italianbigsky
Active Member
- Joined
- February 17, 2011
- Messages
- 79
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Lecco, Italy
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '96 4.0 V6 limited
Hi everybody,
last time I wrote here I was looking for help because my explorer had a serious transmission
problem.
Now, after 7 long months (that I spent going to work and around by nicycle
, no matter the
rain... ) and some $4,000 (most of them I still have to pay
), my car is back. Hate and
love, that's it. I want to sell it, but I want to keep it. Last weekend I went to the
seaside and my gf and I sleeped in the truck, amazing.
Anyway, I'm posting here a list of all the problems I had to solve, maybe it could be useful
for others. I hope it's not boring.
Also, I have some questions for you experts.
As usual, never forget that this explorer fan lives in Italy, so ridiculous prices and times
to repair are the cruel reality.
Here we go.
-broken flexplate. I heard a metalic sound with trans in 1-2-D-R, not in N or P. Checked the
flexplate, it was broken in the middle, torque converter SEEMED to be ok. It wasn't. After
replacing flexplate, the fluid leak was even bigger, the noise even louder and the car had
serious problems. Torque converter has been replaced. The rest of the transmission seems ok,
mechanic said rebuild it doesn't worth the money.
-Trans fluid added seemed never to be enough. After filling it and adding fluid, it seemed
ok but the next morning (evey next morning for 1 entire week), the car stuck right after
start. Finally, it seems to be at the right level. I think it needed time and more fluid to
fill the brand new torque converter.
-water pump has been replaced, with all he related works. I had a water leak, pump was
broken (it lasted 1 year, about 10,000 miles).
-one shock absorber has been replaced.
-LPG "evaporator" has been replaced too, there was a lpg leak
-fuel leak has been solved. I noticed a fuel drop on the snow and finally found the right
spot of the leak. Till that sign on the snow, i could only smell the gasoline all around the
engine even while using LPG.
-automatic rear window blocked. I read a couple of thread on this forum about auto windows,
so I opened the door and dismounted it, then just needed an "electric shock" right non the
window motor and it started working again. btw, it's stuck again now, but I don't care.
No other things in mind, already too many.
Problem I can see right now:
-check engine is always on. tough to find someone who can read the codes, and even tougher
to find someone who can understand them.
I know for sure that there is a coolant leak ON the engine, coolant drops from the V of the
engine. Could this be the reason? Coolant level goes down slowly anyway. I look for leaks
everyday, that's why I noticed it.
Any idea about this problem? Water pump has already been replaced. I thought about some
thermostat gaskets or so.
-sometimes, right after starting the engine, trans stucks in 1 for some seconds. I give gas,
but the explorer almost doesn't move.... after some seconds it shift to second and then runs
withoput any problem. Fluid level seems to be ok. I doesn't happen too often, but it
happens.
Any other trans damage? I won't repair it. I already spent too much!
Thanks fro reading and for your opinions,
regards from Italy
last time I wrote here I was looking for help because my explorer had a serious transmission
problem.
Now, after 7 long months (that I spent going to work and around by nicycle
, no matter the rain... ) and some $4,000 (most of them I still have to pay
), my car is back. Hate and love, that's it. I want to sell it, but I want to keep it. Last weekend I went to the
seaside and my gf and I sleeped in the truck, amazing.
Anyway, I'm posting here a list of all the problems I had to solve, maybe it could be useful
for others. I hope it's not boring.
Also, I have some questions for you experts.
As usual, never forget that this explorer fan lives in Italy, so ridiculous prices and times
to repair are the cruel reality.
Here we go.
-broken flexplate. I heard a metalic sound with trans in 1-2-D-R, not in N or P. Checked the
flexplate, it was broken in the middle, torque converter SEEMED to be ok. It wasn't. After
replacing flexplate, the fluid leak was even bigger, the noise even louder and the car had
serious problems. Torque converter has been replaced. The rest of the transmission seems ok,
mechanic said rebuild it doesn't worth the money.
-Trans fluid added seemed never to be enough. After filling it and adding fluid, it seemed
ok but the next morning (evey next morning for 1 entire week), the car stuck right after
start. Finally, it seems to be at the right level. I think it needed time and more fluid to
fill the brand new torque converter.
-water pump has been replaced, with all he related works. I had a water leak, pump was
broken (it lasted 1 year, about 10,000 miles).
-one shock absorber has been replaced.
-LPG "evaporator" has been replaced too, there was a lpg leak
-fuel leak has been solved. I noticed a fuel drop on the snow and finally found the right
spot of the leak. Till that sign on the snow, i could only smell the gasoline all around the
engine even while using LPG.
-automatic rear window blocked. I read a couple of thread on this forum about auto windows,
so I opened the door and dismounted it, then just needed an "electric shock" right non the
window motor and it started working again. btw, it's stuck again now, but I don't care.
No other things in mind, already too many.
Problem I can see right now:
-check engine is always on. tough to find someone who can read the codes, and even tougher
to find someone who can understand them.
I know for sure that there is a coolant leak ON the engine, coolant drops from the V of the
engine. Could this be the reason? Coolant level goes down slowly anyway. I look for leaks
everyday, that's why I noticed it.
Any idea about this problem? Water pump has already been replaced. I thought about some
thermostat gaskets or so.
-sometimes, right after starting the engine, trans stucks in 1 for some seconds. I give gas,
but the explorer almost doesn't move.... after some seconds it shift to second and then runs
withoput any problem. Fluid level seems to be ok. I doesn't happen too often, but it
happens.
Any other trans damage? I won't repair it. I already spent too much!
Thanks fro reading and for your opinions,
regards from Italy
