Alright... I guess it time to update you all.
As most of you know, a few of us went to The Silver Lake Sand Dunes up here near Ludington, MI last Sunday. The trip was almost canceled because my X was in the tranny shop, but I pushed them to get it done by the end of the week, and they did. They replaced a cracked flywheel and a torque converter (for about $500). So I picked up the explorer on Friday night and gave her the once over, making sure 4 high would engage, etc... On Saturday I drove to stay at some friends at Grand Valley State Univerity. On the way there the truck was perfect.
Sunday started out great.... a 1 hour drive from Grand Valley State Universtiy to the ORV park. When we got there, we bought our flags and permits, aired down the tires and got ready for a day of fun. As soon as we ventured into the park, I had problem number 1- NO 4x4 HIGH. Well... after fooling around with it and starting it in 4 high, it engaged... problem solved. We cruised around, took some pics of our trucks and the views.
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Mine is the black one
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So all is well. We drove around for about 1.5 hours testing the explorers and watching other people (including a stock durango that still amazes me). After about 2 hours we line up at the big hill to see if we should take a shot at it. There are some massive rigs out there, so it was fun to just sit and watch (mind you I didn't turn off the explorer to make sure I wouldn't lose 4 high).
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This was a AWD stock X that made it first time. It was the same part of the hill that numerous built pickups struggled on. Right after him, a stock 2002 X made it up too.... needless to say, they were both impressive
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This toyo never made it.
So we decided to wait, drive around a little and maybe give the big hill a shot later. So I drove off and charged up a smaller hill to take a look around. As soon as I get there, Travis and Mike stop me and tell me that I have red tranny fluid leaking out everywhere. :frustrate So I get out, take a look... sure enough. So I figure, well, maybe I can at least make it out of the park and to the parking lot to where we can take a better look (and avoid a tow). I get about half way to the park exit (still about 1000 yards away and all I see is red smoke coming into the cabin and spilling out of the hood (sorry no picks of that
) So I stopped and shut the X off. At this point there is no way I am going to start her again and try to drive off. So... one person stops to help in a late 60's Bronco with a fiberglass tub and perfectly redone. He doesn't have any traction and can't even budge me out of the sand (plus I was on a slight incline). Next try...a stock F-150. This time he pulls me down to the bottom of the hill so we can get a running start before the incline and soft sand. He makes it about to where I originally was and digs himself a nice hole. His buddy has a Toyota T100 and decides he's going to give it a shot....so he pulls me back down to the bottom of the hill so he can get an even bigger running start.
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Pulling me down....
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And now at the bottom
So we get a huge running start, I'm guessing about 30-35 mph (I don't know bc the X is off) and he keeps it punched all the way up the hill
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And this time, we make it.
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So he pulls me to the parking lot and we take a look. At this point we decide to go have lunch, buy some tranny fluid, and just let her cool down for a while. On the way out, someone we drove by says "OMG... it's a toyota pulling a Ford!!" Now that was just adding insult to injury.
We come back about 1 hour later and I crawl under to take a look. It doesn't look too bad, nothing is out of place and I don't see any loose lines (and it has stopped leaking). So we start to dump some tranny fluid in.... 1 quart, no leaking, 2 quarts...sames. After about 4.5 quarts the tranny is overflowing with fluid. So we start it up.... everything seems to be fine. Put it in gear, still good. Roll a few feet forwards, backwards, still good. So then I take it on the road and floor it. Max the tach through the first 3 gears (it was 25 speed limit and was a short road) and absolutley perfect. Then I decide it was time to head home (a 3 hour tour). The X makes it the whole way back. The only problem was that is slipped 3 times shifting into 3rd and downshifts hard into 1st. But overall, I'm just glad to make it home.
So the next day we take it to the trany shop. They take a look at it and says due to high heat.... etc it has to be rebuild at $1500 (the same shop I had $500 worth of work doen 3 days prior). We take it another shop... same thing. As most of you know, I work at the Ford Livonia Tranny Plant, so right now I am in the process of tracking down a factory rebuilt and get that swapped in (for a cheap price and less headaches). So that is where I stand now... back to driving the 'rents SC Park Avenue and just praying that I can find a factory rebuild.
By the way... this will be my Explorer's 3rd tranny. It was rebuilt around 75K and is now at 100K miles.... this time I am going with a tranny cooler as well.
As most of you know, a few of us went to The Silver Lake Sand Dunes up here near Ludington, MI last Sunday. The trip was almost canceled because my X was in the tranny shop, but I pushed them to get it done by the end of the week, and they did. They replaced a cracked flywheel and a torque converter (for about $500). So I picked up the explorer on Friday night and gave her the once over, making sure 4 high would engage, etc... On Saturday I drove to stay at some friends at Grand Valley State Univerity. On the way there the truck was perfect.
Sunday started out great.... a 1 hour drive from Grand Valley State Universtiy to the ORV park. When we got there, we bought our flags and permits, aired down the tires and got ready for a day of fun. As soon as we ventured into the park, I had problem number 1- NO 4x4 HIGH. Well... after fooling around with it and starting it in 4 high, it engaged... problem solved. We cruised around, took some pics of our trucks and the views.
Dead Link Removed
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Mine is the black one
Dead Link Removed
So all is well. We drove around for about 1.5 hours testing the explorers and watching other people (including a stock durango that still amazes me). After about 2 hours we line up at the big hill to see if we should take a shot at it. There are some massive rigs out there, so it was fun to just sit and watch (mind you I didn't turn off the explorer to make sure I wouldn't lose 4 high).
Dead Link Removed
This was a AWD stock X that made it first time. It was the same part of the hill that numerous built pickups struggled on. Right after him, a stock 2002 X made it up too.... needless to say, they were both impressive
Dead Link Removed
This toyo never made it.
So we decided to wait, drive around a little and maybe give the big hill a shot later. So I drove off and charged up a smaller hill to take a look around. As soon as I get there, Travis and Mike stop me and tell me that I have red tranny fluid leaking out everywhere. :frustrate So I get out, take a look... sure enough. So I figure, well, maybe I can at least make it out of the park and to the parking lot to where we can take a better look (and avoid a tow). I get about half way to the park exit (still about 1000 yards away and all I see is red smoke coming into the cabin and spilling out of the hood (sorry no picks of that
) So I stopped and shut the X off. At this point there is no way I am going to start her again and try to drive off. So... one person stops to help in a late 60's Bronco with a fiberglass tub and perfectly redone. He doesn't have any traction and can't even budge me out of the sand (plus I was on a slight incline). Next try...a stock F-150. This time he pulls me down to the bottom of the hill so we can get a running start before the incline and soft sand. He makes it about to where I originally was and digs himself a nice hole. His buddy has a Toyota T100 and decides he's going to give it a shot....so he pulls me back down to the bottom of the hill so he can get an even bigger running start.Dead Link Removed
Pulling me down....
Dead Link Removed
And now at the bottom
So we get a huge running start, I'm guessing about 30-35 mph (I don't know bc the X is off) and he keeps it punched all the way up the hill
Dead Link Removed
And this time, we make it.
Dead Link Removed
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So he pulls me to the parking lot and we take a look. At this point we decide to go have lunch, buy some tranny fluid, and just let her cool down for a while. On the way out, someone we drove by says "OMG... it's a toyota pulling a Ford!!"
Now that was just adding insult to injury. We come back about 1 hour later and I crawl under to take a look. It doesn't look too bad, nothing is out of place and I don't see any loose lines (and it has stopped leaking). So we start to dump some tranny fluid in.... 1 quart, no leaking, 2 quarts...sames. After about 4.5 quarts the tranny is overflowing with fluid. So we start it up.... everything seems to be fine. Put it in gear, still good. Roll a few feet forwards, backwards, still good. So then I take it on the road and floor it. Max the tach through the first 3 gears (it was 25 speed limit and was a short road) and absolutley perfect. Then I decide it was time to head home (a 3 hour tour). The X makes it the whole way back. The only problem was that is slipped 3 times shifting into 3rd and downshifts hard into 1st. But overall, I'm just glad to make it home.
So the next day we take it to the trany shop. They take a look at it and says due to high heat.... etc it has to be rebuild at $1500 (the same shop I had $500 worth of work doen 3 days prior). We take it another shop... same thing. As most of you know, I work at the Ford Livonia Tranny Plant, so right now I am in the process of tracking down a factory rebuilt and get that swapped in (for a cheap price and less headaches). So that is where I stand now... back to driving the 'rents SC Park Avenue and just praying that I can find a factory rebuild.
By the way... this will be my Explorer's 3rd tranny. It was rebuilt around 75K and is now at 100K miles.... this time I am going with a tranny cooler as well.
