My check engine light is on.
My truck also has a loud blower noise and is hard to brake sometimes.
The hard braking only started when the check engine light came on.
It sounds like it is idling up and down.
I dont know what to do, and am scared to drive my truck.
I also have to refuel my truck up every 4 days, which is unusual, if that helps.

thanks for all your help

 

It sounds like a major vacuum line has came off. This would cause a loss of vacuum to the brake booster which will make your brakes very hard to press, a loud hissing or humming noise (depending on location of leak), and a very lean condition which will set your check engine light and cause your idle to hunt around. Start looking around under your hood for a loose hose.

 

Hi, reberhardt.

I forgot to mention that I have not had a tuneup in 2 yrs.
Could that all be a result of needing a tuneup?
Is the truck safe to drive around?

Please respond thanks.

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My check engine light is on.
My truck also has a loud blower noise and is hard to brake sometimes.
The hard braking only started when the check engine light came on.
It sounds like it is idling up and down.
I dont know what to do, and am scared to drive my truck.
I also have to refuel my truck up every 4 days, which is unusual, if that helps.

thanks for all your help

 

No, I don't think a tune-up is really going to solve this problem unless just by being in their digging around you find a loose hose. There really isn't anything to a tune-up (or lack of getting one) that would cause this. There really isn't anything specific that a "tune-up" consists of. If you follow the routine maintenance schedule in your Maintenance Guide that comes with your Explorer, everything will be kept current. Now by saying that you haven't had a tune-up in two years, you are saying that you haven't looked at or changed your engine oil, filters, coolant, transmission fluid, brake pads, PCV valve, fuel filter, belt, hoses or rotated your tires, then I would say you are way past due for a tune-up. But none of these things are going to cause the problems you are experiencing.

I can't say wether or not yours is safe to drive in its current condition. If it were mine, I wouldn't especially with harder effort required on the brake pedal. If you have a minor leak that is just enough to cause a loss of vacuum that suddenly gets much worse while in traffic, you may end up colliding with something that you would rather avoid. It's hard to judge on the internet how "bad" a howling noise is or how "hard" you have to step on your brakes. The only one that can really determine how safe your Explorer is is someone that can physically look it over that knows what they are looking for.

 

If you have an AutoZone in your area, take it there. They will hook it up to a computer for free and give you an idea of the problem.