bunch of questions

[deamon3]

Does anyone else have a moon roof that came stock with there ex? Not a sunroof but a moon roof. I think mine is after market but I'm not sure. I get the feeling it's not stock because the controls are very small and the ceiling is shaped funny. It also don't work very well lately.

My other question is, how often do I have to get a tuneup? I got one last fall where they did the oil , plugs , wires , a pcv valve or something , and I think an air filter. They didn't do the distributor thing though cuz couldn't find one.

Also , how often do I need new oil? I think I was told every 3000 miles but that didn't sound right. Also , is the little plastic reservoir for the coolent suppose to have coolent in it? Or is that just for spare coolent?

 

[MrQ]

On an older vehicle an oil change every 3000 miles is a good idea. If you are running synthetic I bet you could go longer.

A tune up should last you quite a while. Once a year would be a good deal. If you do a lot of off-roading or you beat on it real hard every 6 months would not be pushing it. The wires should last for a while so don't worry about them. The filter needs to be replaced as often as the tuneup.

There isn't a distributor on the ex. It is a coil pack.

There is supposed to be coolant in the reservoir. If there is none there, check the radiator level. Fill the radiator first then fill the reservoir to the fill line mark.

 

[sledgehammer1990]

Personally, I change my oil every 5,000 miles. The manual even says every 5,000 miles unless you make frequent stops like a mail man or something like that, then you would do every 3,000 miles. Just make sure to change filters at the same time too.

 

[marragtop]

Unless you are running synthetic oil, I vote with changing it every 3k miles. You should also consider changing the fuel filter if that wasn't done as part of the tune up.

 

[deamon3]

So I'm suppose to have coolent in the plastic thing? Uh oh. lol. I had the oil changed last fall which i think was 6000 miles ago , so I guess I should get that done too.

When I got new tires they also said something about a bearing being bad. But it sounded like it would be expensive so I didn't get it. Are they expensive to get fixed? I somtimes hear a squeaky noise when I go slow , is that a bearing?

 

[rileyrs]

So I'm suppose to have coolent in the plastic thing? Uh oh. lol. I had the oil changed last fall which i think was 6000 miles ago , so I guess I should get that done too.

When I got new tires they also said something about a bearing being bad. But it sounded like it would be expensive so I didn't get it. Are they expensive to get fixed? I somtimes hear a squeaky noise when I go slow , is that a bearing?

the plastic reservoir for coolant has a marked line on it which you can see if you clean it off which shows the cold fill level. let the car cool completely, and fill the reservoir to the cold fill line. remember to fill it with pre mixed 50% coolant 50% water. or mix yourself.

if you do pretty normal driving you should be ok changing oil every 4 or 5 thousand miles, but if the engine has really high miles, or if you do tons of stop and go, high temp driving, or off roading, then do it every 3000. thats when i do mine. always have your oil filter changed when the oil is changed.
do you change the oil yourself or have a shop do it?
if you dont do it yourself you should have someone show you how, since its one of the easiest things to do to your car, and can save money over time.
either way dont use synthetic in a 94, you will burn through it faster with the worn rings of an old engine. use conventional oil in an older car

go to a local tire shop and most will check the bearings for free, but i would go get that check done again. if the bearing is bad then you should have it replaced. since you said you had new tires your going to want to keep them in good shape, and a worn wheel bearing could effect tire wear.
if you are mechanically inclined wheel bearings are a pretty easy replacement, especially on a 2wd, 4wd is a bit more complicated but is not too hard.
most shops are going to be kinda pricey for that replacement, probly about $250-$300, just a guess though.

the squeky noise when going slow, is it when you apply the brakes or not?
if it is then its probly your brakes not the bearing.
usually a bad bearing would be more of an annoying humming at highish speeds, like above 45.

if you want help doing an oil change or more info on anything on your ex,let me know and i will try to help, as im sure many other forum members will

 

[deamon3]

I'm not inclined when it come to engines and I hate doing anything with them because there messy and I can never figure out how to do anything. lol

I guess I'll go to a shop and have them add oil , a filter , and add coolant. As for the bearing I guess I gotta let that just be bad because 300$ is to much . lol.

 

[rileyrs]

I'm not inclined when it come to engines and I hate doing anything with them because there messy and I can never figure out how to do anything. lol

I guess I'll go to a shop and have them add oil , a filter , and add coolant. As for the bearing I guess I gotta let that just be bad because 300$ is to much . lol.

the tires you have in your pics though are pretty nice, you wouldnt want to wear them, if you a have friends who can work on cars they could do bearings for you since you could buy all parts and grease for about $50

 

[willtotheumm]

I've actually been changing my oil about every 2000 miles.

As far the moon roof goes... I haven't seen any other Explorers with moonroofs. On the road, at my work, or at the junkyards.

 

[doonze]

Mine has one! Moonroof that is. Looks stock too, if it isn't then someone spent a crap load to make it look stock. But I've seen other post on here about them so I'm pretty sure they were stock on some at least. Special order or something.

 

[sledgehammer1990]

I have seen a post here somewhere with the a after market install. Mine came stock with a moon roof though when I bought it.

 

[deamon3]

Do your two moonroofs have the tiny buttons?

 

[sledgehammer1990]

Tiny buttons? Mine has a hand crank wheel that moves the moon roof up.

 

[deamon3]

If it only goes up that's called a sunroof. A moon roof opens up all the way and pulls back into the roof like a limousine's.

 

[sledgehammer1990]

Really? I always thought it was the other way around.

 

[doonze]

Really? I always thought it was the other way around.

Me too! Hmmm.... Let's see what we can find here.

sun·roof
Date:1952
: a panel in an automobile roof that can be opened


moon·roof
Date: 1973
: a glass sunroof

Well, ok, that clears things right up...

Oh, and back on topic somewhat, mine also has the crank, and it just makes the back go up about 5 inches. It also had quick release buttons and can be taken out like a T-Top... just discovered THAT the other day, how cool.

 

[deamon3]

So does anyone have one that pulls back? Or was this some kind of addition?

 

[deamon3]

Ok I found out the moon roof is custom. I was trying to get my horn working , so I checked the fuses and there were extra wires wedged into some fuses. When I removed the wires I found they went to the moon roof.

However , the roof ridges on the car imply that there was a sunroof stock. But somebody along the way installed a moon roof. From a different car I think. Cool huh? And resetting the wires fixed the connection issue with it. Ok that problem is done and over with.


But now I have more questions (best ask here then making tons of separate threads eh?). My horn doesn't work , I've confirmed the horns themselves work by hard wiring them. The fuse is also good. When I push the horn button all I hear is a click from under the dash.

Also , my dome lights are stuck on , all the time. I just took the bulbs out for now. I've confirmed all the door sensors work including the gate , because my "anti theft" light blinks when there open and doesn't when closed. I'm guessing it's the headlight switch itself? With the domelight function stuck in the on position?