Oil Pick up tube blocked

 <a href="http://www.hypersmash.com">HyperSmash</a>
I have been having low oil pressure readings and today no oil pressure!
So i decided to drain the oil and pull out the oil pan to give it a good clean and to have a look at the oil screen.
My explorer is 4x2 so i dont have anything in the way of the oil pan except for the starter motor, all you have to do is drain the oil remove the 10mm bolts and one allen head bolt and you are ready to pull out the oil pan.

I found the screen on the pick up tube was blocked with carbon bits, so I soaked it in petrol for a while and it wa good as new.
 Put everything back together, new oil filter and filled with oil, oil pressure is normal again.
Make sure it is not a faulty pressure gauge before doing this!

Explorer headlights not working

The headlights on my explorer Eddie Bauer 95 only lit up on high beams and on low beams only the left side worked.

First I replaced the bulbs and this worked for maybe 5 minutes so I did a bit of research and found that there is a small headlight control unit under the cup holder in between the driver and the passenger, I pulled out the plastic in the interior the cup holder and the trip computer it turns out the piece was under the trip computer on the lower right it’s a mobile phone size black box with a connection on one side and 2 Philips screws holding it in place, I pulled the piece out and opened it up on close inspection one pin on the circuit board looked burnt and the solder looked cracked I cleaned it out and got out my soldering iron a bit of soldering paste and soldered it nicely. I then put it back together and plugged it in tried the headlights and both lit up on low beams and high beams so went ahead and put everything back together.

I read that there is a way to by pass this module in case you can’t find the burnt pin or in case the module is burnt out completely ill try to look it up and post a reply to this with the how to.

Explorer 95-99 AC problems

The AC in my 95 explorer XL stopped working after 5 or so years. I didn’t pay much notice since I don’t use it all that often. The other day I was at AutoZone and they had an offer get an AC recharge kit when you buy so much oil whatever I got it and follow the instruction on the bottle the AC started working and worked for maybe two weeks. After this I decided to go and see if they sold something to seal any leaks or whatnot I found a product for the same price of the recharging kit and it says it seals leaks in the ac system I bought it and another bottle of gas.

Again followed the instructions and it now works it’s been working for a month so I’m hopping it sealed the leaks it had, this is only my experience with this products I usually don’t go for this kind of product since it doesn’t do much at all and they tend to be very expensive.

If you switch on the AC and nothing happens at all it might be that there’s no pressure in the system and the sensor doesn’t allow for the compressor to engage or the fan son nothing happens.

If you switch it on and you can hear the air rushing but it doesn’t come out the vents you have to look under the hood and locate a black grapefruit size ball with two black tubes on one side and a rubber plug on the other side. if it doesn’t have the rubber nipple and its an open tube you need to get a rubber nipple they sell them at AutoZone. Make sure there are two tubes plugged in on the other side facing the firewall. These are vacuum tubes that work the valves that let the air got to the dash or your feet or both or any option from the control panel so if there is a leak in the system the only place that lets air out is the defroster for the windshield.

If it’s not the nipple then you’ll have to look for the leak in the tubes.

Another problem with my 95 explorer Eddie was that the electronic climate control that has a digital display worked but the display didn’t. I pulled the control unit out and fiddled with the harness connection I noticed that when I pulled the plug up the display started working, I tried to jam a plastic piece under the plug as a quick free fix it worked for a day if that. So i pulled out the climate control unit. To do this you have to pull the center console out and then unscrew 4 screws on each corner of the control unit, on the back of it there is a plug that connects the vacuum tubes you need I think it’s a 10mm socket wrench to pull the 2 bolts on either side and then just unplug the harness.

Dashboard lights dont work after replacing the bulbs

The lights inside the cabin don’t light up, the dashboard, the center console, the window switches, the courtesy lights and I think that’s it.

Well after making sure the fuses were ok, I had a look at some of the light bulbs on the dashboard and they were ok.

Anyway I found the problem was the dimmer switch on the left of the steering wheel below the lights switch.

I bought a used dimmer from eBay for 14 bucks I think it included the shipping I can’t remember.

To replace it you need to pull the plastic panel that’s below the steering wheel and the one that is covering the instrument cluster, start by the one on the bottom there are a couple screws on the latch to open bonnet there’s another single screw close to that one you’ll find it and I think that’s it pull on the plastic towards the seat slowly but firmly it will pop out be careful because the clips that hold it break easily. Now move on to the top remove 3 screws on the cluster cover and I think 2 on the bottom of the panel you can only see these two when you remove the bottom panel remove them all if I miss one it’s my memory just unscrew them all( you might need to remove the center console I can’t remember, but that one is easy just 2 screws above the AC controls and pull, don’t unplug anything you just want access to any hidden screws and to make space to pull out the plastic) and keep them safe! Again pull on the plastic it will come out now there’s 2 screws on the dimmer just unplug the old dimmer pull him out and screw in the new one plug it in and before putting everything back together switch the lights on and try it out make sure the dashboard lights up after checking it works it’s now time to put her back together.

Electric windows not working

The windows in my 95 xl ford explorer gave up pretty much all at the same time! I had a look a a new electric motor on ebay and in autopart stores but they seemed way to expensive to repair all 4. If you have trouble with the 4 windows before buying anything make sure it’s your buying the right parts, it could be the GEM wich is a small computer that controls the electrics in the cabin I think it includes the windows, alarm, the 4x4 engage or at least the dashboard lights for the 4x4, I think it controls the sunroof as well im not sure. Anyway it could also be the main controls on the driver side door or it could be dirty conection on the switches, a blown fuse etc …etc.. the most common problem is that the little gears inside the electric motor on each window grind themselves flat and slip resulting in the windows not moving but you are still able to hear the motor working!. You can either buy a new motor and replace them very expensive or you can buy the plastic gears and replace those wich is cheaper but its more work.

I did the second option, I bought the gears from rockauto.com just because the price was acceptable and got on with the job.

You have to remove the plastic panel that covers the door to do this you have to remove 3 screws one that is near the rear view mirror and two on the handle you use to close the door you need a Philips for them after this remove the plastic piece that’s on the handle to open the door, now you can pull on the panel and it should pop start from the bottom on one side and move your way around, the switch and handle piece will stay connected to the door. Once the panel is lose pull it out and hold it you need to unplug the light bulb on the bottom righ side just twist it and it comes right out.(disconnect the negative from the battery)

Put the panel somewhere safe away from dogs that like to chew on everything! Now theres a plastic film you need to pull of or at least the bottom bit, try to have the window up when you do this and put a wood stick or something to hold it up. Now theres 3 bolts to remove I think they are 10mm , first fin the motor its inside the door, when you locate it un bolt the bolts and pull him out and unplug the harness now you can work on it pull out the old gear and place the new one in. now put it back together just follow the steps in reverse.

I can send some picks if needed. Remember make sure it’s the

Alternator troubles

My ford explorer 95 has had very Little troubles through its life the only time it let me down was one time i was driving home from work and suddenly a CLACK and grinding metal noise came from the engine straight away i pulled over and had a look at what was going on.

I opened the bonnet and found that the alternator had crapped out not the band or anything else just the alternator I guess it was the bearings that just had enough.

Anyways it was an easy fix just bought a new one gave in the old one to get a better price, all you need is a 13mm wrench to remove the band, and before having a go at the alternator disconnect the ground of the battery next go ahead and disconetc the harness and any wire going to the alternator. Now its just a matter of removing the old again ist a 13mm wrench to remove the 3 bolts that hold it in place watch out for the spacers under the alternator theres one on each bolt, remove it and place the new one straight in there don’t forget to put the spacers in and tighten everything back in. that was pretty much it hoocked up the battery and was on my way.