Help! Electrical is all messed up!!

[Myasylum]

So... a bit of a story.

I had a 15 day for loud exhaust.

I spent $400.00 on a new exhaust system.

I still heard a lot of rattling, just to find out the timing chains need replacing. I assumed the noise was the bad exhaust... nope.

Two days later I lost engine power. I had the car floored just to get across the street.

I also noticed the interior lights were getting funky. I had to really play with the switch on the dash... to keep the lights off.

I had enough of the car and parked it for two weeks.

Today... I looked at it again and the battery was at 50%.

I charged it to 100% reinstalled the battery cables and every light in the car was on! Headlights, interior lights, engine warning lights... everything. And yet the car wouldn't turn over and the ingition felt really sloppy and loose (whatever that has to do with anything??)

Anyone have any idea what's going on with this thing??

Thanks!!

 

[Myasylum]

When I turn the key, the brake light on the dash goes on, but doesn't turn over.
Weirdest thing!

 

[poker4me007]

Sounds like some electrical issues, What I would do is remove your battery cables and clean every thing up real good then charge your battery up to proper volts also check and clean make sure you have a good ground.
Then see what you get after that.
Any check engine lights should also be checked first.

 

[koda2000]

You're not giving us much to work on. How old is the battery? Do the terminals look tight and clean, do the battery cables look okay, or corroded and lumpy?

Battery voltage is important, but amperage is what turns the engine over. Is there any way you can get the battery to an auto parts store to have it charged and load tested?

The fact that you say your key lock feels "sloppy and loose" makes me wonder if your ignition switch, or its linkage is broken. When you turn the ignition lock/key all you're really doing is moving a rod/linkage that runs from the lock cylinder to the ignition switch, which is a box located further down on the steering column. The ignition switch slides electrical contacts together to energize the RUN, START and ACCESSORY functions of your electrical system.

I'm sorry you spend $400 on an exhaust system for a rattling 4.0L SOHC. If the ignition switch is your problem it's not an expensive part and is fairly easy replace if you can do it yourself. If you have to pay someone to do the diagnosis and labor it'll significantly cost you more. With a 20 year old rattling 4.0L SHOC engine at some point you need to consider whether you're just throwing good money after bad.

Photo if a '98 Explorer (prices run from $10-$23 on RockAuto):

 

[Mbrooks420]

I would seriously consider giving it up. Unless it’s perfect otherwise, it’s probably not a good value to have to pay someone else to replace the tensioners and guides.

 

[poker4me007]

In my post I kinda rejected the rattling noise, because he thought it was his exhaust at first.I never had the sohc engine so never heard the rattling noise, can a person mistake it to be an exhaust? If that's his problem, then that's like a new can of worms.