Hey, newbie cruising in...

[Jonny813]

Hey all, I'm not new with an Explorer but just found your great site. To start off, I drive a 98 Sport 4.0 OHV w/ AWD, completely stock that I know of. I have owned it for going on 2 years now and have actually found an interest in keeping it now. I actually have been looking for a site like this because I have alot of questions about my car. I am very passionate about cars, specifically muscle cars, but now I'm getting more into my SUV since it is what I have.

Well, first I rather get any information on some problems I have before I get into adding anything.

1. I have electronically controlled AWD, which doesn't engage to high and low. Over the last few weeks the 4x4 High & Low lights have been flashing a couple times every 10 or so minutes. Now this is very vague and I will get it looked at by a mechanic so I dont expect any answers for this one yet. Im looking more of anyone else that has a similar or had a similar problem, even though this could have a number of things wrong, I'm just praying its not the transfer case.

2. This is more of an annoyance that I do not like to hear coming from my car. During acceleration, I'd have to say around 40% throttle, and mostly in 1st and 2nd gear there is a violent vibration. Now, it is like precisely at the same amount of throttle whenever I feel it, less/more throttle and its smooth. At first I thought it may be the tranny, but since its during acceleration, not when changing gears, I'm thinking it could be alot more things. Now my car has almost 120K miles on it and has the original wire set for the plugs, and could be bad injectors or a number of things. A Co-worker has a ranger that he said did a similar thing but he never figured it out and I'm still learning the mechanics/drivetrain, so any advise or even idea's will be appreciated.

Now for some other questions on some minor mods...

I don't feel like putting a great deal into this car, frankly I dont have the money for that either. My main want is the most bang for my buck. I do most of the labor myself, so the best price for parts.

I was looking along the lines of a few things to add some extra power to it, and other goodies to add to the suspension(no lift), and parts to just extend the life of my car.

One of the main things I was first things I was looking into was a Chip(since you can get some cheap and very easy to install), the hard thing is, I want to stick with regular gas...

Well, thanks for reading.

 

[aldive]

One of the main things I was first things I was looking into was a Chip(since you can get some cheap and very easy to install), the hard thing is, I want to stick with regular gas...QUOTE]

Welcome aboard.

The chip is as simple as having it programmed for 87 gas; however, you will not get the power you would with a 93 program.

 

[Jonny813]

How easily is it programmed? I always thought most of the companies distributed them with 93 preprogrammed, unless you wanted to spend the money for one of the chips that came with a computer to program it or find a certain company that does sell multi-octane chips. And yes, I do realize that I won't get as much gain as with 93, I'm just looking for a little here and a little there. I run around 16 miles a gallon, so the price change for gas for a claimed 20 horsepower isnt worth it. But could you give any brand names of a chip that is good for an Explorer, I've heard hypertech is good, but I will always shop around before I buy.

Thanks.

 

[Mbrooks420]

You don't have AWD, you have automatic 4wd. The lights are flashing because the system detects a fault somewhere. It could be wiring related, or it could be sensor shift motor related I guess. The Apten Superchip is generally thought as the best Explorer chip, and sells dual programed chips so you could run an 87 econo setting, and a 93 performance setting if you wanted.

 

[Jonny813]

Could you go into a little detail on the difference between AWD and Auto 4x4? I mean, the definition I always thought of AWD is full time 4x4. Which my car is full time 4x4, then again, I don't know what Auto 4x4 is... So I can't argue that I have or don't have it.

Thanks

 

[trevvor]

1. I have electronically controlled AWD, which doesn't engage to high and low. Over the last few weeks the 4x4 High & Low lights have been flashing a couple times every 10 or so minutes.

I have a 97 XLT and had the same problem except mine did engage to high and low but mine is semi-automatic. Anyhow, I brought it to a dealership and they diagnosed and replaced the transfer case shift motor. That stopped the light from flashing and I assumed everything was ok. 10 months went by and it started again. This time the dealership diagnosed the GEM module as the culprit so they replaced that. Another 6 months goes by and it starts again. They diagnosed the transfer case shift motor again.

After that I bought a Hanes guide and found that the transfer case shift motor is readily accessible on the back of the transfer case. If I had a way to diagnose it myself I could have saved thousands.

Good luck.

 

[Mbrooks420]

AWD is always on, no switch, no high or low. Typically,liek the Explorer AWD's, used a viscous coupling to adjust torque from slipping wheels, to the non slipping ones. The only Explorers with AWD are V8's. Your truck, uses an automatic 4wd which uses an electromagnetic clutch, and a computer to add power in a certain percentage increments, like steps. Your truck also has High, and low.

 

[Jonny813]

Thanks trevvor, I was planning to take it up to the dealership to get it diagnosed pretty soon. If the problem isn't a pain to get to, I will probably end up fixing it myself.

And thanks Mbrooks for explaining the difference to me, that does clear up some questions I had.

 

[glfredrick]

The "fast fix" for the in and out 4WD in the late 90's series Ex's is to drain and refill the t-case with new good oil, and to disconnect the battery terminal for a whike - (10-20 minutes) to reset the main computer in the truck. That should take care of the issues you are describing unless they are hardware related.

I have found that an annual oil change works WONDERS for my automatic 4x4 in my 97. They just start getting "sticky" after a while.

Another quick check is for tire diameter/PSI. Because the computer senses speed in all 4 wheels, it is sensitive to a tire that is larger/smaller than the others (different wheel speed) which causes cycling of the auto 4x4. I found this to be true after having one tire low on air by about 10 PSI over the others.

Hope this helps. I would do these things first before heading to the dealer. If it still does the same thing after looking at these things, you are only out a bit of time and the money for a couple quarts of new tranny fluid for the t-case.

 

[jhasz]

Being the kind of guy that like to "run the numbers" here's what I came up with concerning your thoughts about a chip.

Assumptions:

Cost of Chip $300 (from my research it may be plus or minus that - but that's the average)
Cost of 87: $2.00/gal (here is't currently 1.79 at the cheap place)
Cost of 93: $2.20/gal (this may be a bit high, but here the difference is about 20 cents)
MPG on 87(w/o Chip): 16
MPG on 93(w/Chip):20

Making these assumtions, and the real important one here is the difference between the two prices, you would recover the cost of the chip after driving 20,000 miles.

For me that's just a little over a years worth of driving. Of course, there'd be other unquantifiable improvements as well, adding to the enjoyment of driving - like better acceleration onto the freeway, etc...

Currently, I'm looking for info on the dual octane program chip as mentioned by Mbrooks.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jonny813]

Thanks glfredrick, I was planning to do some tinkering/cleaning with my car as soon as I get off work today, I'll aim to do that first. Would you recommend any brand/type of fluid to refill the t-case with?

The tire idea does get me thinking, because I have had these lights come on before, but at the time I didn't pay attention to them. And I cant remember if they were in the same time frame but I did have to fill up 2 tires because they had a small leak. This was several months ago, since then I have had new tires but I haven't looked at the tire pressure yet but hopefully it works.

Thanks

 

[glfredrick]

I believe that your t-case takes Dextron III. Almost any brand is as good as another in that oil. I tend to shy away from Pennzoil and Quaker State - as I have had some really bad oil and oil tests with those products, but to be fair, I didn't test the tranny oils... http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25635&highlight=oil

 

[Jonny813]

Jhasz, oh boy I totally didn't see your post. Which was really helpful by the way.

I have a question though... Now I have never heard that a Chip will give better gas mileage. I always thought that it would decrease them. My friend had a 91 Camaro RS and was running around 16-17 MPG, then ran w/ a chip and was down to 14-15. Now, if I knew that a Chip would give my car better gas mileage and give me an improvement in power, I would have bought it awhile ago.

Thank

 

[Mbrooks420]

The chip can improve mpg by using a more efficient fuel curve. It can also use more if you stomp on it all the time like speed racer. It's all in the driving habits.

 

[Jonny813]

Gotcha.

Thanks Mbrooks

 

[Jonny813]

Here is another question though.

Exhaust... I just went to flowmaster's website to see how much money a kit would cost around. Well, their kit is $357.99, but it says for the SOHC... Now I have an OHV, would this fit still?

Now the flowmaster is more in my price range if it would fit, but are there better exhausts that won't break my bank?