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3 cylinder explorer!

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Old Mar 31, 2002 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
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samhihn
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3 cylinder explorer!

I'm new to this site. Thanks for being here! I've got a 93 explorer with the 4.0 pushrod engine. My daughter drives it so it has been subjected to extreme neglect. The problem I'm having with it now is that it's only running on the right bank of cylinders. I get spark on the left side but it appears to be out of sequence. The only way I can make a left side cyl fire is by crossing plug wires. The plugs are new and when removed are wet with gasoline.This truck uses a coil pack with a distributorless ignition and I'm wondering if this may have something to do with the ignition control module mounted next to the radiator??? Help!...mike
 
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Old Mar 31, 2002 | 11:38 PM
  #2  
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Dialtone
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From: South Texas
3 cylinder explorer!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-Apr-02 AT 00:42 AM (EST)]You are on the right track. If you look at the schematic for the coil
pack it looks like left and right sides are parallel and fired at the same time by the ignition module. Couple this with the firing order of the engine and coil pack to plug layout, you see that opposite pairs of cylinders are fired together, one on the power stroke and the other of the pair on the exhaust stroke. If you are not getting spark at the correct time during the power stroke on the left bank, the EDIS ignition module would be my first choice to change out. You could also have a bad connection in the wiring between the EDIS and ECM computer module, or bad ECM itself. I do not have a schematic of the guts of the EDIS ignition module so I cannot help with any deeper detail.
P.S. Don't forget the Crankshaft position sensor, it is tied into the ignition module also.
Hope this helps:
Dialtone
 
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 12:48 AM
  #3  
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samhihn
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3 cylinder explorer!

Thanks for the note. I was thinking about the crank position sensor too but I figured if it was giving trouble both sides would be fizzled out. I think I'm gonna make a trip to my local junk yard tomorrow and pick up a few parts.I've just got a sneaky feelin the ignition module is at the root of it all. I'll let you know what happens. This poor truck has been through the mill. First it was a transmission to be replaced. Last year or so head gasket went....overheated. A few months ago had to pull the engine because of a slammed shut oil pump screen. It's still my favorite car though. I'd rather drive the 93 than drive the 98....can't stand the doggone 98 tellin' me what to do all the time! Now if I can just get my daughter to marry a mechanic.....
 
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 06:29 PM
  #4  
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samhihn
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3 cylinder explorer!

Well, I went through everything I could today in terms of diagnostics and such. I even changed spark plugs back to autolite. I'm starting to get the feeling that there is just too much fuel being pushed into the cylinders by the injectors. Bad injectors, worn from age? 160k miles. Using a listener tool they are all "clicking". Would running a lower than normal thermostat (185 degrees) make it run that rich? Engine temp does stay below the "normal" range lines on the gauge. Yes the engine check lite has been on for quite some time now. Oxygen sensor problem? Can a MAF sensor screw things up that bad? It will idle smooth, and run pretty fair, but the excess fuel is dark at the end of the tail pipe. The plugs soot up. Oh, and a comment on plugs. Do autolites really work better in a ford? Seems to me like they do. I won't put a Bosch plug in again.....thanks for the help. I'm still scratchin' my head. Mike
 
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Old Apr 2, 2002 | 12:29 AM
  #5  
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lew2002
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Post 3 cylinder explorer!

Hmm, left side, this sounds like a fule pressure regulator
if it has one. The same thing happened on my 2.9 Ranger
a few years ago and a hole in the regulator diaphragm
sucked fule in and flodded the left cylinders, esp. the
back one. Never looked at my Explorer to see if it has
the same type regulator, but if it does.....

Lew
 
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Old Apr 2, 2002 | 01:46 AM
  #6  
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samhihn
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3 cylinder explorer!

hmmm. That's a thought. I'll check into that. Thanks!
 
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Old Apr 3, 2002 | 12:21 AM
  #7  
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3 cylinder explorer!

 
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Old Jan 15, 2005 | 10:17 PM
  #8  
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Gil Chesterton
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Hello,

I had similar issues with my 91 EXP. It was the FPR. Quick and easy fix (about $100.00). The diaphram on these sometimes goes.

Good luck!

Gil
 
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Old Jan 16, 2005 | 09:22 AM
  #9  
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mrshorty
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From: UT
FPR is a good start. Check by pressurizing the system, then remove vacuum line from FPR and see if there's gas there (gas = bad FPR). Also could put a gauge on the fuel rail and make sure the FPR isn't running too high a pressure.

With the CEL coming on, there should be a code in the computer to retrieve that could help with this. Check codes according to procedure under tests at www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html
 
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