Explorer Newbe Question

[danronq]

Hi guys, this is my first post so i would like to start off by saying Howdy from Ohio!

I just bought my First explorer to play with, I have played with many Jeep Cherokee's in the past so i'm not new to the 4x4 scene. I desided that they were getting old and i was bored with the same old same old. So i desided to play with somthing bigger and completely forien to me.

Good idea right?

Heh! ok so my first action was to "Explore" this engine and start replacing old with new, whether i need it or not! Started with a simple tuneup overhaul of wires, plugs, cap, thermastat, new hoses for waterlines and all new clamps, and that funny water distribution thing was cheap so relpaced that too. Went to start her up and man she was idleing rough. One thing that i noticed when changing the plugs was that the gap was @ .70 haynes says .54 and thats where i set it.

I double checks the wire positions and they were correct, i don't think new hoses had anything to do with it. I had a guy work tell me to clean the MAF sensor, did that, no change. She ran right a 3/4 rpm before. Can these things be that tempermental?

It's a stock 94 manual 5 spead 4wd. Won't be stock for long though.

Any other common tip would be great,

Thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[irishpilot]

maybe try unplugging the negative post on the battery for 30min to reset it...then go and drive it as you normally would. Then see what happens. The ford ecu has a mind of its own...LOL.

also make sure you got all the air out of the cooling system, that could affect the idle and such as well

 

[Mud Bug 94]

i dont think air pockets would F up ur idle...try the IAC (idle air controller)....

 

[marragtop]

Check the vacuum connections at the vacuum tree on the drivers side near the firewall.

 

[Jason94sport]

What kind of plugs did you get? They should have come pre-gapped if they were for the correct year & model.

 

[TedJ]

What brand of plugs and wires did you use? I've heard of problems like yours with brands of wires and plugs other than Motorcraft. The 4.0 doesn't seem to like anything but what it was born with. There's pages of discussion all over this board about what to use...and it always comes back to motocraft. Ford did a decent job on the ignition system on the 4.0.

Other than that, look for any vacuum lines you might have knocked loose or anything like that. Did you stick the breather hose back onto the intake when you put it back? Look for any possible air leaks in the intake and vacuum leaks by the tree in the back. Those lines get brittle after all those years. Try to think of that one darn thing you disconnected to get that last 1/4 of clearance and forgot to put back lol.

-Ted

 

[marragtop]

Never trust 'pre gapped' plugs. Always check them.

 

[TedJ]

Never trust 'pre gapped' plugs. Always check them.

-Ted

 

[Tony H]

Yup , good to check the gap.

Also, did you unplug the MAF and forget to replug it in?

The blank nipple on the vacuum lines ( Drivers side by firewall) comes off or splits easily. You usually can hear the vacuum though. check there.

 

[danronq]

Don't see any visable vac leaks, gapped the plugs@.54 like haynes said, I did plug in the mafs back in for sure. I must admit, i did use cheepo value craft wires it was the only set AZone had in stock at the time, I ordered some motorcraft wires to see if that make a world diffrence. Oh and I used bosche platinum plugs, she idles at 1.0 at first start and drops down to 1/2 at the first stop sign. i'll get back to you after the new wires are installed this weekend.

Thanks for the help.
Dan