My journey

[jmvb]

Hi

I'm Joseph from Chile (so, if my english is weird, you know why..)

I have a 2005 korean Ssangyong pick up. Very good truck.
I use it for work and familiar travels
We love go to Chilean Mountains, called "Cordillera de los Andes."

From a while ago, I has been looking for a 4x4. The Ssangyong pick up is actually 4x4, but I feel that I need a more specialized vehicle

My target was a Suzuki Samurai or a Dahiatsu Rocky segment.

In that search, I found an abandoned 273.000 KM (169.000 Mil) Explorer 98 XLT. 6 year without move
The owner had a lot of money problems and one day, he left a door open and drain the battery. After that, he found a oil spot under the truck. He never again use it.
Luckily, he store it under roof.

I know that it is not the off road specialized vehicle that I had in mind but...

With a mechanic friend, we take some fuel, and battery.
Check the water and oil levels, and try to start the engine...
And it start at first try!

The truck also have a transmission problem:
Rear is ok
D no move
2 Move
1 No move

If you move with 2 and then, put D, the truck engage all gears.

The 97-00 explorers cost about $2500 - $4000 here.
The man ask $1000 for that one. I offer $900 and he did accept

I took it to my friend workshop.

The first surprice: We found 3 mice burrow in the engine. They cut the coolant Tº sensor cable, 2 inyectors cable, and the knock sensor cable

Already had sprend extra $1000 in new tires, battery, motor oil, spark plugs, oil and fuel filters, inyector's cleaning, coolant, missing door mirror, missing door cover, knock sensor, thermostat, brake pads, sway bar bushings, tapestry repair, full inner cleaning, rear doors locksmith's work, legal papers...

I also refill the transmission fluid, hoping to fix the tranny problem... but it doesn't..

I pulverized the chassis, and took it to legal Technical revision (you need pass every 12 months here in Chile, to get transit permission)

Rejected for: 1 burned rear bulb, 1 missing wheel screew...
All other things, exhaust, brakes, front end, suspension, pass. Very good!

All in the truck works, all accessories.

Searching in the forums, and with the 4pointslow help, I figure out that I have an overdrive sprag problem.

For automatic trannys, shop cost about $400 - $600, plus parts cost, here.

Found an 97' sport side collided, manual tranny for $1000.
Shop cost for swap is about $150.-

Already drive 400 kms since I bought it

I'm evaluating my chances...

Still need to repair stems in the 4 doors, and straighten both bumpers.
Also have some front end noises, but nothing that the technical revisions and they machines found, nothing serious I Think.


I'll be updating


Best regards

 

[2000StreetRod]

back on the road

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations of getting your Explorer back on the road.

 

[jmvb]

I forget mention

The idle is not rough, but have a little cyclical trembling. Probably it is there some vacuum leaks.
I'll clean the IAC valve.
I think that the IMRC valve is jammed.
Smog test was pass

 

[nmdag]

Sounds like your truck has quite a future ahead of it. I wish you the best of luck. Got any more offroad pictures?

 

[4pointslow]

Fast

Greetings to you and your family Joseph!

Wow, that was fast!
I just mentioned starting a thread and I come back in from the garage and here are all these nice pictures!
Nice Explorer! I like that green truck too, that is awesome.

The mountains look beautiful there! Nice blue sky too.

I believe your truck has the rear sprag gone bad, or maybe the front and rear like mine did when I had just 2nd, Drive, and reverse.

Thanks for posting all those pictures!

 

[imp]

The pictures wonderful! The Explorer, watch out for mice and rats! Thank you for your work! imp

Ecuador, a most beautiful country!

 

[jmvb]

Miscellaneous question:

Does have the fuel door a lock? electronic actuator or something?

 

[4pointslow]

Fuel door

I don't think so, it looks just like mine, with the little hump for your fingers to grab and pull it open.

 

[4pointslow]

Tlx

I like the TLX on the back of the truck. I wonder if someone did that or if the made it that way.

Mine says XLT for Xtra Long Truck, meaning a longer wheelbase than the 2 door version.

 

[jmvb]

I don't think so, it looks just like mine, with the little hump for your fingers to grab and pull it open.

Sure, but what happens when the truck is parking and closed?
Anybody can open it, and steal fuel or make piss inside...:thumbdwn:

 

[jmvb]

I like the TLX on the back of the truck. I wonder if someone did that or if the made it that way.

Mine says XLT for Xtra Long Truck, meaning a longer wheelbase than the 2 door version.

I ask myself the same question...

 

[2000StreetRod]

locking gas cap

One of the first purchases I made for my Explorer Sport was a locking gas cap: Ford Explorer Crown Victoria Mustang Locking Fuel Tank Gas Cap With Keys OEM NEW

 

[4pointslow]

gas cap

That gas cap is awesome looking!
I love that little Ford emblem covering the key hole.

Great solution for fuel tank security.

 

[jmvb]

Thanks you!!

 

[jmvb]

Spend 2 days in a shop, searching for a Thumping noise in the front end.
It is a suspension noise. It happens if the wheels pass over any little bump. Even a little stone. The mechanic can't found it.

All parts seems be ok, nothing is loose.
I did a forum search and read a lot of post's. No solution yet.

 

[4pointslow]

noises

Noises suck!
front end problems could be a lot of different parts.

To check the balljoints you have to jack the explorer up by the lower control arm to unload the balljoints.

Sway bar links go bad a lot on these explorers, moog makes ones that are stronger. They have a thicker bolt.

I just replaced the upper control arm bushings on my passenger side, the ball joint was ok or I would have replaced the whole control arm.

shocks could also make noises.

Maybe someone else could give some ideas too.

 

[jmvb]

Today, I begin to feel a "crack" just down of the driver feet's...
I raise the carpet, and I discover that the floor is cracked (not rusty), and if I push it, clearly I can heard the "crack"..
Suggestions? some kind of sealant?

 

[4pointslow]

Crack

A cracked floor board? I never heard that one before.
Know anyone with a welder?

Maybe have it welded and then some rubberized undercoating?

 

[jmvb]

The explorer go to automatic transmissions shop

Here is some pics

 

[4pointslow]

Transmission

Man, that brings back memories of when I rebuilt my 4 door's transmission.
I had to replace the exhaust manifold on the drivers side since the studs were rusted away and I knew they would break, Got one off eBay.
I see some burned up clutches!
Good luck on the build!