Multiple Issues

[4FordFamily]

My explorer is a turd, I'm getting really tired of this.

Just replaced a fuel pump -

Problems:

1. Front left wheel makes a rubbing noise (thought it was rims, then put stock wheels on it and it kept doing it) could possibly be a vibration... but it stops when i turn sharply right. Gets louder as I accelerate.... CV joint? I was told last year i needed a new ball joint, but didn't have the money for it.

2. Vehicle randomly putters as it did when my fuel pump went out, but not as vigorously. (seconds after i put it in drive)

3. Headlights randonly turned off while driving tonight, I was following a car and they just shut off for about 3 or 4 seconds then popped right back on. (I think the dash lights stayed on) Person in front of me probably thought I was insane.

4. Engine performance progressively decreasing, noticably week by week. Engine SOUNDS solid, slight valve tick but no big deal, but it's getting slower and weaker.

5. Just replaced alternator, dash lights keep consecutively going out.

6. Sound comming from exhaust?? Metallic rattling? sound comming from underneath vehicle when in drive and reverse, when in neutral or park it's 90% quieter.

7. JUST replaced the brakes, rotors, and calipers and it still squeeks and occasionally makes a grinding sound.

7. Car is just worthless.


I need some serious advice here guys, I need to convince myself that I need a new truck. Do I or Don't I? Recently put a new transmission in it, completely rebuilt, and have spent literally $10,000 darn near just FIXING the truck. Recently replaced the EGR valve also, and multiple parts over the coarse of the last 3 years.

It is a daily driver, and has 143,000k miles on it.

History on the truck, the man we bought it off said it was never wrecked, but the hood shock assembly (the part that holds it in place) is bent, the front of it was repainted (well) and there are many aftermarket parts on it which says to me it's been wrecked. Call me stupid but I need help.

Please tell me how to fix my problems with it, and/or offer advice on my situation. I am running on a low budget now and this really isn't helping. I am a ford lover but this truck is really making me look bad to all of my friends.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[MtDew]

Hey Jason,

You don't sound happy dude.

I was looking at the "money pit" page and noticed that you've done a ton of electrical mods. (IE: tvs, audio, lighting) I think if I were having your electrical issues (flashing lights, alternator) I would start by checking out all the aftermarket wiring. Loose connection spliced into existing wiring could cause the electrical issue your experiencing.

A truck with 143000 miles is going to have a few squeaks and rattles. Especially one with as many mods as yours. The rubbing noise in the front end scares me the worst. I would'nt screw around with the ball joints. If you need new ones, put em on. It may eliminate your front end noises and its just a plain matter of safty dude.

The exhaust rattle could be a heat sheild assuming that your truck still has them. I have yet to own an Explorer that I didn't have to cut off the muffler heat shield.

I'm a Ford guy too, but everyone has their limit. I don't think any of your issues are serious in and of themselves. You just have a lot of them. Trade or not? That you have to decide, but I think with some effort, you could be happy with your truck again

Good Luck!!

 

[Longjohn119]

Looks to me like you spent the majority of the 10 grand on mostly useless and unneeded junk and sluffed off on **needed** repairs ... in fact most of that junk is probably the cause of all the electrical problems you are having ....

Back in the muscle car days of the 70's we called them "All Show and No Go" or "It sure looks pretty but can it run with the Big Dogs?"

 

[410Fortune]

I say keep it, you spent that much getting it here, dont be afraid of the mechanical issues, but I think you are right it is crossroads time.

Either ditch it or commit.
You will never get out of it what you put into it. You already past that point.

Nothing you describe sounds major, these are all routine maintenence issues most likely, tune up parts, parts that last 143K miles, etc

Sounds like a good time to me to learn how it all works underneath and inside too...

 

[4FordFamily]

To the person who thought it would be funny to call me out on my mods, FYO it was 10 grand soley on fixing the truck, not including 8,000 modding it. I find no point in modding mechanically something that breaks down every 10 minutes.

Im not trying to be rude either, but that's just my personal preference. Eventually if the truck proves it can be dependable I will mod under the hood.

Anyone else have any input? I need more opinions. Thanks!

Thank you for your help, everyone else

 

[oso2324]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

[4FordFamily]

lol. Sometimes you guys crack me up.

Everyones such assholes, makes me laugh.

But usually you all end up being helpful.

Anyway, ignoring the ignorance update: my transmission is jolting really bad when it downshifts and the o/d light is blinking. (I just spent 2500 on a completely rebuilt transmission) (yes with new transfer case)

At least i have a warranty on that

EDIT: Also, i apologize for going off on LongJohn, honestly, he's probably right about why everything is going wrong.

On the same spectrum though, I don't want to rice up my explorer, it's an SUV not a sports car. However, I could use more horsepower and a better-breathing motor. Like I said, my car now has 7 or 8 things wrong with it, with other minor stuff i didn't mention and I just don't see myself modding under the hood because of it.
My father always used to tell me, there's no use in polishing a turd, it's still a turd. Yeah i learned the hard way.

I was stupid and wasted all my money on the "junk" that makes it look pretty, and now of course I've made it a turd or POS.

Anybody know of any good places to buy a cheap pickup truck? Like early 90's to mid 90's? How do you go about repo auctions?

Thanks guys, and sorry again to LongJohn

 

[410Fortune]

You asked for opinions, you got them
People are trying to help.

You neglected the mechanical maintenence for too long, now the issues are popping up, this does not reflect badly on Ford.
A mid 90's pickup is gonna put you right back where you are now....

I think it is time to start learning how to fix this other stuff instead of just making it look and sound pretty. the end result will be an all around bad ass truck.......

If this is not for you then I suggest leasing a car/truck that you can turn in every 2 years....nothing wrong with that and you never have to deal with mechanical/electrical issues.

bottom line is unless its a Toyota or Honda car, with 147K miles on it, any vehicle is going to require parts. the Honda or Toyota usually last another 50K before everything falls apart.....Explorer parts are CHEAP in comparison.

Again to me every problem you listed sounds like an easy fix, jsut requires the proper diagnosis. The trans is the major area of concern, but you already have a warranty for that. All of these problems, aside from the heat guard rattle from the exhaust, could all be related to one thing, your battery cables/alternator harness.

Hope that HELPS.

 

[Longjohn119]

No need to apologize, you can tell me to FO anytime .... I'm used to it ... But I did get your attention and got you thinking

I just bought a relatively low mileage (55.5K when I got it 57K now) '91 and although I would have liked to have gotten a new stereo, replaced the subwoofer with something better, nicer rims than stock etc instead I chose to change every fluid, new plugs, wires, pvc, rebuild the shift motor, K&N filter and modified airbox, tweaked the TPS, new shock package, clean and lube hubs, brakes, window and lock mechanisms ... next will be some tranny preventative maintenance (Already did a fluid and filter change) mainly a valve body rebuild ala Glacier then rebuilding the starter and alternator **before** they go bad

To replace the sub (for now) I bought a $15 POS Walmart roadmaster box, disconnected the falsly advertised tweeters (the are NOT piezo as claimed but paper with a plastic horn, worthless) stuffed the box full of damping material and wired them in series to get the 8 ohms needed for the stock amp and it actually sounds decent, as good as stock anyway

Now my Explorer may not be the prettiest one in town (but it's not crappy looking either) but it's probably one of the most mechanically sound '91's out there ... I don't plan on doing much with the motor, it already had a nearly new flowmaster 40 cat back on it and opening up the airbox and ditching the silencer seems to give it plenty of power for what I need from it ( Then again anything looks powerful compared to the '85 'too slow' 2.0 Ranger with 240K I was using)

I was just looking for a sound replacement to pull my little fishing boat, another Ranger but I eneded up with a lot more and am very pleased with the Ex ... I didn't really want 4 wheel drive (LOTS more maintenance and potential for problems IMO) but it was a better deal with lower mileage than any of the $3000 2 wheel drive small trucks I looked at in the 3 months before I purchased this ...

Most of you problems sound minor, many are electrical (2 and 5) ... noisy brakes on a Ford truck with high mileage, that's no surprise but squeeling is usually a pad issue, grinding due to poor cleanup and lubrication ... as for the fuel pump issue, did you change the fuel filter? If you have a plugged filter, you'll still have one with a new pump even though the new pump will be able to push it through a little better (for a while til you burn it up too) Also have the fuel regulator checked ... The rattle is a classic Ford heat shield problem, a big hose clamp will do wonders ( I have yet to own a Ford in the last 20 years where I didn't have a hose clamp around the cat sheilds .. except this one but I'm sure eventually it too)

Your biggest problem is electrical and with all the bells and whistles it'll take time to sort out, basically you are going to have to go over the wiring on all the extras until you find a bad/wrong connection, if you had them installed professionally I'd be taking someone to task for it

 

[4FordFamily]

I have my fluids flushed every year, and last year I had them all flushed once in spring, and once right before winter,

The only problem I've neglected on the truck to my awareness is the ball joint. So I'm stupid, lol it's getting fixed ASAP.

BTW My truck has been at edwards transmissions since I posted this, and so far has had a new tranny put in it again, and I still don't have it back. Last i heard last thursday it had a new tranny, prior to that the computer was still reading bad fuel pump and transmission issues, and they said something was wrong electrically, (Hello, quick aren't they) Anyway, so they were putting in a new tranny to see if it helps. Bless their hearts for trying, they said they are going to re-program my computer, and as far as I know 3 days later that is done. It is now monday morning and we shall hear what is up!!

I'll keep ya posted, and I like this Longjohn guy, I often come off as an ass hole as well.

 

[96limitedX]

i say keep it...but thats me.

 

[Lt.Jim]

1. could be balance, alignment or just a bad tire. I had a set of kelly street tires on my 98 escort that sounded like 33inch mudders.

2,3,4,5 could still be the alt. Just cause its been replaced does not mean it is a good alt check the voltage,belt tension and wiring.

6. As some one else said is most likely a heat sheild. Find the loose one and yank it off.

7.#1 could'nt tell ya. Have someone else check the brakes other then the person who replaced them.

7.#2 its not worthless if you keep spending money on it you must put some value into it or you would have gotten rid of it by now.

Good luck!

 

[4FordFamily]

UPDATE: The road noise was a hub bearing. For those of you who are wondering what a hub bearing is... I have no idea but i watched them replace it.

Anyway, yeah so the noise is gone!