My '91 Explorer - A Lesson in Patience!

[Stealthcb]

I inherited my '91 Explorer 4WD from my mother-in-law when her husband (its owner) died. It has a PLETHORA of problems, so I thought I'd list them here and see what people think.

Of the problems below, which ones would you fix, and if so, how would you fix them? (Keep in mind that I will probably trade this in for a new car in August or Sep.)

1. Oil pressure gauge shows fluctuating pressure, from normal to none. Changed the sending unit. That fixed it for a while, but now it's happening again. No indications of a lack of oil to the engine. I suspect the screen is dirty and needs de-gunked, but a mechanic told me he thinks the gauge itself is bad.

2. When I slow down to stop, just as the tranny slips into neutral I hear a "clank" from the transmission. No idea.

3. Only one of the power windows actually works. The two fronts have to be forced down and up by hand, and the non-working rear one is jammed -- won't go anywhere.

4. Bearings are squeaking on the right front.

5. Stereo that I installed won't ground right. Connected as per instructions, but still hear engine static in the speakers. Doesn't rise of fall with revving, just steady all the time.

6. At 2400 RPM and about 42 MPH, the engine sputters and cuts in and out, like I'm pumping the gas. Goes away with just a slight release or push of the gas pedal.

7. (Just added). Passenger side rear door has the child lock stuck ON. Can't open from inside. Then the nylon clip that holds the handle to the bar that actually opens it broke. Can't open from the OUTSIDE. How do I open a door like that?

So there you are. The major ones. What does everyone think?

 

[KevinJTorres]

Stealth-
You can probably find the solution to some of these by doing a search for the individual problem. Nearly everything that can go wrong with these trucks has a write up on this site with how to fix it. I'll give you my opinion on a couple of your probs.

1. Know that the oil "pressure gage" in these trucks is not actually a gage. It will read normal if pressure is normal, and low if pressure is bad. It's a go, no-go kind of thing.

2. Bad. No idea, but bad. The A4LD tranny is a quitter.

3. Sounds like the only fix is not a quick one. You'll probably have to remove door panels, lubricate gears and channels, and see if any other adjustments are needed. Not hard, but a pain.

4. I don't know how it was taken care of, but have a look at the ball joints while you're in there doing the bearings. Could also be brakes squeaking. just a thought.

5. Easy fix: Get some wire, run it to a screw in the body somewhere. take out the screw, clean away all the paint. Put the wire around the screw, put it back in, problem solved.
Proper fix: Not as easy. Test with a meter to see if you have a ground inside the stereo itself.

6. Do a search for MAF and IAC. Clean these. See if that helps.

 

[Stealthcb]

Kevin: Thanks for the inputs! I'll do the searches, too.

1. Know that the oil "pressure gage" in these trucks is not actually a gage. It will read normal if pressure is normal, and low if pressure is bad. It's a go, no-go kind of thing.

Mechanic told me he thought it was just a bad instrument on the panel. It reads good sometimes, bad others. No correlation to accelerating that I can see...don't want to try to drop the pan and change the pump, but might have to.

2. Bad. No idea, but bad. The A4LD tranny is a quitter.

It's done it for some time, but that was my thought. Ugh.

3. Sounds like the only fix is not a quick one. You'll probably have to remove door panels, lubricate gears and channels, and see if any other adjustments are needed. Not hard, but a pain.

Actually, on one that might work, but on the driver's side front, it looks like the motor itself is gone. Doesn't even make noise when I hit the button.

4. I don't know how it was taken care of, but have a look at the ball joints while you're in there doing the bearings. Could also be brakes squeaking. just a thought.

Brakes were done a couple months ago, but I'll check them.

5. Easy fix: Get some wire, run it to a screw in the body somewhere. take out the screw, clean away all the paint. Put the wire around the screw, put it back in, problem solved.

Roger that.

6. Do a search for MAF and IAC. Clean these. See if that helps.

OK. Thanks!