Various problems with a "new" 1999...

[Wade Lippman]

I bought a 99 Explorer last week with 92,000 miles. It had a 30 day warranty and a fresh state inspection, so I didn't bother to take it to a mechanic first.

1) Test driving it, I noticed a slight vibration in time with the wheel rotation. The seller said that he had asked his mechanic about it and was told it was from a brand new tire and would go away pretty soon. It is about 100 mile later now and it has not gone away. Over 40 it is not noticable.

2) Yesterday the "check gauge" light was on when I started it. I turned it off and consulted the manual. It said to check the oil lever, which was fine. I turned it on again and the light was off.

This morning it stalled when I turned it on, but it got cold last night so I didn't think much about it. The light was on again, but since it gone off yesterday, I didn't think much about that either. When it didn't go off after a quarter mile I pulled over and noticed the oil pressure gauge was on low. I looked that up in the manual and it said not to run the engine when the gauge was on low, but by that time it had a normal reading. I took it to my mechanic who said it was a very bad sign and cautioned me not to drive it any further; so I left it there.
The dealer says he was aware of the issue, but his mechanic assured him it meant nothing. Still, he is having me drop it off at his mechanic for a second look.
-----

Comments?

 

[marragtop]

Get your own mechanic to look at it. Don't go with the dealers mechanic.

 

[Wade Lippman]

Before the warranty is up I will take it to my own mechanic, just to make sure nothing is going on that is not obvious. I expect a certain amount of routine maintenence is probably called for also.

The lemon law requires the dealer to fix anything wrong. If he refuses to fix it, I can demand my money back. He is not obligated to pay for repairs I make without his authorization; even if he has refused to make them.

 

[IAmTodd]

Most likely the oil pressure sender. They went on both of our Explorers. If you lost oil pressure while driving it, you motor would already be toast.

Make the dealer or whoever pay to have the tires rebalanced. If they're new, they probably weren't properly balanced.

 

[pumpkin]

Before the warranty is up I will take it to my own mechanic, just to make sure nothing is going on that is not obvious. I expect a certain amount of routine maintenence is probably called for also.

The lemon law requires the dealer to fix anything wrong. If he refuses to fix it, I can demand my money back. He is not obligated to pay for repairs I make without his authorization; even if he has refused to make them.

That's right, it's most likely the sender. Mine failed at 79K miles and I replaced it myself ($9.83)

It seems like a simple fix but I don't think the lemon law applies here. I could be wrong though. A sensor gone bad on a vehicle with close to 100K mi is almost common. Good luck!

 

[IAmTodd]

I believe the lemon law only applies to new vehicles and if you have a reoccuring problem.

 

[Wade Lippman]

That's right, it's most likely the sender. Mine failed at 79K miles and I replaced it myself ($9.83)

It seems like a simple fix but I don't think the lemon law applies here. I could be wrong though. A sensor gone bad on a vehicle with close to 100K mi is almost common. Good luck!

I take it the sender sends the oil pressure to the gauge. Does it make sense that it would not work for just a few minutes when cold, and then be okay?

The Lemon Law (at least the NY version) covers everything that at is not obvious at a glance (such as torn seats), except what is specifically exempted. Major components cannot be exempted. My dealer did not exempt anything.
Since it only malfunctions when cold, and I never had an opportunity to cold start it, I had no way of knowing about it.

 

[pumpkin]

I take it the sender sends the oil pressure to the gauge. Does it make sense that it would not work for just a few minutes when cold, and then be okay?

The Lemon Law (at least the NY version) covers everything that at is not obvious at a glance (such as torn seats), except what is specifically exempted. Major components cannot be exempted. My dealer did not exempt anything.
Since it only malfunctions when cold, and I never had an opportunity to cold start it, I had no way of knowing about it.

Yes, that makes sense. When I started my engine, the oil pressuse gauge wouldn't move all and the check gauge light would stay on. After a few minutes, the gauge would "spring" to the middle and the warning light would go out....and it was cold. (December 2004). It acted normal when starting a warm engine.

BTW, my hometown is on the other side of N.Y. (Huntington, Long Island) . There is a used car lemon law (in N.Y. at least) and it also has to be a reoccurring problem. For cars over 80,000 mi, it's 30 days or 1000 mi., which isn't a lot of time. I think it just covers those major components: Powertrain, Brakes, starter, etc. Your dealer is only going to fix what they are required to by law, even if you say they didn't exempt anything.
They should replace that sending unit for you since they knew about it.

 

[GJarrett]

I take it the sender sends the oil pressure to the gauge. Does it make sense that it would not work for just a few minutes when cold, and then be okay?

My '99 shows no oil pressure for a couple of minutes at startup and has done so for about 80,000 miles now. I've learned to ignore it and will only get worried if it finally never shows pressure after running a few miles. And yes it takes a little while longer to show pressure when the weather is colder too. If there were truly no pressure you'd be hearing the engine scrape itself to death while that light's on.

 

[Wade Lippman]

Most likely the oil pressure sender. They went on both of our Explorers. If you lost oil pressure while driving it, you motor would already be toast.

Make the dealer or whoever pay to have the tires rebalanced. If they're new, they probably weren't properly balanced.

He replaced the oil pressure sender and it seems okay now. (well, if starting after 3 hours at 15 degrees counts as a cold start.)

He rebalanced all the tires. The ride is significantly better. It still seems a bit rough, but I am new at trucks and AT tires, so it might be as good as it gets.

Thanks for your help

 

[IAmTodd]

Check the air pressure in them as well. I run around 32psi in mine

 

[jmyers]

what's involved in replacing a Oil pressure sending unit?

That's right, it's most likely the sender. Mine failed at 79K miles and I replaced it myself ($9.83)

It seems like a simple fix but I don't think the lemon law applies here. I could be wrong though. A sensor gone bad on a vehicle with close to 100K mi is almost common. Good luck!

Pumplin, can you briefly explained to me what all is involved in replacing the Oil pressure sending unit? I'm pretty sure this is just beginning to occure on my '99 with 85,000.

Thanks in advance
JM

 

[Randy1999]

I'm new here. I wish I found this site earlier. I had this problem. No oil pressure reading when cold and after a short while, the oil pressure gauge jumps to normal. Since the engine seemed to run normally, I didn't think much of it except that the gauge was sticky. Would only do it when cold and the colder it was, the longer it would take for the gauge to spring back to normal.

Anyway I said "had" because I took it to the dealer yesterday to have it fixed, along with a tranny and a coolant flush.

 

[jp450]

Check this out on the oil pressure sending unit ---> http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153097