Help! Explorer shuddering, barely accelerating.

[Dwaite7133]

:roll: Could use some advice here. Anything to get the truck in driveable condition to have codes read at autozone.
I have been having a misfire problem in #3 for some time now which was alleviated by new plugs/wires/cleaned MAF/new air filter/ about 6 months ago.
It recently returned with a vengeance (the symptoms, I don't know if it's a #3 misfire, but it feels very similar) and the truck limped home from work at about 20mph, foul smell in the cabin, and every time I accelerated the truck shuddered.
Check engine light was on a week ago (at times flashing), so I cleaned the MAF again and started it...much worse. Then, yesterday, I remembered that I forgot to unhook the battery when I cleaned the MAF (to allow it to re-learn the mixture), so I did that.
Truck is now undriveable.
Yes, I did plug the MAF sensor back in.
The CEL has been off since yesterday (when I disconnected the batt), but the (OD off) light flashes, but the truck ALSO has been having 2-3 shift flare problems also.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I would like to make this truck safe enough to limp in to get the codes read in the am.

 

[KPT]

If the check engine light is flashing it is indicating there is a misfire. I have no idea on the rest.

 

[NJMike]

Fould smell, lack of acceleration, shuddering... It MIGHT be a clogged cat...

Mike

 

[Dwaite7133]

Thanks Mike,
Could it be possible to have a clogged catalytic conv. with only 44K miles on it? Never bought cheap gas.
How would you check for a clogged cat?

Cleaning the IAC helped ALOT (driveable again) but some shuddering still remains on acceleration.

 

[97ford50x]

Thanks Mike,
Could it be possible to have a clogged catalytic conv. with only 44K miles on it? Never bought cheap gas.
How would you check for a clogged cat?

Cleaning the IAC helped ALOT (driveable again) but some shuddering still remains on acceleration.

the cat could have started to melt down if enough raw fuel got down in to itdue to cylinders not firing correctly

 

[Dwaite7133]

Is there a "check" for a clogged catalytic conv. or do you just have to take it off and see?

 

[LarryT1]

Is there a "check" for a clogged catalytic conv. or do you just have to take it off and see?

take it off, drive down the road...if it runs good get a new cat.

 

[NJMike]

I don't know what kind of vehicle inspections they have in Kansas, but if you know a service station or the like with an emissions tester, they will be able to tell you based upon the air flow, the sulphur dioxide levels and the carbon monoxide levels.

Mike

 

[Dwaite7133]

Time to junk an '00 Explorer with only 44k??

Well, I finally went to a mechanic with the equipment to diagnose my problem of shuddering, poor gas mileage, foul smell, Check engine light, etc.
After pressure testing the cooling system, he told me "you have anti-freeze filling up 3 cylinders"
Since I have an unresolved 2-3 shift flare issue with this truck also, which would still be there after an $1800 engine overhaul, I decided to pay for the diagnosis and limp the truck home at 11MPG.
My question is this:
Has this been a problem with Explorers? Is there some "silent warranty" I could pursue? Any recourse whatsoever? Is there any reason to keep this truck and not bail out now?
You guys have been a big help up to this point and any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[410Fortune]

its a very common issue if the truck was overheated

What is the history of this truck?

My guess is either:
engine was overheated
intake manifold gaskets / head gaskets poorly installed.

Did it ever run right?
Did the mechanic remove the spark plugs and verify water in the cylinders?
Does your oil level rise and your coolant level drop?
Is the oil milky?

 

[Dwaite7133]

No known history until I bought it at the end of '03 with 22k on it. The truck came from Arizona. With regular maintenence I did myself, it ran fine for 5 years until the beginning of this year when I noticed the heater wouldn't heat the cabin in the winter. Coolant was very dirty and a sludge (like spoiled chocolate milk) had collected on the inside of the radiator cap. Even after the new coolant, it would only blow heat after I flushed and backflushed the heater core numerous times. Blend door worked fine.
Even more recently, sluggish idle, sluggish ride, poor acceleration, misfiring, poor mpg, foul (sweet) smell from exhaust, Check engine light. I checked all the easy stuff like replacing plugs, cleaned the MAF, new air filter, seafoam, techron, etc.
NO change in the oil level or consistency, but I was topping off the coolant in the reservoir about once a month. Dashboard guages all worked fine and had no extremely low (or high) readings.
The truck was almost exclusively driven <2miles to work and back, which accounts for the low miles.
Any ideas?
It seems to me that a truck with only 44K shouldn't need an engine oherhaul AND a tranny overhaul (2/3 shift flare) or are somehow the two problems related?
Any ideas?
Is this a death sentence for my beloved Explorer?
Thanks!

 

[Dwaite7133]

Follow up: Has anyone ever heard of K&W block seal or had any experience with it?

 

[carlover]

From me experiences none of those types of things work. If its just your head gasket then id fix it and call it good. But after looking at the 4.0 ohv heads i see why they crack so easily so you might have a cracked head also.

 

[Dwaite7133]

Thanks! Any way to easily check if it's a cracked head or a blown gasket?
I am already into the mechanic for $200 just for the diagnosis so far, +a few other things.
I might try the gasket seal, but common sense seems that it might also seal up the thermostat, the heater core, the radiator...........

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

OMG, wow sorry dude,

If this happened to me at only 44k miles.... I would feel raped.

I do not believe that these are common problems on these engines.

I would be looking around for a low mileage engine/transmission combination out of another explorer some where else.