im a first time explorer owner and love it...but

[Jeff Williams]

I have just recently purchased a 91 Explorer
XLT 4x4 .I really like it alot but so far it has had a few problems that i hope is not a sign of the life of an Explorer owner.First the gas tank had a hole in it and I got that fixed,then the low range on the 4x4 would not engage I still have to get that fixed,then the alternator went out! Ive only had it for 3 days.It is in really nice condition. The interior looks almost new and the outside is in good shape also so I dont think it has been abused.Maybe just getting off to a bad start?

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[jwrezz]

Sounds like the guy you bought it from sold it just in time. I really wouldn't worry that much. I don't know how much you paid, but ya got what sounds like a well maintained Explorer that is 9yrs old. Some things are gonna need replacing/repair. I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck.

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John '95 XLT

 

[Kyle K.]

Hey Jeff congratulations and welcome to the ranks, glad to have you aboard. Those seem like simple enough coincidental things. Are you very mechanicly ?spelling? inclined? because if you are there are some things to check before you pay to have the 4x4 low fixed. First there is a selector computer for the 4x4 in the hidden compartment on the drivers side in the back, where the jack is, there is a button on it i think it is white, it's been a while since i looked , push the button, then try to engage again. also it could in rare cases too much grease in the hubs making it difficult to engage, they should only have a slight film of grease or i heard for the first time today that you can clean them and soak the inside in atf then pour it out using that for the film. if neither of these are the culprit here is the mechanically inclined part, you can lay under the truck on your back with you head just aft of the transfer case looking forward and there will be a 2-3" cirular cover on the back of the transfer case, this is a cover for the servo that selects the gear in teh transfer case. once you ope it there are 4 metal tabs that contact a circuit board and i think a copper or ...metal... plate, sometimes these tabs lose tension and don't contact well, just bend them down slightly so they will press harder on the plate for a good contact and bolt it all back together.

hope this wasn't too much to soon, good luck,

if you are planning to go medium to serious with the off road half of your truck, and you haven't replaced the alternator yet consider you intentions and maybe look at high output alternators, 100-190 amp alternators are a big help for winches, lights serious stereos, etc.......

dodger

 

[Jeff Williams]

Thanks for the input guys. I think its going to be a nice truck. I checked the little white button in the back and that was not it but I will crawl under as soon as i get time.I already had the alternator replaced with a stock one (oops). The first night I brought it home I tryed the 4x4 button and the low button and they both worked just setting in the drive way, but when I went to use it, no low. I dont think it is anything serious.I have a lot of experiance mechanicing but not with 4x4,fuel injection, or computers.I really think this web site is great and appreciate the comradery . jeff

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[Paul Gagnon]

Jeff,

Is your transmission in neutral when you try and engage 4 low? It will not go into 4 low unless the tranny is in neutral.

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Paul Gagnon
"No Brain, No Pain"
Dead Link Removed

 

[sethlaz]

If you have the manual transmission you'll have to put it in neutral, press the brake, and floor the clutch (all while tapping your head). It should take a few seconds to engage. It's a lot to coordinate if you're not used to it.

 

[Ivan_M]

Hey..
Sounds like you're on your way despite some of the more typical "setbacks" to expect from an Explorer of that vintage. Not to rain on your parade, but here are a couple of item's to keep you eye on unless they've already been dealt with:

Power Steering pump: It'll start leaking at the shaft. Some leak seal is a temporary measure until you replace it. It's not really all that hard, just a little messy.

AC: Sigh... veeeerry problematic for 91-92's. You may not need it much now with winter approaching, but wait till summer. If it has problems, it'll work for about 20 minutes before it starts to dump warm muggy air at you. There all sorts of little quirks in different parts of the system. Best plan of attack to have a competent AC shop go over it completely. Pricey, but better than rolled down windows in a Phoenix summer...

Tranny: If manual, watch the rubber shift rail plugs at the back. They rot like an old pair of Nike's causing precious tranny fluid to undercoat your rig as you drive down the road, and then toasting everything inside..not a pretty sight and hard on the wallet as well. If auto, there are other inherent problems associated with an auto that occur at about 75,000 miles. I didn't have one of those, so I'm not to up to date on that.

Like I said, you've already been touched by the other known problems. But don't dispair ..as noted in another post above, it's just part of normal decay of parts over time. Enjoy your rig.. You'll have lots of fun with it...

Ivan

 

[Jeff Williams]

Well it actually doesnt sound as bad as I feared.It is a manual transmition and I have tryed it in neutral with the clutch in but dont remember if with my foot on the brake,I will try that when my "wife" brings it back.
She loves it and drives it to work.The air doesnt work but im not surprised (blows, but not cold).The power steering pump whines but not toooo bad.Real bad gas mileage, I havent put a pincel to it yet but probably about 12
to 15 on the hiway.I'll put plugs and wires and that should help.I've been thinking of going with a synthetic oil but a mechanic told me that with that many miles(129,000)it
would develope leaks because synthetic is so thin.But he did recamend a synthetic blend Castrol (?) sounds good to me.I was thinking of going with their 20w50 synthetic blend but dont know if it would be too thick.