Explorer Holding Gear/ Higher RPMS when A/C is on?

[1995E]

I'm not sure if it's the change in brand of gasoline recently or what but my Explorer seems to hold the gear more often now and holds 3,000 RPMs a lot. This happened when I also had the A/C on. It just didn't want to upshift and held 3,000 RPM and kept climbing with little acceleration or push for a lot of the drive. Felt like the car was struggling so I put it in manual mode and upshifted on my own after I got worried.

Am I just having a weird experience or does the A/C make the engine work harder and really, this hard? Feels like the transmission just doesn't want to upshift. Anyone else notice this or something similar?

 

[peterk9]

I'm not sure if it's the change in brand of gasoline recently or what but my Explorer seems to hold the gear more often now and holds 3,000 RPMs a lot. This happened when I also had the A/C on. It just didn't want to upshift and held 3,000 RPM and kept climbing with little acceleration or push for a lot of the drive. Felt like the car was struggling so I put it in manual mode and upshifted on my own after I got worried.

Am I just having a weird experience or does the A/C make the engine work harder and really, this hard? Feels like the transmission just doesn't want to upshift. Anyone else notice this or something similar?

I haven't really noticed the difference with A/C on. Have you disconnected your battery recently? If you did, the transmission will have to relearn the shift points according to your driving. If not, it seems there is a problem. I don't think a change in fuel would affect that.

Peter

 

[colintrax]

The ac will make a difference, if your using a cheaper gas. That'll hurt it to.

I wouldn't worry about it, automatic trannys are far from perfect.

 

[1995E]

I originally used Shell, then Citgo, and now BP. Ford recommends BP so I started using it because it was also cheaper. I don't think the A/C is supposed to cause the engine to run the RPMs so high like this. I'm not sure if I have an isolated problem or if this is an issue but holding 3,000 - 4,000 RPMs just isn't good for fuel economy and reliability... The A/C shouldn't be causing so much drag.

 

[peterk9]

I originally used Shell, then Citgo, and now BP. Ford recommends BP so I started using it because it was also cheaper. I don't think the A/C is supposed to cause the engine to run the RPMs so high like this. I'm not sure if I have an isolated problem or if this is an issue but holding 3,000 - 4,000 RPMs just isn't good for fuel economy and reliability... The A/C shouldn't be causing so much drag.

I don't know how different brands of gasoline could cause an engine to rev higher than normal. I can't say that I have noticed any increase in revs when the A/C is on.
I definitely think you have a problem.
If you haven't disconnected the battery lately then none of the normal features, idle, trim and shift points have to be relearned.
Does it rev high in manual mode as well? If so, I wonder if there is a problem with the transmission. I don't think mine has ever come close to 4000rpm.

On the highway at 100 kmph (60 mph) I think mine sits around 2000 rpm.

Peter

 

[VinceL]

1995E, I would have to agree that something is amiss with your vehicle. We have not noticed such RPM variation in the 600 miles we have put on our car (in less than one week no less!).

 

[1995E]

1995E, I would have to agree that something is amiss with your vehicle. We have not noticed such RPM variation in the 600 miles we have put on our car (in less than one week no less!).

Yeah, I confirmed that it's not just with the A/C on. The acceleration has been also sluggish with the Explorer hesitating to change gears recently all throughout yesterday. Trying to catch up to speed on the highway, I smelled a very large burning smell and I checked my temp right away and it was normal. The pedal also started to vibrate like the car was going to blow up on me. I wore sandals instead of boots yesterday so that's probably why I noticed it now.

I am hoping the case is only the gas I've recently pumped which is at an isolate BP gas station. I know gas can be crappy because Free State here has the cheapest gas but everyone hates them because the gas has no power due some water in it.

I know there's a TSB on the transmission bump that could be related to the sluggish acceleration. Haven't had the bump recently but sluggish acceleration fits the description.

With the pedal vibration, I don't know if anyone has had their vibration issue solved after reading people needed multiple attempts and having no fix so I guess I shouldn't bother with this one.

 

[peterk9]

Yeah, I confirmed that it's not just with the A/C on. The acceleration has been also sluggish with the Explorer hesitating to change gears recently all throughout yesterday. Trying to catch up to speed on the highway, I smelled a very large burning smell and I checked my temp right away and it was normal. The pedal also started to vibrate like the car was going to blow up on me. I wore sandals instead of boots yesterday so that's probably why I noticed it now.

I am hoping the case is only the gas I've recently pumped which is at an isolate BP gas station. I know gas can be crappy because Free State here has the cheapest gas but everyone hates them because the gas has no power due some water in it.

I know there's a TSB on the transmission bump that could be related to the sluggish acceleration. Haven't had the bump recently but sluggish acceleration fits the description.

With the pedal vibration, I don't know if anyone has had their vibration issue solved after reading people needed multiple attempts and having no fix so I guess I shouldn't bother with this one.

Have you checked the transmission fluid level? I'd be very surprised if all these problems are related to the gas you are using but I've been wrong a couple of times before.
I had the Explorer idling in the driveway yesterday while playing around with a few things. I did notice that when I turned on Max A/C, there was negligible movement in the RPM needle.

Peter

 

[1995E]

Have you checked the transmission fluid level? I'd be very surprised if all these problems are related to the gas you are using but I've been wrong a couple of times before.
I had the Explorer idling in the driveway yesterday while playing around with a few things. I did notice that when I turned on Max A/C, there was negligible movement in the RPM needle.

Peter

I just checked the engine oil, coolant, any signs of rust, debris etc. I notice the rubber shock cover keeps falling off and the tip of the shock absorber is starting to rust but that's minor. I'm not sure how to check the transmission fluid level. Do I just untwist the cap and look inside or is there a dipstick of some sort? I can't find it anywhere. I slowly examined the engine block and I did notice the tip of the aluminum block where the plastic valve/ cylinder cover meets the block has a sort of brownish wet color around, most noticeable on one cylinder like the seal isn't tight enough and the oil is leaking through a bit. This could explain the burnt oil smell I smelled yesterday.

I guess at this point, I should just take it to the dealer to get the fans reprogrammed anyway and upgrade to the new sync software too. (Hesitant on the update because I like the temperature display in the middle of the screen. Although, my fans haven't been bothering me at all. I guess I should get it done anyway but I wish I could tell what the PCM upgrade is for.

 

[peterk9]

I just checked the engine oil, coolant, any signs of rust, debris etc. I notice the rubber shock cover keeps falling off and the tip of the shock absorber is starting to rust but that's minor. I'm not sure how to check the transmission fluid level. Do I just untwist the cap and look inside or is there a dipstick of some sort? I can't find it anywhere. I slowly examined the engine block and I did notice the tip of the aluminum block where the plastic valve/ cylinder cover meets the block has a sort of brownish wet color around, most noticeable on one cylinder like the seal isn't tight enough and the oil is leaking through a bit. This could explain the burnt oil smell I smelled yesterday.

I guess at this point, I should just take it to the dealer to get the fans reprogrammed anyway and upgrade to the new sync software too. (Hesitant on the update because I like the temperature display in the middle of the screen. Although, my fans haven't been bothering me at all. I guess I should get it done anyway but I wish I could tell what the PCM upgrade is for.

Actually I haven't even looked for the transmission dipstick. The manual says there is one and it looks like it has a cap according to the warning about it being hot. The 12B36 reprogram causes the cooling fans to come randomly at a high speed to help prevent the electrical contacts from getting corroded. Apparently the fans do not always run and that can lead to corrosion building up on the contacts.

Update: I looked through the manual again and under Maintenance and Specifications there is a page entitled IDENTIFYING COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. It show the location as being near the front by the air filter assembly but out of view.

Peter

 

[wikidhd]

Yea i think U need to take it in to the dealer, have U had the TSB done on your Ex? There are quite a few, one is for the fans to be reprogrammed and I think I read here that someone is having problem with their tranny.....

 

[colintrax]

Gas can definitely effect how the engine runs, water content, and ethanol content will make the biggest difference.
Take it to a dealership, I get the feeling this might be electrical or one of those things that's hard to find. Let the dealer cover it under warranty and don't waste your time