Well, these old Exploders DO need to be maintained ;-)
And yes, once you figure it out it's usually something simple. If you
want
to find some really complicated ways to try and find a solution you could
try the www.ford-trucks.com forums. I've read about guys spending weeks
analyzing the computer and whatnot when the real problem was probably just
a
leaking intake manifold gasket or a bad sensor somewhere.
Once you eliminate stuff like bad battery cables, spark plugs, plug wires,
clogged radiators etc some of the most common problems on these engines
are:
leaking intake manifold gaskets
leaking head gaskets
bad thermostat
I've also read about bad O2 sensors but have not had that problem (yet)
personally on my three Explorers.
"Justin" <tammy.b@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:47b0d87b$0$4038$9a566e8b@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> First of all, Jim, thanks for the very detailed reply. I do appreciate
it.
> Perhaps I should have mentioned I have an Auto Tech background.
> Though it seems I have lost much of the knowledge as its a field I never
> pursued.
> This will soon become apparent....
>
> I have it figured out now. I know I stated in the original ppost spark
was
> ok. Hah!
> It was, but only as far as the wires. Never bothered to check the plugs.
> Put six brand-spankin-new plugs in and the damn thing didnt turn
halfways
> around and it was running.
> Loudly, but running nonetheless. Apparently one of the backfires blew
the
> muffler apart.......
> To be lenient on myself, there were other issues with the old girl that
led
> me astray.
>
> The negative battery cable (probably original) had corroded inside the
> terminal. This led me to believe
> I had starter troubles. After removing and rebuilding two times (parts
come
> from the local dump and for the record the
> armature and motor housing from Tempo/Topaz work wonderfully, just use
your
> old planetaries and head piece) I started to think it was not the
starter.
> Cut the cable off and removed all the green crap and it turned like a
champ.
>
> Once I got it turning over again, still suspecting fuel, I gave it a
couple
> shots of ether while cranking. It didnt mak an attempt at starting. Hmm,
> says I, if I had good spark
> this thing should have caught and ran for a second. Took out the number
one
> plug, grounded it against the alternator bracket and cranked it. Tiny
spark,
> but it was way
> down in the center electrode deep in the plug. Tried another. Completely
> dead. Checked the other on the same side. Dead. No need to check the
other
> side of the engine.
> You can tell I'm no genius lol but even I know a V6 wont run on 3
cylinders.
> So I guess my methods dont work very well, but all's well that ends
well.
>
> Anyhow, its easy to make one bad assumption and be led way off track. I
> assumed spark was ok, which led me to the fuel delivery system. Which I
> guess wasn't
> a REALLY dumb mistake since it all started after replacing fuel filter.
>
> I guess I forgot the KISS method. And my thumb is not an accurate fuel
> pressure guage, a screwdriver in a plug wire cant tell you if your plugs
are
> good and a starter wont
> turn well with no path to ground. If you leave a dog on a bone long
enough
> though, he'll get the marrow.
>
>
> Anyway thanks Jim. Your insight was well thought out, straight to the
point
> and informative.
> Justin
>
> PS this is just an old clunker that only gets used around the yard.
>
>
|
