New guy here, TONS of technical Q's, yes I searched first, lol

[Red92XLT4x4]

Hey everyone, new guy here. I just went and bought a 92 Explorer XLT 4x4 today and am looking around trying to repair some things. I've searched posts all afternoon, and I'm starting to finalize a concensus on how to fix the problems. So far, I need to address the following issues;

- Power door locks do not work, none of them from either switch. Loose connection? Solenoid bad?
- Three windows go down intermitently. From my prev. experiences with elec. motors, it looks like the motors are going out.
- Cruise Control does not engage at all, but I haven't checked the vacuum lines or the fuse yet (dark outside)
- Power Mirrors only go to the left and up on the drivers side and the right and up on the passenger side. Possible gunk buildup in the switch?
- The fuel guage is INOP, how can I fix this? new guage? or new cluster?
- There is a howl in the front axle when you engage the 4 wheel drive. A friend who works at a shop suggested an additive and fluid top off because a lot of 4x4s howl when they are not used much. Something about fluid not being distributed and taking a while to lube....
- There is something making "OD" not engage. The prev. owner said to get it into OD, he had to sweet spot it between the "OD" and the "D" so he had the shifter looked at. They "Fixed" it, but now "OD" on the column is D and so on. But Park, Reverse, and Neutral are all normal. Could it be the shifter linkage?

Sorry for posting so many questions, but I'm tired after spending 5+ hours searching through pages and pages of topics. Many helpful suggestions found, I just want to make sure the methods discussed in past threads are currently accepted means of fixing the problems mentioned above. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Red92XLT4x4]

Anyone?

 

[BuffaloXplorer]

Do your locks work at all?, or is it just a lock or unlock problem? Did you check the fuses?

Do your windows work at all?, or are they just slow?

As you said, check the CC vacuum and go from there...

The mirror doesn't sound like the switch, b/c you've got up, left & right. On my old tempo, there were little "t" shaped clips on the backside of the mirror that had snapped, leaving me with only up and out on one side. BUT, before you get into opening it up, check to see if you're hearing the motor when you press the switch...

Not sure about the rest...

 

[Positive Vibes]

Bad news I think on the fuel gauge. I believe the sending unit and pump are INSIDE the gas tank. You may have to drop the gas tank and install a new sending unit. And since the tank is dropped you might as well replace the pump. Anyone else want to chime in.

My OD is quirky. Works sometimes and sometimes not. I don't use it anymore as when driving long distances it likes to throw a CEL.

And its good to see a newbie use the search function. People will start chiming in if not just bounce it once a day.

 

[Red92XLT4x4]

BuffaloXplorer - The locks work maybe once in a hundred times of pressing the switch. I've randomly hit the lock or unlock button and they will lock or unlock normally. Maybe work once a day or two. The drivers side window will work if I push the glass down and up, even then it will stop and the motor will spin for a minute and then I'll push it up. The rear two you have to hold the switch and pull or push the window into place. As for the Mirrors, I haven't heard the motors while I'm pressing the buttons.

Positive Vibes - Well, that's what I was thinking from the posts that I dug up, I just wanted to make sure. I've done the same thing on my Camaro, and that thing sits on the ground, so an SUV should be a nice vacation of sorts, lol. As for the OD problem, I'm just going to take it to a tranny shop in town and have them look over it. I can't find an answer anywhere, so I won't go in blind. As for the searching, I know how everyone feels about that. I'm a forum veteran myself and I know how frustrating it can be. For some newbs, it's ok. But the same newbs over and over and over even after you have directed them to the answer can be tiresome. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Positive Vibes]

Do you use the OD a lot??

And where is everyone else. 410 where you at?

 

[Red92XLT4x4]

I can't use OD at all, it won't let go into OD. From N to D, but it's in the OD slot. I can find OD if I sweet spot it, but it won't go.

 

[jimbo74]

use the search button lol j/k welcoem to the site....

 

[Positive Vibes]

Have you figured any of your problems out?

 

[nascar_intimid]

Hey everyone, new guy here. I just went and bought a 92 Explorer XLT 4x4 today and am looking around trying to repair some things. I've searched posts all afternoon, and I'm starting to finalize a concensus on how to fix the problems. So far, I need to address the following issues;

- Power door locks do not work, none of them from either switch. Loose connection? Solenoid bad?
- Three windows go down intermitently. From my prev. experiences with elec. motors, it looks like the motors are going out.
- Cruise Control does not engage at all, but I haven't checked the vacuum lines or the fuse yet (dark outside)
- Power Mirrors only go to the left and up on the drivers side and the right and up on the passenger side. Possible gunk buildup in the switch?
- The fuel guage is INOP, how can I fix this? new guage? or new cluster?
- There is a howl in the front axle when you engage the 4 wheel drive. A friend who works at a shop suggested an additive and fluid top off because a lot of 4x4s howl when they are not used much. Something about fluid not being distributed and taking a while to lube....
- There is something making "OD" not engage. The prev. owner said to get it into OD, he had to sweet spot it between the "OD" and the "D" so he had the shifter looked at. They "Fixed" it, but now "OD" on the column is D and so on. But Park, Reverse, and Neutral are all normal. Could it be the shifter linkage?

Sorry for posting so many questions, but I'm tired after spending 5+ hours searching through pages and pages of topics. Many helpful suggestions found, I just want to make sure the methods discussed in past threads are currently accepted means of fixing the problems mentioned above. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

DOOR LOCKS: check the wire cluster by the door hinge, sometimes they crack with repeated open and closing...mine did.
WINDOWS: sounds like the worm gear may be stripped "imo" very hard to change..easier and probably cheaper to replace door from wreckers.
CRUISE: check lines fuse etc....behind glove box is cruise module and probably needs replacing..again wreckers
MIRRORS: this prob will be eliminated with wreckers doors..if you don't go that route then change the switch...wreckers 5 bucks.
FUEL GUAGE: unplug harnes above rear driver wheel and jump the yellow wire with white stripe to ground and turn on key, if goes to full or empty o.k. then remove ground jumper and cycle key again it should read F or E it is opposite to the first try I forget. if these things happen then the sending unit is o.k....Ford tech says so
HOWLING:check cv joint and u-joints and of course fluid level
O.D.:sounds like the linkage is not hitting the valve correctly and needs adjusting again by a reputable tranny shop...hard to get it right. easy to put O.D. in the wrong spot.
I hope I was a little help but you didn't give much to go off...and welcome to the best forum i've ever seen!!!

 

[Red92XLT4x4]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I do have another small problem though concerning my door lock situation. I searched, but didn't find any definantive answers, so I'll go ahead and post. As I stated earlier, the locks will work maybe once a day or so, if randomly pressed. Well, today I accidentaly hit the open switch and the locks opened up! I pressed the lock switch and, of course, nothing happens. So I'm going around and locking all the doors by hand. I get to the drivers door and try to press the knob down to lock it. It won't budge! So I stick my key in and try to turn it to lock it, nothing! So after spending a while taking the door panel off to see inside, I have to sit there and play with the lock switch to get it to go down. I was out there for half an hour before the switch hit again and locked the doors. When the doors locked however, the drivers side coudln't be unlocked with the key! I had to use the door handle to pop it up! What is causing this? Actuators? Any advice?

 

[Positive Vibes]

Might try spraying some WD40 of something in the key hole. I know mine gets clogged with mud and dirt and I have spray a good amount in the key hole to get the key lock to work. Not sure why this would affect the auto open?? Worth a try?