Explorer questions
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Explorer questions
I will be shopping for an Explorer soon, and I have (quite) a few questions.
What engines were available with the Explorers? I'm looking at both the older style ('91-'94) and the newer ones ('95 & up).
What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
Is the 4x4 push button, or is it floor shifted? A friend had a new explorer in which it was impossible to completely turn off 4x4. This would probably *really* get on my nerves.
What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44.
)
When were disc brakes available?
Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
What specific problems should I look for when shopping? How long do the 4.0's generally last?
Thanks everyone!
What engines were available with the Explorers? I'm looking at both the older style ('91-'94) and the newer ones ('95 & up).
What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
Is the 4x4 push button, or is it floor shifted? A friend had a new explorer in which it was impossible to completely turn off 4x4. This would probably *really* get on my nerves.
What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44.
)When were disc brakes available?
Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
What specific problems should I look for when shopping? How long do the 4.0's generally last?
Thanks everyone!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Explorer questions
Wow, that's a tall order. Here goes...
What engines were available with the Explorers? I'm looking at both the older style ('91-'94) and the newer ones ('95 & up).
- 4.0L Pushrod V-6 , 4.0L SOHC V-6, 5.0L V-8
What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
- 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto. The early automatics were known for being weak, so you may want to watch out for high mileage ones...
Is the 4x4 push button, or is it floor shifted? A friend had a new explorer in which it was impossible to completely turn off 4x4. This would probably *really* get on my nerves.
- They are all push button, activated by an electric shift motor. The motor can get gunked up and will not completely engage or disengage, which leads to most of the 4wd problems. Search this site and you will find the cleaning procedure...
What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44. )
- Not sure on the axles. I'm sure someone else will add that info...
When were disc brakes available?
- Disc brakes were standard on 91's and up on the front from the factory. I think the 2002's were the first to have rear discs but I'm not sure...
Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
- Every Explorer I've seen has a factory cooler on it, although it is subpar for anything other than normal driving. If you're planning on towing or offroading, consider an aftermarket cooler in line with the factory cooler...
What specific problems should I look for when shopping? How long do the 4.0's generally last?
- The problems I have seen are sagging doors caused by worn hinges, worn out u-joints, bad fuel pump relay, and lifter tick. These are all minor problems and mine has 145,000 on the original engine and is still running strong...
I hope that answered your questions. I'm sure others will come along and add to what I have here. Good luck with your purchase...
What engines were available with the Explorers? I'm looking at both the older style ('91-'94) and the newer ones ('95 & up).
- 4.0L Pushrod V-6 , 4.0L SOHC V-6, 5.0L V-8
What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
- 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto. The early automatics were known for being weak, so you may want to watch out for high mileage ones...
Is the 4x4 push button, or is it floor shifted? A friend had a new explorer in which it was impossible to completely turn off 4x4. This would probably *really* get on my nerves.
- They are all push button, activated by an electric shift motor. The motor can get gunked up and will not completely engage or disengage, which leads to most of the 4wd problems. Search this site and you will find the cleaning procedure...
What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44. )
- Not sure on the axles. I'm sure someone else will add that info...
When were disc brakes available?
- Disc brakes were standard on 91's and up on the front from the factory. I think the 2002's were the first to have rear discs but I'm not sure...
Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
- Every Explorer I've seen has a factory cooler on it, although it is subpar for anything other than normal driving. If you're planning on towing or offroading, consider an aftermarket cooler in line with the factory cooler...
What specific problems should I look for when shopping? How long do the 4.0's generally last?
- The problems I have seen are sagging doors caused by worn hinges, worn out u-joints, bad fuel pump relay, and lifter tick. These are all minor problems and mine has 145,000 on the original engine and is still running strong...
I hope that answered your questions. I'm sure others will come along and add to what I have here. Good luck with your purchase...
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Explorer questions
>What engines were available with the Explorers? I'm looking
>at both the older style ('91-'94) and the newer ones ('95 &
>up).
>
>- 4.0L Pushrod V-6 , 4.0L SOHC V-6, 5.0L V-8
When did they start putting 302 in these?
>- 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto. The early automatics
>were known for being weak, so you may want to watch out for
>high mileage ones...
I've done a bit of reading on this, and it does seem that the first generation autos were pretty weak. Were the later ones any better? I understand that there were at least two different automatics available after '95.
>- Every Explorer I've seen has a factory cooler on it,
>although it is subpar for anything other than normal
>driving. If you're planning on towing or offroading,
>consider an aftermarket cooler in line with the factory
>cooler...
Gotcha.
>- The problems I have seen are sagging doors caused by worn
>hinges, worn out u-joints, bad fuel pump relay, and lifter
>tick. These are all minor problems and mine has 145,000 on
>the original engine and is still running strong...
I'm hoping to find one that will last me a long time and be as reliable as my '90 F-150 is.
>I hope that answered your questions. I'm sure others will
>come along and add to what I have here. Good luck with your
>purchase...
Thanks, fellow Andy!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: Kelseyville, CA
Explorer questions
I'll just correct the incorrectinformation, otherwise everything else is correct.
>What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a
>manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it
>was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
>
>- 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto. The early automatics
>were known for being weak, so you may want to watch out for
>high mileage ones...
>
Starting in '97, Ford dropped the 4-speed automatic from the V6s. The 5-speed automatic (5R55E) replaced it. It applies the OD gear to 1st gear to create a new ratio between the old 1st and 2nd gears.
>What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a
>ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to
>guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44. )
>
>- Not sure on the axles. I'm sure someone else will add
>that info...
Rear is a Ford 8.8, front is a Dana 35 hybrid, TTB '94 and eariler, SLA '95 and up.
>
>When were disc brakes available?
>
>- Disc brakes were standard on 91's and up on the front from
>the factory. I think the 2002's were the first to have rear
>discs but I'm not sure...
'91-'94 front disk, rear drum with rear ABS, '95 and up 4-wheel disk brakes with 4-wheel ABS.
>
>Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
>
>- Every Explorer I've seen has a factory cooler on it,
>although it is subpar for anything other than normal
>driving. If you're planning on towing or offroading,
>consider an aftermarket cooler in line with the factory
>cooler...
Every Explorer has a tranny cooler built in to the radiator. Explorers ordered with the tow package also get an auxillary cooler mounted in front of the radiator as well as a limited slip rear axle.
>What transmissions were available? I generally prefer a
>manual, but I would take an automatic if I were sure that it
>was reliable enough, and the vehicle didn't feel sluggish.
>
>- 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto. The early automatics
>were known for being weak, so you may want to watch out for
>high mileage ones...
>
Starting in '97, Ford dropped the 4-speed automatic from the V6s. The 5-speed automatic (5R55E) replaced it. It applies the OD gear to 1st gear to create a new ratio between the old 1st and 2nd gears.
>What axles did Ford put under these? I'm assuming it has a
>ford 8.8 under the rear, but I wouldn't even be able to
>guess what's under the front. (I'm hoping it's a Dana 44. )
>
>- Not sure on the axles. I'm sure someone else will add
>that info...
Rear is a Ford 8.8, front is a Dana 35 hybrid, TTB '94 and eariler, SLA '95 and up.
>
>When were disc brakes available?
>
>- Disc brakes were standard on 91's and up on the front from
>the factory. I think the 2002's were the first to have rear
>discs but I'm not sure...
'91-'94 front disk, rear drum with rear ABS, '95 and up 4-wheel disk brakes with 4-wheel ABS.
>
>Was there ever a tranny cooler as a factory option?
>
>- Every Explorer I've seen has a factory cooler on it,
>although it is subpar for anything other than normal
>driving. If you're planning on towing or offroading,
>consider an aftermarket cooler in line with the factory
>cooler...
Every Explorer has a tranny cooler built in to the radiator. Explorers ordered with the tow package also get an auxillary cooler mounted in front of the radiator as well as a limited slip rear axle.
