Newbie just bought 94 "Eddie Bauer"

[abauman]

Hi Guys,
After reading these threads I have most of my questions answered... I wondered about the "clunk" when I hit a bump (now I am aware of those pesky bushings and how to change them) I couldn't figure why I could hit the 4x4 button and see the lights light, and hear the road noise change, but no 4x4 action..(the infamous auto hubs) Now for a few more questions....

The front left radio speaker is dead, and the right one occasionally crackles in and out. The rears are fine. I replaced the left front speaker assuming it was bad but the "new (used)" one is dead too...this is the fancier radio with a auto-seeking cassette. Is there any common problem for this or should I just start tracking down bad connections?

My bushing bracket is elongated and someone told me I can pick one up from the boneyard for about $20 (in Michigan) I haven't checked it out yet but that sounds pretty cheap...maybe too cheap.. and as an alternative is it pretty common to get these "repaired" and for how much?

I also noticed that when I had the right rear wheel on ice it would just spin and the left did nothing... this is my first 4x4 but I guess I just assumed that if you paid the $$$ for a 4x4 it would at least have a posi rear end.. is the front non-posi also?

And for a final dumb question...who the heck is "Eddie Bauer"? <G>

 

[JStrider]

i can only help with the last question
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bauer

 

[MrShorty]

On the second to last question: It's quite possible you do have a "posi" (FYI posi is a GM term. Ford calls it "traction lock" or "trac-loc"). 2 things to be aware of:
1) These limited slips are not lockers. The clutch type LS can overcome some bias in traction between the two tires. But in cases where one wheel has near zero traction (one wheel on ice or one wheel in the air), the torque transferred through the clutches to the tire with traction won't be enough to move the truck.
2) The clutches on these tend to wear out. They rarely last beyond 100K miles. When the clutches are worn out, the differential behaves just like an open differential.

To find out if you have a Trac-loc rear, check out the differential tag or the axle code on the door sticker. On the differential tag, the second row starts out with the gear ratio (3 45, 3 73, 4 11 or what have you). If there's an L where the decimal point would be (ie 3L73), then you have a trac-loc. The axle code on the door sticker will be a two digit code, and you can look up the code on the internet.

 

[Rhett]

The front left radio speaker is dead, and the right one occasionally crackles in and out. The rears are fine. I replaced the left front speaker assuming it was bad but the "new (used)" one is dead too...this is the fancier radio with a auto-seeking cassette. Is there any common problem for this or should I just start tracking down bad connections?

In my experience, 90% of the time when you replace a speaker and it's still dead, then the problem is with the amplifier. It *could* be a frayed wire or loose connection, though, like you say. You'll have to get in there and follow the line.

I believe the amp (if it's factory) is on pass side above where your left foot would be if you were sitting in the passenger seat. You might want to check with the Audio forum guys on that though, they have messed with the amp more than I have.

 

[abauman]

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the info, This board is amazing! I am learning more about my Ex by just reading these (and other) posts than if I had memorized the Haynes manual!

Great community here. Thanks again!

 

[Pdwight]

From another 94 Explorer Owner

Get a MP3 COmpatable deck from Crutchfield, you can get a decent deck for 100 bucks and they will give you the cable harness to do a swap. I did this on my 94 Limited and it sounds so much better and it was a easy thing to do. I did all 4 speakers and the head unit in 1 sat. morning...no big deal. You could even leave your original door speakers in and not have to worry about changing them out.