Hatch strut, weird smell, rear end

[khalsted]

Hi guys. This is my first post here. I'm not a mechanic and don't know a whole lot about vehicles. I'm a computer programmer, nerd type, but I have done simple auto maintenance work and small repairs.

We have a 2002 explorer Bauer edition that's been great. It's a 4 wheel drive (or all wheel drive) 6 cyl.

I need help with these 3 things:

1 - Our back hatch will no longer stay up because of the strut that's went out on it. I just ordered one from Ford and I was wondering if this is something that just snaps in and out or what? I haven't even looked at it yet but am going to soon. This is my wife's explorer.

2 - My wife says there is a strange smell, like a burning smell, she occasionally smells in the cabin. She thinks it's an electrical type burn or something. Any ideas on what this could be and what I could check?

3 - It sounds like the rear end differential on our car is going out because it's so loud as you go down the road. I just put brand new tires on this thing hoping to fix the noise but it didn't help. This has gotten progressively worse with the noise. It sounds like a 'school bus' going down the road it's so load and when I take a left while driving down the highway it gets louder....a right it gets quieter. This makes me think it's something on the rear-right side of the vehicle. Could it be a bearing? I don't know what else it could be.

Any help with these things would really be appreciated.

Ken

 

[1AJeremyD]

Welcome to the Forum! First question about the struts, that should be a pretty easy job to tackle. Just remove two bolts and pull out the strut. The second question about a burning electrical smell.. that could be a number of things from a blower motor going to an alternator cooking. The sound you are hearing could either be a wheel bearing or a bearing inside the differential. Probably a good time to take the truck to a mechanic and get everything looked at especially for the rear end noise.

 

[khalsted]

thanks

Thanks a lot Jeremy. Yeah, I reckon I just need to take it in and have them hook it up to the 'machine'. I always feel like I just get ripped off by the mechanics but I guess sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and get 'er done.

 

[1AJeremyD]

Well my only concern is the rear end noise. The hatch is something anyone with some simple tools but if the rear end locks up on you thats not going to to be fun for you or the guy behind you :roll: