Friborage
Member
- Joined
- July 16, 2010
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Hazleton, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 XLT 4.0L
2000 explorer, xlt, 4.0. 126k on the odometer.
Bought it just a few months ago, it needed a little love but it was pretty healthy.
It drove smooth through all conditions up to about a week ago. I don't know if this is related but it started the day after.
We got some serious snow, and I was driving by the local cemetery when I noticed nothing was plowed in there yet, so I figured it would be a good chance to get some off-roading in. Kicked it into 4high and dove in, the snow was probably about half to 3/4 of the way up the wheels. Didn't get stuck for a second, blew right through it all, I didn't push it hard at all.
I did a little drifting through the snow drifts, nothing notable happened until I was leaving. I forgot that the road inside the cemetery is higher than the public road, so there's a big drop when you're leaving the gates.. It was all covered in snow, so I hit that pretty hard and fast and I think I might've got a tiny bit of air time... Everything underneath looks pretty intact visually. I put it back in 2wd and went home.
It was fun, and I didn't notice anything alarming at the time. Next day driving to work and back I noticed a pretty rough vibration, so I felt and listened the tried to troubleshoot. It starts shuddering around 35mph and carries on harder and harder all the way to 60-65 where it kind of mellows out but is still very much there.
The shudder/vibration only happens under load though. I tested on the interstate. Accelerating on the onramp it was shaking hard at 45-50mph. Then I let my foot totally off the gas and it smoothed out instantly like butter. Cruising at 50 with 0 pedal is perfectly smooth the way it should be. Put my foot back on the accelerator, still at 50, began shuddering and carrying on just a quick as it went away.
I have my ideas but I'm looking for advice before I throw time and parts at it.
Bought it just a few months ago, it needed a little love but it was pretty healthy.
It drove smooth through all conditions up to about a week ago. I don't know if this is related but it started the day after.
We got some serious snow, and I was driving by the local cemetery when I noticed nothing was plowed in there yet, so I figured it would be a good chance to get some off-roading in. Kicked it into 4high and dove in, the snow was probably about half to 3/4 of the way up the wheels. Didn't get stuck for a second, blew right through it all, I didn't push it hard at all.
I did a little drifting through the snow drifts, nothing notable happened until I was leaving. I forgot that the road inside the cemetery is higher than the public road, so there's a big drop when you're leaving the gates.. It was all covered in snow, so I hit that pretty hard and fast and I think I might've got a tiny bit of air time... Everything underneath looks pretty intact visually. I put it back in 2wd and went home.
It was fun, and I didn't notice anything alarming at the time. Next day driving to work and back I noticed a pretty rough vibration, so I felt and listened the tried to troubleshoot. It starts shuddering around 35mph and carries on harder and harder all the way to 60-65 where it kind of mellows out but is still very much there.
The shudder/vibration only happens under load though. I tested on the interstate. Accelerating on the onramp it was shaking hard at 45-50mph. Then I let my foot totally off the gas and it smoothed out instantly like butter. Cruising at 50 with 0 pedal is perfectly smooth the way it should be. Put my foot back on the accelerator, still at 50, began shuddering and carrying on just a quick as it went away.
I have my ideas but I'm looking for advice before I throw time and parts at it.
