I swear, it just followed me home last night (new truck)

[96Green]

Hi all!

First time Ford owner here. Just picked up a '96 Sport:

I mostly intend to keep it stock as a commuter & spare car, so for now, i'll be concentrating on fixing the the issues it has got.

Project #1 -- Turn signals don't work. Well, the left one works sometimes. if you hold the switch juuuust sooo... I got up this morning to swap out the switch; Took the old one out, and discovered Advance Auto gave me the wrong replacement . The correct part is coming this week. So, now, as it sits:

2 quick questions:

A)
Is this an OEM console? I've been googling around to try to work out how to remove it, with little results. All the how-tos I can find are for the full size console.

B)
I want to pull the carpet out, because it's, well... ****ty. Safe to assume it's bare (painted) metal under there?

 

[Explorin'VA]

Looks similar to a first gen console, this thread might be of some help.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=78785

And yes, under the carpet is painted metal.

 

[96Green]

That is exactly what I needed. Odd... It does appear my gen 2 has a gen 1 console in it.

Thanks!

 

[rkh58]

Nice Sport 96Green. Good luck with it! That console also came in 2nd gens. My '98 XLT has the same one. Guess it was standard equipment unless you optioned for the upgraded interior package.
Thanks for posting that link Explorin'VA. Now I'm going to swap the console in my XLT with the one in my '98 Sport. That has the full length one.

 

[96Green]

Nice Sport 96Green. Good luck with it! That console also came in 2nd gens. My '98 XLT has the same one. Guess it was standard equipment unless you optioned for the upgraded interior package.

Thanks! And thanks for the info.


Explorin'VA, thanks for the link. I was able to pull the console fairly easily.

I spent the past couple hours pulling the console out, and then removing the absolutely heinously disgusting carpet.

Tomorrow's project... cleaning the seat covers!



Oh yeah, and all the crap I found under the front seats, console, etc....

 

[koda2000]

My '97 Sport came with 5 times that much junk in it. The pens and pencils I can understand leaving behind, but mine also had about 5 dollars in change and a half dozen almost new cig lighters (to bad I don't smoke) a set of Chrysler car keys and a mess of other stuff, and it wasn't like any of it was hidden. PO was just too lazy to clean it out I guess. Nice looking truck on the outside. Good luck with it.

 

[96Green]

Nice looking truck on the outside. Good luck with it.

I also found $1.82 in small change

It doesn't look to bad on the inside either now that the grunky carpets are out (seriously, they were f*ckin heinous). It just needs the seat covers cleaned, and the dash wiped down. I bought the biggest box of MrClean Magic Erasers you've ever seen the other day in preparation for doing just that.

Should be a real sweet beater when I'm done cleaning it up.

 

[DjDom]

Nice Sport 96Green. Good luck with it! That console also came in 2nd gens. My '98 XLT has the same one. Guess it was standard equipment unless you optioned for the upgraded interior package.
Thanks for posting that link Explorin'VA. Now I'm going to swap the console in my XLT with the one in my '98 Sport. That has the full length one.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393003

Been there, done that, hope this helps you.

 

[96Green]

Water + MrClean Magic Erasers = no more sticky dashboard!

This is what came off:

Yeah. Ew.

 

[rkh58]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393003

Been there, done that, hope this helps you.

Thanks Dom. It definitely will. Decided to leave the Sport alone and get a full length console and overhead console for the XLT.

 

[DjDom]

Water + MrClean Magic Erasers = no more sticky dashboard!

This is what came off:

Yeah. Ew.

Dude, I know that feeling. I bought a Bissel little green carpet extractor. Used it on my carpets and seats, that was disgusting, and the trucks been in my family for over 12 years.. Just comes to show you, even if you try to keep it clean, there's still crud you can't see.

Thanks Dom. It definitely will. Decided to leave the Sport alone and get a full length console and overhead console for the XLT.

I installed an OHC as well in my XL. Let me know if you need any help.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Nice looking truck. Just a tip. A few of my Fords have had that turn signal issue. All it is is dirty internal contacts. I've pulled all mine apart, cleaned the contacts and threw them back together and they worked like new. Not sure how much they're hitting you for the switch, but that could save you a few bucks.

 

[5spdman]

all the crap I found under the front seats, console, etc....

That's nothing. When I bought my 92 Escort, I filled up two boxes worth of stuff, pulled out everything from a lamp to a shower curtain (still packaged), band music and clothes...even found a few bottles of insulin and BGL test strips....I'm still finding test strips to this day, and I bought the thing 4 years ago lol.

 

[96Green]

Nice looking truck. Just a tip. A few of my Fords have had that turn signal issue. All it is is dirty internal contacts. I've pulled all mine apart, cleaned the contacts and threw them back together and they worked like new. Not sure how much they're hitting you for the switch, but that could save you a few bucks.

Thanks for the tip! The switch is loose and fiddily, and i was able to get a new one for under $60 at Advance Auto Parts, so....

The new switch, a new pair of headlights, and some fog lights should be here later this week.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Thanks for the tip! The switch is loose and fiddily, and i was able to get a new one for under $60 at Advance Auto Parts, so....

The new switch, a new pair of headlights, and some fog lights should be here later this week.

Ah ok if the switch is loose I agree replace it, especially for 60 bucks.

 

[96Green]

It's officially mine. Went to DMV at lunchtime and got a license plate.

 

[96Green]

Okay... taking the seat covers off and washing them seemed like a good idea at 7.30. That said, it's now nearly 9.30, I have 7 skinned knuckles, and i'm sweating like a ***** in church.

The upside... my front seats are now a LOT cleaner!

 

[96Green]

I found some goodies waiting for me when I got home!

(Yes, I know I could have polished the old headlights... But I a new pair of headlights & corner lights for, like, $50 and went for it. Corner lamps are still Out For Delivery.)

 

[96Green]

Just finished installing the frog lights.

 

[96Green]

Got the new multifunction switch installed, as well as the new front lights:

Shiny new parts:

Before:

Old v. New:

After:

Oh, and whichever Ford engineer designed the headlamp adjusters on the 2nd gen Explorer needs to have something terrible happen to him or her.