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Question: 2002 Ford Explorer mileage 57,000. Front disk brake pads keep on breaking/crumbling. I replaced 3 sets so far in about 20-25 thousands mile. Does anyone have experience or knowledge about this? Can you help? I have been working on my car for 30 years and have never seen this. I also noticed that the caliper is fixed with two wedges a, I cannot understand how both pads can wear out evenly? It seems one is fixed on one side of the caliper, and other side is the only one moving/pressed by hydraulic system.

Answer: You may be getting poor quality brake pads or the brakes are not fully releasing causing a constant drag in the brake pads. We have have good luck using parts from eautopartstore.com

Question: 2001 Ford Explorer Sport mileage: 5,000. There is a vibration that happens when I hit 2000 rpm. It doesn't matter what gear the trans is in or how fast the car is moving. The only thing that matters is the load. Going up a hill the vibration is worse. It is felt through the gas and brake pedals and steering wheel. The dealer changed the muffler, realigned the engine and trans, and says that's all they can do. Called Ford and they said "its a known problem with no known fix"

Answer: Try to isolate the vibration by putting the transmission in park and revving the engine to 2000 rpm. If the vibration is present, it is caused by the engine. If not, it is in the drive train. If the engine is causing the vibration, disconnect all the drive belts and briefly start and rev the engine to 2000. If the vibration is gone, then an accessory drive item is causing your problem.

Question: 2003 Ford Explorer  mileage: 45,000. Took my truck to dealer for recall on front sway bars. Was informed that my ball joints were loose. Had them replace lower ball joints. One week later took truck back because of noise in front end. Was told my front bearings were bad. Should the mechanic have been able to tell the bearings were bad on the first visit? Also, I asked for the old ball joints and never got them. Just a little curious, seems 60,000 is a little early for ball joints?

Answer: 45,000 miles does sound a little early for ball joints. When replacing ball joints, the front wheel bearings would not necessarily be taken apart for inspection. We always return old parts to our customers when they request them so we do not understand why you did not get the old ball joints when asked - they are your parts.

Question: 2002 Ford Explorer  mileage: 51,000. After running the vehicle for several minutes, it loses its 4 WD capabilities. The "4WD" and "4WD LOW" indicating lights flash six times than go out. This repeats at exactly two-minute intervals. While driving the vehicle, I switch to fulltime 4 WD but nothing happens. If I stop and put the truck in neutral and switch to 4 WD Low, it will go into 4 WD low. Switching back to 4 WD or auto does not take it out of 4 WD low. If the truck is shut off and then restarted it will work properly for approx. 3 minutes. This problem has occurred several times over the past 3 years, Ford has replaced the sensors and an electronic board, one item each time and the problem would go away for up to 8 months. The problem is back now and happens every time the truck is driven. There is also a loud BANG in the backend whenever you accelerate and the rear wheels lose traction.

Answer: Sounds like the actuator motor for the 4-wheel drive needs replacing. The loud bang that you experienced when accelerating is normal for the type of limited slip differential that is in your car.

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Question: 1998 Ford Explorer mileage: 106,000. My Explorer will not pass inspection because emissions are too high. A friend told me that one of the cylinders is not firing. He checked the compression and the reason is that the valves are not operating properly. There are no valve adjustments for this year. What other options do I have?

Answer: Check for a flat camshaft. If okay, perform a cylinder leak down test, which will pinpoint which valve is causing the problems. You may have to remove the cylinder head to correct this.

Question: 1999 Ford Explorer mileage: 77,000. I recently had my lower front ball joints replaced by a local mechanic, after I got my truck back I started having problems with my front brakes. At random times while braking the brake pedal would push back and pulsate. I brought my truck back to the mechanic and they told me that it was my ABS activating at random times and it was a software problem that needed to be fixed by a Ford dealer. I brought my truck to a dealer and they have since told me that both front hub assemblies needed to be replaced, at a large cost. So my question is, could this local mechanic have damaged the hub assemblies while replacing the lower ball joints, and how much should the repair to the hub's cost?

Answer: Ask Ford why they think the hub assemblies need to be replaced. They should be able to tell if they were damaged by another mechanic. Probably what happened is an ABS wheel sensor was damaged when the ball joint was replaced.

Question: 1999 Ford Explorer XLT mileage: 76,000. Occasionally (seemingly as a random occurrence) my vehicle will not start. The engine cranks, but it will not turnover--that is, unless I give it gas. At this point, while I am still giving the car gas, the car seems to run fine. No warning lights come on, everything in the car functions properly, no strange noises can be heard, etc. However, as soon as I remove my foot from the gas, it stalls immediately. I can usually get the car to start and remain started after about 1/2 an hour of going through this process off and on. Of course, since this is a random, but somewhat common occurrence, this never happens when the car is at the service station. Therefore, the dealership has told me that they can't fix the problem if they don't know (or understand) what is wrong. I thought you could help me out so I could tell them what the problem is. I've heard that this site is good for giving advice so I came to you when my dealership has failed me. Please let me know what you think about my problem. Thanks for your help!

Answer: From what you described, we would replace the idle speed control motor. If it is hanging up or slow reacting, it may not set a fault code in the computer.

Question:  2000 Ford Explorer mileage: 56,000.  Recently I turned a corner and heard a bang (like a rock hitting the wheel well. Since then, my Explorer seams a little "mushy" when driving.  I'm wondering if the shock absorber went bad.  I don't really notice much in city driving, but when hitting higher speeds on the interstate, it says up & down when I hit a small rise.   Bumps are ok, but when there's a small rise in the level of the road, the car goes up and down.  Specifically in the left front.  (This is where the noise came from.)  Bad shocks or something more?

Answer:  It is possible that you do have a bad or broken shock.  Also, check the shock mounts to see if they have been broken loose from the frame.

Question:  1997 Ford Explorer XLT mileage: 39,000.  I recently brought my 1997 Ford Explorer into the dealership service department because when the wheels are turned from a stopping or slow speed position the car tumbles and shakes.  For example, when turning left or right from a stop position, the wheels tumble and I can feel the whole care vibrates.  I think it has something to do with the axles.  The mechanic that inspected my car confirmed the problems I described to him.  I left my car with him and he called me back later to tell me that there is no fix for my problems.  He also said that there is a Technical Service Bulletin out on the vehicle.  What does that really mean?  In addition, what precautions should I take?  Do you know where I can go to find the actual service bulletin he is talking about?

Answer:  The technical bulletin explains that the shudder that you are experiencing is normal in 4 High or 4 Low.  You should not experience the shudder in 4 Auto.  Your vehicle should bind in turns in both 4 High and 4 Low, but not in 4 Auto.  The 4 High mode is intended for severe winter weather or off-road driving only.  It is not intended for use on dry or merely wet pavement.

Question:  1999 Ford Explorer mileage: 10,505.  Bob and Ken, Quick question.  I have started to notice that when I start my Explorer up in the morning, my oil pressure gauge does not move and my "Check gauge" light comes on due to this.  After I get going down the road for about a minute, the oil pressure gauge goes completely normal within a second and my "Check gauge" light goes off.  It did not do this in normal weather...this started happening when we got freezing temperatures.   The car runs fine at all times even when the light is on.  I have had the oil changed recently and it is still doing this.  It only seems to happen when I leave it sitting for more than 8 hours.  If I drive it to work and then get in it at lunch, the oil gauge reads normally.  What should I do?

Answer: A faulty oil pressure sending unit may be the cause of the problems that are occurring.

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Question:  1997 Ford Explorer mileage: 100,000. The last time it was used the headlights, radio, dome light, and instrument panel lights worked.  The next time she used it, she had no headlights, radio, dome lights or instrument panel lights.  I have checked all the fuses at the fuse box and under the hood.  They are ok.   If I pull back on the hi-low dimmer switch, the headlights will come on as long as I hold it back.  If I pull out the headlight switch, they do not come on.  Could this be a bad ground wire?  If it is, where do I look for it?  Is there a fuse I have not found somewhere else?

Answer:  From what you have described, it sounds like you have a defective headlight switch.

Question:  1994 ford Explorer mileage: 149,000.  Have turned rotors, replaced brake pads.  When you press the brakes to stop the pedal surges back and forth towards you and makes the car jerk. 

Answer:   From what you described, it sounds like your brake rotors were turned improperly.  Check to see that they run true.

Question:  1996 Ford Explorer 2WD mileage: 85,000.  I am going to change the transmission fluid for the second time in the vehicle.   I had no problems the first time, however I only drained the transmission, not the torque converter.  I looked for a drain plug in the converter but could not find one.  I would like to drain all the fluid this time around.  Any suggestions on how to drain ALL the fluid from both transmission and torque converter?

Answer:   Assuming you have checked the torque converter for a drain plug, then there is nothing you can do to drain the fluid from the torque converter.  Changing the fluid and the filter in the rest of the transmission will replace enough of the degraded fluid with new fluid so that it makes it unnecessary to drain the fluid in the torque converter.

Question:  1993 Ford Explorer 2 WD mileage: 107,000.  I have noticed a hissing sound coming from the fuel pressure regulator port located on the fitting where several vacuum hoses connect to the intake manifold.  This port has only a cap on it, I replaced the cap but the hissing is still there.  I can push on the cap and the hissing is reduced but what can cause this?

Answer: Check the vacuum port and hoses behind the port with the cap.

Question:  1995 Ford Explorer mileage: 68,000.  My Explorer has been diagnosed with faulty ABS sensors in the front.  I am unfamiliar with repairing ABS brakes, but would like to do the job myself.  Can you tell me the steps, or am I getting into trouble?

Answer:   Replacing the ABS sensors is relatively easy.  If you have done other brake jobs, it is straightforward.  Unplug the sensor wires and unbolt the sensors.

Question:  1999 Ford Explorer mileage: 72,000.  When I turn the wheel hard left or right the automatic hubs engage and the whole axle turns, and I am still in two-wheel drive.  Both hubs were updated last year.  Any tips?

Answer:   Check the automatic hubs for proper operation.  They may be faulty.

Question:  1998 Ford Explorer mileage: 105,000.  How do you adjust the clutch?  If the rubber boot inside the fluid container is stretched out and will not go back into the cover, will this cause the clutch not to work?

Answer:    Your clutch is self-adjusting.  The rubber boot inside the reservoir sill not keep the clutch from working properly.  If you have not replaced the clutch in 105,000 miles, you may be ready for a clutch replacement.

Question:  2002 Ford Explorer mileage: 45,000.  Where is the oil sending unit located on this model?

Answer:   The oil pressure-sending unit should be next to the oil filter.

Question:  1994 Ford Explorer mileage: 82,000.  It sat parked in my garage most of the summer.  When I took it out and drove it this fall I noticed the engine overheating not over the normal range but higher than it normally runs, which is between the "O" and the "R" on the gauge.  It would go up the "M" or the "A" then come back down.  So, I changed the thermostat thinking it might be sticking. It made the situation better but the temperature gauge still oscillates quite a bit.  It seems when I first start it up it will go up to the M on the gauge and then comeback down, and will continue to do that for a few cycles and then level off and be OK until I hit a long grade and the temp will come back up and cycle starts over.  Do you have any ideas?

Answer:  A partially plugged radiator may be causing your problem.   We suggest that you buy an brand new radiator, they are very reasonably priced from www.eautopartstore.com and it solves the problem.

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