know, just a guess. If you fix it soon enough you might not need a full tranny over haul.

I need the part number for the thing that controls how fast and far the door opens and closes. I've always known it was a little bent. Which made it hard to open, I tried to bend it back today in the cold and it just snapped.

I dont know what your talking about here, mabe the tail gate?

 

[Josh]

Your 4x4 problem maybe the shift motor on the transfer case. It is a common problem.

Your transmission problem could be a couple of things.
1. Your shift modulator maybe bad. Pull the vacum line that is connected to the shift modulator and check it for transmission fluid. If you pull the intake tube from the throttlebody, open the throttlebody and look inside with a flash light. If you see a bunch of red fluid puddled inside then the modulator is bad.

2. Have you checked thr fluid level in the trans?

3. You could try and rebuild the valvebody. Its not that hard. You can buy a shift correction kit and install it. Big thing with that, is to note where each of the 25 bolts comes out. Some are different lengths. Here is a link to a good write up.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137972

As for your door problem, are you referring to your rear hatch? The early Explorers had a problem with the mounting tab on the bottom of lift dampeners snapping off. I don't know the fix for that except DIY.

 

[CamJ255]

yeah, well its like 10 degrees outside, I don't have a garage or any decent tools.. Just starting to live on my own so I think i'm going to have to have someone else look at it.. the tranny shifting problem has been going on for a month or so. I will have money in another month to fix it so it HAS to hold together until then or i'm going to be screwed. I just got 85miles for 20 bucks of gas. All highway. sweeeeeet.


For the door I was talking about the front driverside door. Those little latches that cause the door to stop at certain points. Yeah, it just flat out broke off. Honestly it doesnt bother me that much. I might leave it for awhile. I would still like to k now the part number so i can get a replacement.

I really need to look up the code thats being thrown. I'll get on that this weekend then we can talk more about whats going on.

 

[Josh]

One thing I forgot to mention about your gas milage problem is to clean your MAF. Do a search for that.

 

[CamJ255]

yeah, i know what it is and how to do that. I have a feeling the gas issue is probably related to driving most places at 3-4.5k rpms. probably not great on the motor either.