Our 93 ford explorer is totally fucked up

[bbbr]

This might be of help -

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=427829

The link has info on how to pull the trouble codes without a code reader and some suggestions on the source of a rough idle. Mine '99 was having a rough time idling (would stall as well if i didn't keep the rpm's up, what fun it wasn't in heavy traffic). Traced the problem into a really scumy idle air controller; blasted it with a spray cleaner and the problem vanished.

Of course on my '05 a similar behavior turned out to be a broken intake valve spring. But the trouble codes strongly indicated that little nightmare.

[wolfie]

Another automotive mystery here - turning off the key on the Peterbilt of Natural Selection won't shut off the engine unless the "chicken lights" are also turned off. Mechanic hasn't been able to track it down - I asked him if he knew of any good exorcists.

[mathnerd]

Wolfie, I used to joke around that I needed a priest, not a mechanic, before my old Civic finally went to the great garage in the sky.

[Tama]

We checked out that forum and he updated me some more on the car in detail. It would start up and run fine for five minutes, then start messing up. It will make the fart-raspberry noise and when you start to do something that requires extra power, it loses power and you can pound the gas pedal for all you're worth but it won't work. Turn the car off, let it cool, and you'll have a bit of power. He recently ran a tank of supreme through it--it functioned better while on it--to "clean it out" and now it is back on regular and doing worse--despite the engine calling for regular.

He's checking out that code reading thing now. He's very happy about it since this car thing coupled with short weeks is draining him dry.

[BlaqueKatt]

my best guess would be fuel system: fuel filter, fuel pump, dirty/clogged injector or a vacuum hose with a leak or disconnection. But that's just a guess, and premium won't "clean out" anything, all gasoline has a mandated detergent mixture, premium has nothing additive wise that regular wouldn't.
Premium gasoline information

[protege]

Come to think of it, several guys I know swear by Seafoam's motor treatment. I've heard that it will clean out dirty injectors, fuel lines, and other parts quickly. A can shouldn't cost any more than $10.

BTW, some auto parts stores (like Advance Auto) will read codes for free.

[Tama]

Aaaand we have error codes! Via paperclip!

More updates later.

He made a note of the codes and then reset them, and now he's got only a single error code popping up.

137

(R)

Oxygen sensor not switching/system rich Left or Front HO2S - Fuel control

He called his mechanic all excited and after talking they settled that it was most likely the O2 sensor. And this is from his update on a car forum:

After performing the test I now have codes.
KOEO codes
It flashes 159 twice before going into anything else.
Then the Memory codes.
122 Which makes sense because me and a mechanic friend have tested the vehicle with the TPS unplugged.
172
176
177.
I haven't had anything cleared in a while.
KOER
137

[Tama]

He took this video today: We have tiny spark

He is posting on a forum specifically for Ford Explorers and they're saying it could be a broken spark plug wire. I'm hoping it won't take much to fix...

[mathnerd]

I was just thinking about something. My fathers truck, which is a 2002 f150, had a similar problem and like you, he tried everything. It turned out to be a vacuum seal. Maybe that's worth looking into as well.

[Tama]

Do you have any tips on where to find good diagrams? Half this stuff he would check but he can't find a single flipping' picture that shows where they are.

[mathnerd]

I have an ALLDATA account, but it's a pay site. I'm not sure where to find good diagrams outside of that. It's not that expensive. My boyfriend and I paid $75 for five years for two vehicles. Given that our vehicles are 10 and 15 years old (at least the ones we drive every day...there's also a 1960 Austin Healey and a 1962 Buick, along with the 58 Harley and the other bike I can't remember the year and model of), we thought it was worth it.

[Tama]

So we are trying the spark plugs now because of that sparking we saw. He's gotten some online coupons and will be paying about $10 to pick them up at the store.


He pulled out one spark plug wire today and...well, I'll let him explain it. :P


I think Noah used this

[wolfie]

So we are trying the spark plugs now because of that sparking we saw.


He pulled out one spark plug wire today and...well, I'll let him explain it. :P


I think Noah used this

I wouldn't doubt that Noah had used that spark plug wire. After all, from your description, it was generating a number of arcs.

[Tama]

I wouldn't doubt that Noah had used that spark plug wire. After all, from your description, it was generating a number of arcs.

We really needed that laugh.

[Tama]

Aaaaand it's not the spark plugs, though those REALLY FUCKING NEEDED to be changed. The car was actually SHAKING when Al started it today and there was a scent of gasoline.

Carbon appears to have built up (the old plugs looked awful), but the codes are now related to the mass airflow thingy.

It wobbles even when it's applied properly. Apparently this must be some kind of design flaw because when I look up the ONE part that is available for our car at a car store online, the one review it has mentions the same thing!

If we get it how can we stop it wobbling?