Problem fixed. Wow, I was really suprised.....

[ArnoldHorseshack]

at the lack of suggestions I received concerning diagnosing this problem I had with the 98 Explorer Xlt 4.0 (I got all of one, Thank you cgriffin_5139). I thought this was a Ford Explorer forum. No offense. I own several Hondas and have always had good luck getting advice from guys on the Honda forums when there is a problem that has had me stumped. Needless to say I was a little disappointed with the lack of help here. :thumbdwn:

 

[Tbars4]

so the problem was? and the fix was? ...

 

[ArnoldHorseshack]

Well, I checked everything from stem to stern vacuum hoses, emissions, the normal stuff. I had just put brand new plugs and wires on about 2 weeks ago and finally I just started unplugging and plugging all the electrical parts. Anyway to make a long story short one of my brand new spark plugs was defective. I have never ever had that happen. That's why I was stumped because it had been running great and then it just started running like crap (which is not usually the case with a spark plug, it's usually gradual). I just took each one out and tested it on a motorcycle to see if I was getting a spark and finally I got to that one and there it was. Never would have thought.

 

[Tbars4]

what plugs were you running? i am sure a few people would like to know....

 

[MountaineerGreen]

A few things that contributed to the low response- (from my perspective)

First, I am almost certain you posted in the Technician Corner, all posts there are for tech tips not questions, and they are moderated, meaning I have to manually approve the post before it appears.

From the heading of the Tech Corner:

This forum is where professional automotive technicians or skilled automotive hobbyists can share their tech tips. Do not post your questions here! Post in the forum best suited to your topic. Questions posted in this forum will be deleted!

I moved your post to the appropriate forum and approved it so it would appear. By that time it was back on page 2 or 3 of new posts, so the odds are not many people saw it.

Secondly, and this is my opinion and my opinion alone-

I found your post asking your question, tired to read it, found it to be jumbled and run together, basically difficult to read. I got a few lines into it and gave up. I would wager others did the same.

A friendly suggestion for forums- separate your thoughts with spaces, avoid run on sentences and use punctuation.

It was missing and jerking when accelerating so I replaced the plugs and wires because I discovered I had a burned ignition wire. All is well, no more jerking or missing. I drove it over 500 miles and started it the other day after stopping at the store for about five minutes and it started running similar to the way it had before. I checked all the plugs and wires. I had one loose plug so I removed it and examined it checked the gap and it was fine so I reinstalled it. Still runs bad. So I disconnected the ignition module and reconnected then restarted the truck. Well, now it runs worse than ever. I have no check engine light and this has me baffled. Could disconnecting the ignition module have made this worse? Could there be dirt or grime in the ignition module plug? If so can you clean those connections with contact cleaner? Would it help to reset the computer? How do you do that? I know it's a lot to take in, thanks in advance.

I think you will find this explorer community is the most knowledgeable on the web. There are so many posts on here, it is easy for one to get lost in the shuffle- don't let one bad experience turn you away. I certainly didn't get a great response to my first few posts.

I didn't mean to offend you if I did, certainly don't want to- just my $.02

 

[ArnoldHorseshack]

I'm sorry next time I will put my thoughts in MLA format. You did offend. Not to offend, but I have no idea what your talking about as far as my writing. This is the first complaint I've had. I have had four years of college and I write in medical charts daily. I thought this was a blog not a mastery course of the English language.

As for the plugs, they were Bosch platinum

 

[FROADER]

Starting 4 different threads about the same thing doesn't help your chances either...

It's also only been 3 days since you started the first thread. Give it some time for people that might know the answer to your questions to even see the threads.

 

[Xpl0rer]

if you do a search on here, you'll find many complaints about bosch plugs with fords ingnition system. might try moto-craft platinum or double plat next tune up.. that being said i would strongly sugguest the search button, it will be your best friend in a "need to get this going" pinch. best of luck,
~troy~

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could find a lot of useful information just from reading other threads. Even if it's a 6 year old thread it still could be helpful. I've posted things in the past, and haven't gotten instant responses. When I found the information I was looking for, I updated the information in that thead for other people to benefit from it. Some people will see it months, or years later, and may add something new to it. Keep in mind that not everybody will have an answer for you. Everybody is here to help one another.

 

['97 V8]

:mattmoon:

You writing medical charts daily has nothing to do with what is being said. We are basically saying, the average animal will read the first sentence, find it difficult to read, and then click on "new posts" to read another thread. Its human nature, we don't like to work. You should know this.

 

[HappyGilmore]

A few things that contributed to the low response- (from my perspective)

First, I am almost certain you posted in the Technician Corner, all posts there are for tech tips not questions, and they are moderated, meaning I have to manually approve the post before it appears.

From the heading of the Tech Corner:


I moved your post to the appropriate forum and approved it so it would appear. By that time it was back on page 2 or 3 of new posts, so the odds are not many people saw it.

Secondly, and this is my opinion and my opinion alone-

I found your post asking your question, tired to read it, found it to be jumbled and run together, basically difficult to read. I got a few lines into it and gave up. I would wager others did the same.

A friendly suggestion for forums- separate your thoughts with spaces, avoid run on sentences and use punctuation.



I think you will find this explorer community is the most knowledgeable on the web. There are so many posts on here, it is easy for one to get lost in the shuffle- don't let one bad experience turn you away. I certainly didn't get a great response to my first few posts.

I didn't mean to offend you if I did, certainly don't want to- just my $.02

well said.

if you find you are not getting responses bump the post a couple times.

and as for the post below this quote, i think that your words were a bit more harsh in the first post than MountaineerGreen's.

and if no one has said it yet, WELCOME TO THE FORUM

 

[Tbars4]

to bump is a good piece of info....but bosch plugs, ouch...i have run bosch plugs in lots of vehicles and i am a big fan...when i first got my ranger before i joined any forums, i researched dealers, part stores, junk yards and ranger owners on what parts are best for tune-ups...i was highly warned against plugs other than oem or oem upgrades, especially bosch...i am sure if you search you will find info on why to take them out...good luck and really, welcome...

 

[Dan Whitaker]

No this site is not a blog. It has been around long before the term blog was even a thought in someones mind.

I am like Mountaineer Green. I will not read ramblings. It just shows how lazy people are getting and the fact that it's being accepted.

 

[BrooklynBay]

According to the forum's rules, you could only bump your post one time in a 24 hour period. Bosch makes several styles of platinum plugs. Which type did you put in?

 

[Rage1973]

at the lack of suggestions I received concerning diagnosing this problem I had with the 98 Explorer Xlt 4.0 (I got all of one, Thank you cgriffin_5139). I thought this was a Ford Explorer forum. No offense. I own several Hondas and have always had good luck getting advice from guys on the Honda forums when there is a problem that has had me stumped. Needless to say I was a little disappointed with the lack of help here. :thumbdwn:

Quick, someone give this guy some cheese to go with his whine.

 

[briwayjones]

if you do a search on here, you'll find many complaints about bosch plugs with fords ingnition system. might try moto-craft platinum or double plat next tune up

Which are the same as Autolites. The Autolites are cheaper though.

 

[ArnoldHorseshack]

Look guys, I apologize for whom ever took offense to my "ramblings" as you called them. As for the lazy comment. Isn't it just as lazy to just blow it off after reading one sentence into the post. It is amazing how many responses this post has gotten. Now enough said about that.

I have run the Bosch plugs for years and this is the first time this has ever happened. I guess anything is possible though. I do believe that the next time I change them I will use Autolite.

Also, thanks to who those who said welcome.

 

[ArnoldHorseshack]

:mattmoon:

You writing medical charts daily has nothing to do with what is being said. We are basically saying, the average animal will read the first sentence, find it difficult to read, and then click on "new posts" to read another thread. Its human nature, we don't like to work. You should know this.

Well if a physician can understand my writing, I thought surely motorheads would be able to.

 

[ArnoldHorseshack]

Quick, someone give this guy some cheese to go with his whine.

Hey guy, I'm not whining. Just stating the facts at hand.

 

[BrooklynBay]

My handwriting was always hard for people to read. My teachers thought that I would be a doctor when I would grow up!