Hailing from the unfathomably expansive state of Rhode Island

[Jurassic Pork]

So, good and bad news:
Good: The new resistor and blower motor work great and restored EATC control.
Bad: With blower blasting on high there was almost zero flow out of any vent, floor, or defrost.
Apparently the mouse nest was quite extensive. Didn't realize the hvac system blows air through the AC radiator thing (cooler core?) even if set on heat. Discovered the cooler core was hopelessly blocked by dryer lint like material that mice had fashioned as part of their impenetrable dash fortress. This thing was almost airtight, I'd say 95% restricted. After reading of nightmarish stories of removing AC core/unit I decided to do some investigative surgery to at least confirm if this was the problem. Pictures will show what I found.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Cooler core:

 

[Jurassic Pork]

As you can see in 4th pic, the box was completely filled with nest material totally blocking the cooler core. I was able to vacuum out the bulk of it and then used a dental pick to clear out the slots between the vanes in the core. This was seriously tedious and made me want to recklessly drink bourbon but I didn't and decided to clean it best I could and then tape housing back together temporarily for a test. Didn't want to go too crazy with it in case it was A: totally blocked on other side or B: the heater core is a similarly sealed bunker of the cooler core mouse fortress. So I put blower in with two screws and Fired It Up! To my great surprise the heat works again. There was much rejoicing. Through vents, floor, and most importantly- defroster. AND the rear heater works now! So now I just need to spray disinfectant in the ducts I cleaned and glue the 2 plastic access port pieces back in. For anyone that has the same problem: I highly recommend using a vibratory plunge cutter, aka Ryobi "multi-tool" I think it's called. Made precise, short work of the plastic that was in the way and allowed me to clean out the area without discharging and taking whole AC system apart. Who cares if some plastic box under the hood has some glue seems on it. Chalking it up as a success.

 

[C420sailor]

Consider using a chemical coil cleaner and a hose. Get that puppy clean.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Hmmm, coil cleaner, never heard of that before but sounds good, thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I need to clear the main bay in the barn so the Mountaineer will have to wait while I finish up the old lifted Suzuki Sidekick! Hoping to get the Mountaineer in there after that and really get to work on cleaning that defiled airway system. Does the area in there (cooler core box) drain somewhere? If I used a hose on it- where would the water go? Definitely don't want to flood and waterlog the cabin area but like the idea of water rinsing after soap soak.

 

[EB4X]

Here's your arm rest/ center console lid replacement cover:

Center Console Armrest Synthetic Good Leather Cover For Ford Explorer 1995-2001 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Center Console Armrest Synthetic Good Leather Cover For Ford Explorer 1995-2001 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Or to be done with it and toss a few more bucks at it (these weren't on ebay before...good discovery) :
Complete lid replacement link

ALSO, on the AWD tire issue....if you didn't already check your spare for it's size, be proactive and get correct replacement if off...

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Here's your arm rest/ centore console lid replacement cover:

Center Console Armrest Synthetic Good Leather Cover For Ford Explorer 1995-2001 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Center Console Armrest Synthetic Good Leather Cover For Ford Explorer 1995-2001 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Or to be done with it and toss a few more bucks at it (these weren't on ebay before...good discovery) :
Complete lid replacement link

ALSO, on the AWD tire issue....if you didn't already check your spare for it's size, be proactive and get correct replacement if off...

Thanks, that's great that they make a replacement cover that looks nice and is so cheap! I'll definitely get one of those. I need to double check but I believe all 5 tires are matching new "Fuzion" 235/75R15s. I do need to find 2 more rims to match the other 3. The spare and the right rear are both different than the 5 spoke chromed steel wheels that I believe are original. Maybe a pick and pull would have some? They look like they might be specific to Mountaineers though which might be harder to find.

 

[CDW6212R]

If those are the chrome covered steel wheels, I'd change them. My 98 Mercury had them and just being outside unused they were rusting badly around the edges. BTW, any of the stock 15's that came on Explorers or Rangers should fit right.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Bad news. The tyrannical overlords at the DMV are not letting me register the over 20 year old Mountaineer because of a smudge on the title despite having the friendly local police do a VIN check and inspect and endorse the title as legitimate. They even wished me luck at the DMV acknowledging how hellish it is there! But, according to the DMV Karens: the bill of sale saying "for parts or repair" means that the seller is now a certified structural engineer and the vehicle is beyond repair and can never be registered again. (Despite the Mountaineer having a current inspection sticker from out of state.) Oh how I love this state. Only recourse according to the DMV Himmler guy is to get seller to write a new bill of sale without those specific words and to also request a new title or previous registration reprint. Seller doesn't want to help, whatsoever. Looks like this truck is never going to be on the road unfortunately. So I had to reregister my other backup vehicle instead and going to part out the Mountaineer I guess. Thanks everyone for all the help anyway. I'm seriously bummed to have to give up on this old girl.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

At least I got the ol Suzuki back on the road till I find another 5.0 Mountaineer!

 

[CDW6212R]

Oh, that sucks bad. I've dealt with reconstructing a totaled vehicle twice, and that's not simple or fun. That wording by the seller is used by the DMV to help future owners, but the words have to be chosen carefully. I hate big government, there is very little reasoning in the laws.

Nice Sidekick too, I worked at a car dealer that started a Suzuki dealership when they came out in 1988. The Samurai was a turd, but the Sidekick was a nice running truck to begin with.

 

[C420sailor]

What an asshole that guy is. Why not just sell the truck with normal wording? Why put that bullshit on the bill of sale?

Unless he knew the title was bunk, and was trying to cover his tracks by making sure the vehicle died with you?

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Oh, that sucks bad. I've dealt with reconstructing a totaled vehicle twice, and that's not simple or fun. That wording by the seller is used by the DMV to help future owners, but the words have to be chosen carefully. I hate big government, there is very little reasoning in the laws.

Nice Sidekick too, I worked at a car dealer that started a Suzuki dealership when they came out in 1988. The Samurai was a turd, but the Sidekick was a nice running truck to begin with.

I just think it is ridiculous that a vehicle can be rendered junk forever by some guy who may not have ever even changed out a tire before. What a waste of a good truck that I really like and already put some good work into restoring. The DMV or seller shouldn't even have a say, the inspection station if anything should or could make a call like that. And thanks, I've had the Sidekick a long time, it is great on gas and is really fun to drive, like a big 5 speed go kart. The Samurais are indeed pretty junky and gutless stock but I have one of those too and it is in the process of getting its all new Frankenstein drivetrain! 5.0 Bronco engine with Mustang GT intake and headers, Ford ZFS547 wide ratio transmission, divorced Spicer/Dana 18 all gear driven transfer case, FJ62 Land Cruiser axles, and Jeep YJ leaf springs all around. Sure, it won't be a Samurai really anymore internally but the ladder frame and body still will be. I couldn't stand the lack of power from the 1.3 anymore but loved the compact size and thought this conversion would be a great challenge. She'll be a sleeper, that's for sure.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

What an asshole that guy is. Why not just sell the truck with normal wording? Why put that bullshit on the bill of sale?

Unless he knew the title was bunk, and was trying to cover his tracks by making sure the vehicle died with you?

I'd say it's safe to say he's an asshole too. I've brought many vehicles back from the dead that were in far worse condition. He worded it like he was going to be sued or something. He even added "no warranty", "no guarantee", and "as-is" after the for parts BS. As-is by itself clears you of liability. Title was good, until it got wet from buying it in pouring rain and the sell to part was damaged. Police inspected it and VIN and gave me their endorsement paperwork. Makes no sense that's not good enough for the DMV. Only thing I can think to do now is find another 5.0 Mountaineer real cheap bc of a blown engine or something and swap parts over. It runs perfect, frame is good, body has rust... Total waste. Wish I liked newer style vehicles but I just don't.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'd say it's safe to say he's an asshole too. I've brought many vehicles back from the dead that were in far worse condition. He worded it like he was going to be sued or something. He even added "no warranty", "no guarantee", and "as-is" after the for parts BS. As-is by itself clears you of liability. Title was good, until it got wet from buying it in pouring rain and the sell to part was damaged. Police inspected it and VIN and gave me their endorsement paperwork. Makes no sense that's not good enough for the DMV. Only thing I can think to do now is find another 5.0 Mountaineer real cheap bc of a blown engine or something and swap parts over. It runs perfect, frame is good, body has rust... Total waste. Wish I liked newer style vehicles but I just don't.

Me too, and I have four of these now, one the reconstructed 99. I used my old 93 that was also reconstructed, to fix the 99. It's in my signature link, the 99/93.

 

[EB4X]

Only recourse according to the DMV Himmler guy is to get seller to write a new bill of sale without those specific words and to also request a new title or previous registration reprint. Seller doesn't want to help, whatsoever. I would tell the seller, I really don't want to go this route, but am contemplating small claims court for refund of purchase uness you write new bill of sale etc.....he did have the words OR REPAIR in the bill of sale as stated...correct?

 

[CDW6212R]

That is a good thought. In some locations, that kind of court may be favorable to a plaintiff who seems to have been hurt by the other person's actions or intentions. That bill of sale wording may help you get back your money, in some courts. Some places it would make no difference at all. So you might investigate the possibility for that in your county, or where it was sold from.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

Yes , parts or repair. In RI if "parts" is in the sentence it doesn't matter if repair is apparently. (According to "title enforcement" division at DMV.) I really don't like the idea of suing in general or any legal battle BS, life is too short in my opinion. I am going to ask him as nicely as possible if he would please request the reprint for money. IE I will pay for title reprint fee and some extra for his time requesting it, etc. If he still won't help then I think it is over. I don't think the reprint is expensive but who wants to go to the registry? Seems most people, including me, would rather go to the dentist for a root canal. If this doesn't work I'm not giving up on having an Explorer though. I will find another one and swap whatever best parts I can.

 

[Jurassic Pork]

And thanks for all the support and advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[C420sailor]

I’d do as mentioned. Ask politely. If he says no, threaten legal action.

Life is indeed short, but $1500 isn’t an insignificant sum. To me, anyway.