Hello from MA - in the snow!!

[kabknuj]

Just recently decided to keep my Explorer instead of buying a new car (sticker shock)
It has 136K miles and have taken reasonable care of it and hope to get another 50K or 2 years out of it (which ever comes first). My typical MO is to buy new and keep it for about 12 years until it starts costing me some $$$

I have the over head lamps with temperature and compass
The left lamp and compass/temp is out - my mechanic says that it could be due to dampness from the sun roof and that I might be able to buy one in a junk yard and he can replace

Any thoughts??

PS have had a few electrical problems with this car when it was new but it was mostly read lights

thanks
kate

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome kate

 

[1Aauto]

welcome to the site

 

[jl102284]

Welcome, as long as you take care of it your Explorer will probably last you much longer than what you are hoping to get out it. You may have to put some money into it once in a while but its not as bad as a monthly payment.

If it were mine I would just go without fixing the left lamp and the compass/temp. I never use that lamp anyway. I have never had a vehicle with a compass or temp. gauge.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Open it up, and check the connections for corrosion or bad solder joints.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Welcome Kate!

Here is the thread that outlines the problem: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187953

If you can get a console from a junkyard or eBay, or even a used part vendor here you can swap it yourself- it's a 1 on a scale of 1-10 repair. Just pull the sunroof rubber surround away from the edge of the console, pull the old console down (snaps in) a few wiring harnesses to unplug, then plug in the new one, and snap it back up, and push the sunroof surround back on.