Looking to buy 1997 sport, have questions

[tludy]

I'm looking at a 1997 Explorer Sport 4wd. I believe it is SOHC. 96000 miles. I have alot of experience building/racing mustangs, but dont know much about 4wd. I really like the car, and the motor and tranny seemed rock solid. Heres a couple things I noticed:

When I engaged 4wd/high while driving, the drivetrain increased markedly in noise. Is this normal? FWIW, this dude never really used the 4wd.

While the AC was running, water appeared to be condensing on the AC line back by the accumulator, and was dripping on the ground. And the AC compressor was making a "ticking" noise. But the AC blows cold. I use AC alot, should I be nervous?

I'm just looking for some input before I buy this thing. Thanks!

 

[rookieshooter]

Welcome to the site. Well it seems that the two most important things are fine. The motor and tranny. The condensation means the AC is working fine. The humidity in the ambient air is condensing on the cold lines. The heat from the air is being transfered to the much colder lines (conduction), You are seeing the 2nd Law of Thermo Dyn. in action. This will happen where you live or on the 3rd moon of Jupiter givin the same parameters. What is heat anyway but the movement of atoms. The faster moving atoms of the heated air meet the slower moving atoms of the cold pipe. They become agitaed and transfer some of the movement to the even slower moving atoms of the refregerant. Ok, you get the picture. Now the molocules of the gasous state of water (humidity) are moving along with the moving atoms (heat) which now collide with the solid walls of the pipe which is cold and the molocules of humidity (water) can not penetrate the walls like the transfering energy movemet of the atoms. Now the air that has all the humidity becomes cold and saturated and can no longer hold the molocules of humidity and changes state from a gas to a liquid. Since we can not make or get rid of energy it is simply changed from one state to another. And bingo, water on your AC lines. Or simply put another way.....It's normal.

when you engaged 4wheel, were you on dry pavement and the inside slower turning wheel was not slipping a little because of the traction trying to keep up with the faster outside turning wheel? Check all the fluids. IMO if you engaged 4 W and you were going straight very little noise or vibration should be felt.

 

[tludy]

Yes, I suspected that's what was happening with the AC, but it's been so long since I've had AC I wasn't sure! However the compressor still ticks a bit, sounds kindof like a sticking valve lifter, but I isolated it to the AC compressor. I hate working on AC, so I'm a bit concerned.

As far as the 4wd goes, I believe I was driving straight when I engaged it. I was cruising along at maybe 20mph, it was definatly not tire slippage. I couldnt feel anything, it was drivetrain noise, didnt sound horrible or anything, but was definatly there. Just a steady, consistent, nondescrept noise. I shouldn't hear anything huh?

 

[rookieshooter]

the ticking could be caused by the reed valves in your comprssor. No more then a strip of metal that opens or closes due to pressure. Really not sure on that one. Sometimes your comprssor or any copressor will make noise when there is to much refregerent in the system. This is called slugging. I would have this checked out at your more reputalbe service center.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge of 4wd then I will chime in later. Very early in the AM up in the states. But I would check all universal joints. Good luck. And don't forget the search forum. Tons of info that you could spend days on. And if you really like this site, which i'm sure you will Join. There may be some kind of new deal going on to get members. See Ya, leaving to get some coffee and doughnuts and have a happy Holidays.

 

[tludy]

does anyone know about the 4wd noise?

 

[96limitedX]

4x4 does cause alittle more noise..toatly normal. as long as its just a slight humm(or along those lines) its nothing to worry about.