Help SEVERELY needed on a few issues.

[kari_safari]

Thanks for looking! I really appreciate it. Anyway, I have a '96 Ford Explorer that my dad got me for this past Christmas. It's had a few issues, but this latest has pretty much rendered the poor old thing useless. I can't get my key out of the ignition lock cylinder and my car won't start. My boyfriend is awesome with 20 year old vehicles and knows pretty much nothing about newer things. My dad is good with this stuff because all our family drives is Explorers, but he works a lot and he probably won't even get the chance to look for about a month.

So, I bought my boyfriend the manual because he'll read up and get to know some more stuff, and I'm sure if you guys can tell me what he needs to do, he'll definitely find a way to do it.

My other problem is that there are metal shavings in my transmission fluid. The boyfriend said he'd change it, but my dad said that the guy who had it before me probably never changed it and that you're not supposed to change it after 100,000 miles. Is that true? I mean, I'm not sure WHAT to do. Should I change the fluid because metal chips definitely cannot be good or should I really just ... leave that alone?

Help? I REALLY need it.

 

[Nocturnall]

With the shavings start saving for a new trans and leave it alone. If you change the fluid removing the shavings the trans could just stop working. As far as the key in the ignition....that's weird.....knowing me and my monkey mentality I would just pull on it as hard as I could and rip it outta there but that's most likely not the right way to go. Does the dash light up when you turn the key on like it's gonna start? Radio and all that? Anything working there? You might have to change the ign cyl and just take it out with the key in it or something.

After thought does the key go all the way back to the off position? Try wiggling the shifter around? There was a post about this in a 06 and people were saying check the brake switch but that was also cause his shifter wasn't acting right....

 

[kari_safari]

Yeah, when I turn the key, the radio and all that goes on, but no engine. And I can't turn my key back all the way to me, it's stuck forward. I've played with the shifter and everything else trying to get that stupid key out lol. It's something. I looked at rockauto.com to see if they have ignition lock cylinders and they don't have any listed for explorers. Any ideas where I could get one of those?

And jeez, a new trans. That sucks.

 

[Nocturnall]

Well I dunno how able your bf is but there's articles on here on how to rebuild them and I dont' think the parts for a rebuild are that expensive.

ignition lock cylinder, explorer, w/o anti-theft, w/o central locking, to 11/27/95 95-96 $122.05 $0.00 $95.20
Electrical - ignition system - ignition lock - ignition lock cylinder

gnition lock cylinder, explorer, w/o anti-theft, w/central locking, to 11/27/95 1996 $104.35 $0.00 $81.39
Electrical - ignition system - ignition lock - ignition lock cylinder
and so on at fastpartsnetwork.com I think ign cyls are usually a dealer part. Could always check your local ford dealer, your gonna need to know which one you need and I dunno if they can tell by the vin or something.

 

[kari_safari]

Yeah... he's probably not gonna want to rebuild a transmission. So do you think if I add a bottle of Lucas Tranny Additive it'll help and make it last a bit longer? Does this tend to happen to a transmission in an Explorer often? Like, is it a common problem?

It would rock if there was a recall on it.


EDIT - And I think my shift linkage is binding up between park and neutral. Is that adjustable?

 

[Nocturnall]

any recalls on it are gonna be long past due on your truck as they were on mine. The transmissions are a weak point in these trucks. It is common for them to fail, mine just did and I just replaced it with a rebuilt one. I honestly dunno if a bottle of lucas would do anything for it. I couldnt' tell you but I know someone on here can give you an idea. Just make sure you do not flush the fluid or change it because the transmission could start slipping REALLY bad or just not work.

You can adjust the shift linkage on the transmission, driverside on the side of the trans right above the pan. You can either adjust it or just d/c it to see if you can get the key out, then worry about adjusting it later.

 

[kari_safari]

Jeeeeeez. I wish I knew more about all of this! I'm definitely gonna have to start reading up. But yeah, about changing the ign. lock cylinder, my boyfriend tried to follow the manual earlier on today and poked the thing underneath the column that the book said to poke and tried to pull out the lock cylinder, but it wouldn't come out. Like, something wasn't happening right. Have you ever had to take that apart before?

 

[Nocturnall]

Nope. Never taken one out of an explorer, took one out of a firebird and that sucked enough that I never wanna do another one. Try unhooking the shift linkage from the transmission and moving the shifter around to get the key out before you remove the ign cyl. The linkage comes off very easily, and by that I mean this idiot (me) didn't have to look in the manual to get it off so it has to be pretty darn easy.

 

[CDW6212R]

Hello Kari, welcome to the forum, and hopefully we can help you, or steer you to a good answer.

The ignition key cylinder is likely junk, there are probably a few tumblers which have come out inside, and jammed it up. Start calling about a cylinder, a used one with lesser miles wouldn't be bad if the price is good. A locksmith can make your old key work in a different cylinder, ask them what their prices are, most have an initial fee for coming out to you.

Basically you are faced with playing with the key, twisting it, the cylinder, to try to get it to the ignition on location. I believe that that is where the cylinder is turned to install or remove it. There should be a tiny pin on the underside of it to press inword to make the cylinder pull out. Remove the plastic cover surrounding the key cylinder. A tiny pick or even an ink pen might work, or a tiny screw driver. The locking pin hole is about the size of a pen refill, near the base of the cylinder.

The trans, all Explorer V6 transmissions are not at all bulletproof, they are the weak link of the drivetrain. The cost of fixing a burned up transmission is never ending, usually failures occur again, not 100k+ later.

Install a trans filter in the lines now, to catch any debris before it gets to the radiator and/or cooler, it may be too late. That debris is what kills the next trans, and the next one, etc. It is recommended to replace the radiator and coolers when a trans burns up.

As soon as the vehicle has a major trans symptom, stop driving it. Forcing it to go until it quits moving can cost you many hundreds of dollars more, plus make the next trans fail(debris).

Do what you want to, but I don't plan to ever "leave the trans alone, hoping for the best." I shall fix any problem when I see it coming, not hope for the best. I've heard it before, let's not start that crap "don't ever change the trans fluid, that will make it fail" debate.

If a transmission is sick, showing signs, like debris on dipstick or in the pan, don't pray, fix it. I personally believe in valve body kits for all automatics. TransGo makes correction kits specifically designed to make the trans function better than it was designed to. They work, but it takes a good trans mechanic to install them, they are about working with delicate parts and small torque values.

If the trans is going to fail because of it's current condition, not changing the fluid is not going to fix it. It may delay it, possibly, but it will fail, and they never do so conveniently. Why drive knowing that it's about to go out, or you think so, and you wait, and wait ...until it does. Screw that, I am going to make mine either work right now, or fail now, when I'm prepared for it.

Do the external trans filter, add a cooler if it does not already have one in front of the radiator. Then buy a valve body kit(transmission parts store) and find someone to install it. Have Mercon V or synthetic fluid used, with Lubegard additive. Also wait till Glacier(Chris) here weighs in, he might suggest a couple of other extras. It may be good to change a couple of solenoids, and adjust the bands also. The TransGo kits have instructions which include readjusting the bands. Good luck,

 

[Nocturnall]

I thought once you started getting metal shavings in the fluid the trans is going and there isn't much you can do to save it? Something inside is being ground and it's a loosing battle at that point which is why I suggested start saving for a new one.

 

[CDW6212R]

It just depends on what it is, there are hundreds of parts insdie of a transmission. The real worry is to have any debris find its way into the valve body. When the valve body fails to work perfectly, the trans is doomed very quickly. Hopefully better fluid, a filter, and a valve body tune up can improve things. If there is some kind of operational symptom, that can be used to diagnose what parts may be causing trouble.

Search here through the section for transmission troubles, there have been hundreds of people helped by discussing their symptoms. Regards,

 

[kari_safari]

I'm going to have my boyfriend read all that tomorrow because he definitely understands all of this better than I do. From what I can tell, you really seem to know exactly what you're talking about.

But I have another concern! You bringing up the key reminded me. I have this problem where I guess I have a copy of a copy of a copy and my key refuses to work in my door locks. And for some reason, the guy who had this before me toyed with wires and my dad said I can't put a remote starter in there. As you can imagine, I'm a little wary with going places knowing that I can't lock my vehicle. I probably couldn't just change the locks on doors, right? Would it make sense just to get new doors?

And about the hole under the column that you could stick something in to open it, we tried several different things that did go in entirely and nothing seemed to happen. We tried pens, screwdrivers, the works. We tried this way earlier once I got the manual and it told about it. Any idea why this wouldn't work? Is there some kinda button in there that we're not pushing at correctly or something?

As I mentioned above (somewhere), my shift linkage seems to be binding between park and neutral. Is there a way to adjust that?


Man, I'm just bringing out every single issue I have with this thing. It's really not the worst vehicle ever, it's just got a few problems. Locks, that lock cylinder, transmission ... but really, other than that, she's in real good shape. But I guess that transmission is probably ruining everything else, huh?

 

[kari_safari]

Well, I'd hope it's sorta easy! Chris (my boyfriend) said that taking that off is real serious business. I'd pay to have all of this done, but you know, I'm a college kid. I really don't have the funds. =/

 

[Nocturnall]

Transmission is just ruining itself. As far as the door locks go you can replace the locks. the copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of your ignition key might be why it's tough to get out of the ignition cyl. Why can't you put an alarm in it?

 

[jimbocentral]

I can't help you with the key but I just had my trans rebuilt last week. The mechanic told me that there were some upgrades that needed to be done to keep the problem from happening again. The only advice I can give you is get the trans fixed right or get rid of the vehicle...sorry!

 

[kari_safari]

No, I never had a problem with the key in the ignition, only the locks on the doors. I can't put an alarm on it because the guy before me made a mess of the wiring. He had an alarm in beforehand, and I couldn't understand why my battery died so often. What was happening was that we didn't know about the alarm and it was over-sensitive. The way the guy fixed it is he cut the sound wire and so the alarm would be going off all night and we would have no idea.

But yeah, I dunno. That's what my dad tells me. That the remote car starter/alarm/lock thing wouldn't work.

 

[GeorgeR]

You need an auto locksmith for the key problem. You put your finger on it when you said that you had a copy of a copy etc. If you can't get the cylinder out of the column, try using a pair of vise grips or regular pliers to pull straight out while you manipulate the wheel and switch and key. Don't use too much pressure. Duplicate keys are a major source of problems with autos. The primary key for my '96 is fine, but when I use the spare key I have problems with removing it from the switch sometimes.

 

[kari_safari]

Wow! Yeah, I'm definitely working to get this fixed. Junking her never even occured to me lol. I looooove my car.

 

[kari_safari]

Really?! So, when your key gets stuck, can you not start your car or turn the key to you entirely?

 

[Nocturnall]

You could probably install an alarm it would just be a pain, you'd have to test every wire to figure out what was what and if you needed that wire or not.