Hey guys.

Well...bought me a '98 XLT four-door, 4.0L SOHC, auto today.

Pretty much, I'm just wondering what things I need to watch out for, what things need work typically, etc. etc.

It's got 116K on it, and the prev owner was quite good about maintenance, getting things changed on schedule.

Any advice much appreciated. I look forward to being a part of the Explorer forum.

 

Hey welcome to the explorer side of things haha, the SOHC motors were known to have a timing chain tensioner problems

 

Exciting way to start out. Anything else?

I'd also love any kind of generic information about the '98 Explorer.

 

Blend door. Radio display. Transmission. AC evaporator.

 

Well the transmissions in them aren't the strongest its a little stronger than the A4LD that was put in earlier but still on the weak side so watch how much of a load you put on the transmission if you tow things, if your going to tow pretty heavy a good bit you should look into installing a tranny cooler on it, Keep an eye on it for shift flares if that happens you should look into a shift solenoid before your tranny gets screwed up. Don't know if your's is 4X4 but if it isn't you don't have too much to worry about there the 4X4 systems in these are fairly strong (heck I've pulled a full size 50yr old tree with one of my explorers). Oh and don't use a FRAM oil filter on your explorer when you change the oil, it can cause low oil flow which will cause rattling in the bottom end most times when you first start it up for the day, the FRAM oil filters seem to be junk on the 4.0 Motors so try to stick with the FL1A Motorcraft filter and stick with 5W-30 Synthetic Oil. I'm guessing you have a full length console in your explorer and after while those arm rest will wear to the stuffing in it and you can get the re-vinyl'ed. If you don't know if it's ever been done check you MAF sensor and clean it and have your battery unplugged for 15minutes can help your fuel mileage a little. You should average about 20mpg if you don't race it. Nice thing is about these Autohubs in these 2nd generation explorer's is they're alot more dependable, hopefully you won't run into problems with them for years to come. If the check engine light comes on and sometimes goes off its more than likely but not limited to an O2 sensor or a vacuum leak. Thats the only things I can think of right now if I think of more tips to give ya I'll let ya know or just ask on a specific thing. Goodluck with the new truck.

 

Awesome good stuff...most of it seems to apply to the Ranger as well, so I feel pretty prepared to get right into the Explorer.

One thing I don't know about that you mentioned, what is a "shift flare"? My Ranger was a manual and both the autos I have are Chevrolet products.

 

Yeah....My 92 explorer is manual and I haven't experienced it yet in my other explorer thats auto but from what I understand is that its a slow shift between 1st and 2nd gear it's a common issue to the auto tranny in the explorer/ranger transmission.

 

Alright well the shifts seem good...solid but not firm if that makes sense.

Anything else I outta know about? Thanks again for all the info.

 

Well that's good I think, our 96 isn't a firm shift yet neither, I'm planning on replacing the shift seloid in it within the next month or so. My first automatic so this will be fun. I really don't know what else to warn ya about with the explorer

 

Where is the turn signal flasher at? I can't seem to find it under the dash, and I do believe it's quite dead.

 

its located under the instrument panel near the steering column

 

Alright...well call me stupid, I don't see it.

And while we're on the subject.

Blinkers work okay it seems, then I try to turn the hazards on, and they stop working. No clicking under the dash or anything. Sound like a bad flasher?

 

Funny thing you say that our 96 explorer does kinda that same crap, i usually push the button for the flashers again to get it to work, sometimes gotta play with that. And I never myself replaced a flasher on these models I was going by what the repair manual said the flasher would be.

 

Alright well it's seeming alright currently (and I'm sure it will be until a cop is behind me and I need to change lanes). Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah No problem, my flasher works with turn signals but sometimes throws fits when using the hazard lights (4ways)