My new explorer, Just looking for a bit of input

[Dasfinc]

Bought it like 2 weeks ago, 97 Explorer sport, 5 speed, 4.0l.

CEL for 'lean on banks one and two'

owner said mechanic said it needed new O2 sensors.

Runs perfect, has a spec of rough idle when cold starting from the IACV, Cleaned the IACV and now it doesnt, replaced the plugs *Way out of gap*, flashed the ECU and now the CEL is back about 300 miles later.

I assume O2's would be the next thing to replace and just assume their old mechanic was right? 1 owner truck from Florida, so I have no real reason to doubt them.

Which O2's would I be replacing? Anyone know how many the truck has etc? Pre or Post cat would effect the Lean issue? *I assume Pre.... since the post doesn't do anything for the engine control, just measurement?*

Click to read more...

 

[syP]

sometimes you have to think what will cause BOTH to shit...


very rare will it be both O2 sensors...


might be something along the lines of a MAF sensor or etc... something that will send a bad mixture out of the engine.

 

[Dasfinc]

sometimes you have to think what will cause BOTH to shit...


very rare will it be both O2 sensors...


might be something along the lines of a MAF sensor or etc... something that will send a bad mixture out of the engine.

True, I forgot to mention I cleaned the MAF also and ran a bottle of Seafoam through the gas tank.

 

[bikrboy128]

you probably have a vac leak at the plenum. the 4.0l's intake plenum has a tendency to crack.

 

[SaturdaysGS]

you probably have a vac leak at the plenum. the 4.0l's intake plenum has a tendency to crack.

x2 to this. Its a reliable engine, but this isnt uncommon.

 

[Dasfinc]

you probably have a vac leak at the plenum. the 4.0l's intake plenum has a tendency to crack.

x2 to this. Its a reliable engine, but this isnt uncommon.

I was going to ask about that, where should/do I buy a replacment, and where is the best price for it? I know it needs to be done *Aaron pointed out something that signified that it would need to be replaced eventually when I bought the truck*

 

[bikrboy128]

a cracked intake will set lean codes on both banks.
as for a replacement, i dont know. i would suggest ford, they might have an updated non-shitty design plenum but it will cost you a fortune.
you could try your luck at a junk yard, but the one you pull may have the same issue.....

 

[Dasfinc]

a cracked intake will set lean codes on both banks.
as for a replacement, i dont know. i would suggest ford, they might have an updated non-shitty design plenum but it will cost you a fortune.
you could try your luck at a junk yard, but the one you pull may have the same issue.....

IIRC Autozone does sell replacements for like $1-200? OEM style still, but atleast it'd be new?

I'll try and replace it before the 5.0 goes into the ranger.

 

[bikrboy128]

it's not a very hard job at all. it's like ford new they designed a piece of shit, so they made it easy to replace.

 

[Dasfinc]

it's not a very hard job at all. it's like ford new they designed a piece of shit, so they made it easy to replace.

Ouch

The 4.0 ranger/exploder motor is a stout piece, Mine just happens to be one of the earlier years of it in this flavor.

 

[bikrboy128]

Ouch

The 4.0 ranger/exploder motor is a stout piece, Mine just happens to be one of the earlier years of it in this flavor.

OHV or SOHC?

 

[Dasfinc]

SOHC, Mine was the first year of it:

1997 Ford Explorer: Ford added another new engine for '97, a single-cam 4.0-liter V6. It was rated at 205 horsepower and mated to a new 5-speed automatic transmission. Other changes included an electronic transfer case for 4WD models. Mercury added a 4-door-only version of Explorer called Mountaineer

 

[Zenriddles]

IIRC B&M has a nice PD blower kit for those 4.0's. It would get rid of that nasty intake for you.....:naughtyd:

 

[bikrboy128]

SOHC, Mine was the first year of it:

i'm sorry to hear that. the early SOHC engines are junk and a nightmare to fix when anything internal goes wrong.
there's a timing chain in the back with plastic guides that like to fall apart at higher mileage. the only way to replace it is pulling the engine out. the front chains (there are 4 of them IIRC) have the same style guides, but can be replaced with the engine in car.
good luck getting it timed after a break, there arent any timing marks on the gears. there is obviously a way to get it timed, but it's a giant pain in the ass to do.
a junkyard 4.0l SOHC will cost around $1k, too.
you would've been much better off with the OHV. i would say get rid of it quick.

 

[Dasfinc]

J-yard SOHC's are no where near that much, Try $290 at You Pull it, There are plenty of non cash-for-clunkers motors chilling there.

It has 107K on it, they go well over 200K problem-free.

For the $, if it lasts winter alone I'm well ahead of the game *shrugs* one owner FL truck.

 

[bikrboy128]

they go well over 200K problem-free.

not exactly. transmissions aren't very good, plastic intakes crack, and the plastic timing guides fall apart (on the older SOHC. ford redesigned them in the later years). this is the tip of the ice burg, i get to work on this shit everyday. they are junk, ask anyone that has been around them.

 

[Dasfinc]

not exactly. transmissions aren't very good, plastic intakes crack, and the plastic timing guides fall apart (on the older SOHC. ford redesigned them in the later years). this is the tip of the ice burg, i get to work on this shit everyday. they are junk, ask anyone that has been around them.

Its Manual, I know the earlier autos are crap.

There are 'problems' with all cars, again, for what I paid, and the shape its in, I'm not worried about it sinking.

I was just curious about the manifold

 

[bikrboy128]

try ford or autozone (i wasnt aware they sold something like that)
i wouldnt bother with the junk yard, chances are they are cracked too.

 

[syP]