Please help if you can

[luke6283]

Hi, I have a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0 V6 EFI. I have a few problems I'd like to run by you guys.
#1 In the morning when I start it the RPM's bounce back and forth for a minute or two until it idles so low that it stalls. I've done extensive searching on this and am picking up a new IAC tomorrow to see if it fixes it, I have tried cleaning it but it hasn't improved it.
#2 Also I have noticed the A/C compressor isn't clicking on when it is on defrost or A/C. Just a week ago I noticed that it had been clicking, because when the idle was too low it would click like every ten seconds.
#3 It has Auto 4wheel drive and sometimes going down the road you can hear a howling when you are hardley touching the gas or let off it. This noise increases and decreases in pitch according with the speed of the car SOMETIMES. THis is an intermittent problem and is not always there. The howling is noticably louder if you put the switch into 4 wheel high instead of Auto and is very loud if you going up a hill in 4x4
#4 On the upper right side of the water pump i see some green stuff there, it looks like antifreeze, and in the morning you can smell the antifreeze but never any on the ground. also it does seem to loose antifreeze over time...Do I need to change my waterpump? It doesn't overheat or nothing.

Any responses will be appreciated
Thank you

 

[luke6283]

Nobody has any ideas?

 

[luke6283]

Well I have great news...and no I didn't switch to Geico. I picked up the IAC this morning and it fixed my RPM's bouncing and the stalling, it also fixed the A/C compressor not clicking...it's clicking like it is suppose to now. If anyone can help on #3 and #4 I'd still appreciate it. Thank you to all the people here...if it wasn't for you guys I'd still be stalling.

 

[gijoecam]

The howling is likely drivetrain related.... could be a u-joint, pinion bearing/gear, or CV joint. Any good driveline shop should be able to accurately diagnose it in short-order. (It's very tough to troubleshoot it over the 'net).

If you're seeing green fuzzies, and smelling/losing coolant, you've got a leak somewhere. A pressure-test of the system usually makes the leak pretty obvious.

-Joe

 

[badgett]

I had the same problem with antifreeze. It looked like it was coming from the waterpump. The thermostat is right above the waterpump in a plastic housing. My leak was coming from the thermostat housing. Picked up a new thermostat with the gasket included and it fixed it. So check that before spending money on a waterpump. Mine didn't leak until the engine was warmed up. Same as you , no leaks on ground and gradual loss of antifreeze.