would like X to be more 'responsive'.

[cantspell]

Hello,
I work at a car rental place, and we have access to pretty much every cool new SUV, from Jeep Grand Overlands to Aviators and Navs.
I've noticed, that the fords tend to rev up slower and are much less responsive, thottle wise? Why is this?
My engine is working in fine conditions and i have an intake and exhaust, new plugs/wires, everything. I don't really plan to do much more to it, unless there's somethign like an underdrive pulley - which i hear there is not ( for the SOCH).
Does the SOCH have an electric fan? And could it actully be the gearing? Or simply the tranny is sloppy? Is so,what can be done? Would the B&M electronic shift enhancer help off the line acceleration??

Thanks!
Matt.

 

[EliteConcept]

well the explorer isn't a sports car you must remember that. Its heavy and large and has somewhat of an weak engine for its size. There are some minor mods that you can do to increase the throttle response. other than that its just a slow vechile. I mean the speed limit is 55-75 depending on where you are at, how fast can you really want to go

 

[Alec]

Do you have a chip?

Off the line acceleration does have a lot to do with gearing. Do you know what gears you have? If not, look at the axle code on your driver's door sticker and tell us what it is or do a search for the code definitions. With 31s, 4.10s would be best, but 3.73s will be ok.

A shift improver won't help you right off the line, but will help firm up your shifts and make highway passing easier by making the downshifts better.

 

[RiverRat]

If it were me I'd go with different gears.

 

[cantspell]

I have 3.55 gears...pretty bad for 31's right? But it's funny (and i know this is picky), it's even harder to deress the accelerator pedal than in other trucks...maybe i'll try to lube the throttle cable...

But the just of it is that it's the gearing then i guess...
thanks.

 

[sapogmxr]

were can one get a shift improver from and how much do they run for?

 

[Alec]

Jegs, around $30-40.

 

[Shurup]

Maybe cantspell means not initial take off but how fast can the enging increase its RPM while on P or N. I found out that this is what happens to FORD engines. If I play with the gas pedal of my mom's van (Chev Lumina) or with my brother's Crysler Concorde they response much faster (almost immediatelly) at the pedal movement. It is like when I hit the gas pedal (on my FORD), it takes about 0.5 sec before the engine starts increasing RPM. On their cars there are almost immediate response. Neither of us has done any mods to the engines so why FORDs are "thinking about something" before increasing RPM? Is ther any way to eliminate that time loop?

 

[sapogmxr]

Is this the one that would work. It dosnt mention Ford Explorer. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=3222&prmenbr=361

 

[Alec]

Yes, I think that's the one for 95+ Explorers. The 91-94 one will also have a vacuum component.

The rate at which RPMs increase is dependent on many factors. These can include intake airflow, exhaust airflow, motor size, bore, stroke, flywheel weight, piston weight, crank weight, torque converter, many many things. Simple mods such as intake and exhaust can really help throttle response. But ultimately to really change it you have to change gearing or do substantial mods to the motor. Gearing can help you out by keeping the engine in it's optimum powerband. If the motor falls below it's powerband, it will take longer for it to rev up. This is most likely what's happening with the 3.55 gears and 31" tires. You should regear. 4.10 would be a good choice, and would still be ok if you upgrade to 32s or 33s eventually.

 

[DarkFox1]

the only thing I'd like to know, is why when someone says their vehicle is too slow, do they always get the "this isn't a sports car" speech? he already mentioned that many suvs he has driven is faster, of wihch I can agree with with my test drives that I've done this year, I think we all know the X isn't a sports car.

sorry to rant there, but I had to get that off my chest, I couldn't let it go unsaid or I'd just wind up not posting for another 6 months.

at any rate, lemme know what you decide to do cantspell, I have an intake and exhaust too, and am wanting a LOT more out of my truck than its giving me, a shift kit and chip are things I've considered but have not done for sure yet

 

[cantspell]

Hey, well after chatting with some ford Techs, it's appearantly just fords, as someone said earlier. Personally, I'm going to regear and also get the shift improver. I"m waiting to add a locker and new gears at some point in time, hopefully before the summer ends.

Today at work, i played around in a few of the trucks, and it seems that number of cyls and size of engine also make a big difference. I personally consider the SOCH a pretty recent engine, and when compared to others (when in P or N) it's actully not that bad, I guess it's just gears (the Jeep Grand Cherokke's we have can actully chirp all 3 tires!) and that the X is heavier.

 

[Alec]

Even mine with all it's mods and gearing takes a while to get from 1500-3000 RPM. After that though it takes off Think about it, a 4.0 is a large displacement V6. That's a lot of stuff to get moving with only 6 cylinders opposed to 8.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Originally posted by Shurup
Maybe cantspell means not initial take off but how fast can the enging increase its RPM while on P or N. I found out that this is what happens to FORD engines. If I play with the gas pedal of my mom's van (Chev Lumina) or with my brother's Crysler Concorde they response much faster (almost immediatelly) at the pedal movement. It is like when I hit the gas pedal (on my FORD), it takes about 0.5 sec before the engine starts increasing RPM. On their cars there are almost immediate response. Neither of us has done any mods to the engines so why FORDs are "thinking about something" before increasing RPM? Is ther any way to eliminate that time loop?

I'd like an explanation of that too. It's like you tap on the gas, and that thing shoots. My mom's Chrysler Town & Country's gas pedal and it responds. So is my uncle's JGC Overland.

 

[Alec]

Well the first thing to do is make sure there isn't too much play in your throttle cable. This can be fixed with the "throttle cable mod" that is described on this site.

Intake, exhaust, MAS, TB, and chip all increase throttle response. However, if the MAS and TB are too large they can actually hinder performance (those made for the X aren't too large).

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Thanks for the suggestion Alec. I did the throttle cable mod and it did give some response but not like the ones in my mom's van and my uncle's Grand Cherokee. I did the two zip-ties thingy. I took the tube out and noticed that the butterfly opened up at 90 degrees so I guess that's the best I can do.

I'll do more mods if I have money but I'm a poor college boy who cannot work b/c of my classes and my parents.

 

[Shurup]

My old FORD Probe (2.2 turbo) had that time loop, my girlfriend's FORD Focus (which is sucks ( glad she doesn't read this site )) responses immediately, the Jeep Cherokee I have driven (4.0L L6 about 200K miles on it) didn't have that time loop. So I guess it is just depends on the engine and X's V6 is too heavy with lots of stuff driven by it (lots of inertia) and that's why there is a time loop. The only FORD engine I have seen with immediate response is my girlfriends car, but it is all new developed. Among other companies there are plenty or cars/trucks (new or old) with immediate response.

What do we complane anyway? X is a great toy and my brother with his Crysler Concorde is jealous because he can't go offroad. :smoke:

 

[MONMIX]

I just think it is funny
" Cantspell "
is spelled correctly

 

[cantspell]

believe me, i usually don't spell very well...

Anyways, i spoke to a shop today and they quoted me about $1200(can.) in labour alone to install new gears...what the hell?

I'm actully considering not doing anything more to the "X" for the time being (as unfortunatly there are other things in life that money must be spent on...what a shame...LOL). And at that price, i guess i'm outta luck!

 

[Alec]

In the US a gear install is usually $200-350 per axle.