Free 94 explorer xlt

[bones774]

Now that got your attention, I bet.
Well anyway Im a possible newbie to the forum and have some tech qusetions maybe you can help.
Someone is offering me a 94 explorer xlt for free, it starts good. It has a water leak, in the twilight all I could see was steam coming from back of engine block or lines just under the brake reservoir, any thoughts.
Loses brake fluid rapidly have not crawled around car yet, any particular problems associated with this car.
I pushed the dash button for "low range" nothing lit up next to button or on dash and no sounds heard. "4x4" button seemed to work ok.
Any help appreciated. Thnaks

 

[yellowcat]

welcome to the forum

you should probably pass, I would be willing to take it off your hands, and I probably would not even charge you much. Check the oil, does it look like a milkshake? possible a manifold leak.
have someone pump brakes, you ll find leak

 

[MustangDos]

As far as the "low range", it is not working. The bushing in the shift motor is going bad. It only recognizes the "high range" and not the low. It is a fairly cheap fix, but very time consuming. Check out the shift motor rebuild thread for lots of info and pics regarding this issue.

 

[bones774]

I was doing some research after posting and saw that the 4x4 needs to be on first, and tranny in neutral and foot on brake,i'll try that and see what happens.
Also looked at the other page re: fixing the solenoid motor, very good stuff.
Im just looking to put a few miles on this per year, keep it at camp and pull boat in/out of water and stump pulling.
I shoulda checked the engine oil first ting but getting dark, it seems the fluid was leaking out onto something back behind the brake reservoir.
I'll keep looking and see. Thanks

 

[Charlie]

Take it and turn it in for scrap

 

[bones774]

Take it and turn it in for scrap

Serious, that bad?

 

[Maniak]

Now that got your attention, I bet.
Well anyway Im a possible newbie to the forum and have some tech qusetions maybe you can help.
Someone is offering me a 94 explorer xlt for free, it starts good. It has a water leak, in the twilight all I could see was steam coming from back of engine block or lines just under the brake reservoir, any thoughts.
Loses brake fluid rapidly have not crawled around car yet, any particular problems associated with this car.
I pushed the dash button for "low range" nothing lit up next to button or on dash and no sounds heard. "4x4" button seemed to work ok.
Any help appreciated. Thnaks

There are no lines w/ coolant under the break booster. If you getting coolant there, or steam, you most likely have a leaking head gasket or cracked head. It is rare to get a head gasket leak w/out a cracked head.

~Mark

 

[Charlie]

Serious, that bad?

Not necessarily, just throwing out ideas:

 

[rustbucketMI]

It sounds like if you want to keep it you'll invest quite a bit of time and money. If you plan on only using it a few times a year you are going to run into additional issues. In general all of your seals will start to crack and leak after a short time. Those seals are designed to work best under pressure with a fluid of some sort. Beyond all your seals going to pot your tires may get flat from not having rolled. True, the mechanical parts will not wear as quickly but if the motor leaks from every orifice why bother. If you plan on driving it two or three times a month you should be fine with the seals.
'94 is first gen, which means that your engine is underpowered. Pulling out stumps may be a challange and forget towing anything over 5000lb. Its up to you, the only loss you will have at this point is license and insurance. If you feel ambitous fix the leaks, sounds like a blown head gasket and leaky brake lines. brake lines are fairly simple, but the head is at least a weekend project if you have never done one before.
Or you could just leave it and run it till it dies, say 50 miles or so

 

[bones774]

I got it into low range today after placing in neutral and stepping on gas, after entering 4x4, so that was good.
I understand about letting cars sit, but I can run it from time to time to keep seals wet.
I just gotta zero in on that water leak, engine runs good, but ran outaa gas and I had to leave.
PS-I noticed it was an xlt, has many features, nice wheels and sunroof, 4 door, with tow package. Thnaks

 

[Klutch]

I'd get it just for a spare vehicle or make it into a offroading rig.

 

[Mic_]

Take it and turn it in for scrap

scrap allone should fetch 800$ or more

 

[seth247]

water coming out of a freeze plug?

Usually if the head gaskets gone you can tell easily by how the engine runs. As in rough!

 

[Maniak]

water coming out of a freeze plug?

Usually if the head gaskets gone you can tell easily by how the engine runs. As in rough!

Thats a good thought.. I've had a leaking freeze plug before, but mine was on the block.. If its a freeze plug, its not an expensive fix, but sometimes its kinda hard to do.. (things in the way, odd angle etc)..

I'd say, find where its leaking from first.. once you see where its coming from you can better decide what to do.

~Mark