Explorer Reliability Issues?

I used to have a similar problem with a 1978 Ford van I used to
drive...towing or on a long acceleration, it would throw the front heat/ac
system up on the windshield instead of the dash, and the rear heat/ac would
turn to heat. I was told it was a vacuum leak somewhere in the system, but
no one could ever pin it down and wasn't worth a bunch of $$ to figure out.

What is a "hensley hitch"? I've not heard of that before...

Wesley


"respk" > wrote in message
...
> I used to have an V8 AWD Explorer which we used to tow our 25' TT about
> 5000#. It towed it just fine as far as power goes. The only thing I
> noticed was that on a long hill the air conditioning would start to blow
> warmer air and then cool back down when we crested the hill. I also
> towed with a hensley hitch since the wheelbase is so short on the
> Explorer. Would not have tried it without one.

Chris Cowles wrote:
>
> Please elaborate on how wheel size influences max tow weight.
>
> Thanks in advance.


Two ways -

1) Larger wheels and tires effectively lower the gear ratio.

2) Larger wheels and tires weigh more. This is a double hit
to your braking an acceleration. When stopping you not only
have to burn off the extra forward inertia added as a result
of the extra weight of the larger wheels and tires, but you
also have to burn off the extra rotational inertia. Bigger
tires and wheels are both heavier and have a larger diameter
- this makes them a better flywheel - which is not a good
thing when you are trying to change speeds (either slowing
down or speeding up).

Ed

> --
> Chris Cowles
> Gainesville, FL
>
> "tobe" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > The max tow trailer weight depends upon the engine size (V-6 or V-8), the
> > axle ratio (3.55 or 3.73), and the size of the wheels (16" or 17") and 4X2
> > vs. 4X4.

Big Bill wrote:
>
> On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 23:09:15 GMT, respk >
> wrote:
>
> >I used to have an V8 AWD Explorer which we used to tow our 25' TT about
> >5000#. It towed it just fine as far as power goes. The only thing I
> >noticed was that on a long hill the air conditioning would start to blow
> > warmer air and then cool back down when we crested the hill. I also
> >towed with a hensley hitch since the wheelbase is so short on the
> >Explorer. Would not have tried it without one.
>
> I think the loss of AC is because trhere's a vacuum switch that cuts
> power to the compressor when the vacuum drops beyond a certain point -
> as when pulling hard, for example.

I don't think they use a vacuum switch anymore. I think it
is just built into the PCM logic. When you go past a certain
power level, the PCM cuts off the compressor and at least in
some cases, the alternator as well.

Ed

Big Bill wrote:

> >Jean
>
> I've heard you lose about 2% of your power for each 1000 ft of
> altitude, but never heard about derating your towing capacity for
> altitude.
> The brakes, powertrain (except for power) and suspension don't change
> with altitude.
> The loss of power is self-limiting concerning towing.

I believe the brakes will not be as effective at high
altitude becasue the less dense air will not cool them as
well.

Ed

Wesley, if you leave your PowerMode on all the time, you probably
restrain the lock converter of the Overdrive to kick in .

Mel


Wesley a écrit:
> Why don't you just add an aftermarket tranny cooler? We bought a 2002 Isuzu
> Trooper new new in April of 2003...rated to tow 5000lbs, and we tow an 18"
> travel trailer that the title says is 2400lbs empty. The auxilliary tranny
> cooler (bought from Adavance or Autozone, can't remember for sure which)
> went on around the same time I was putting on the hitch and accessories. My
> theory is that it's cheap insurance! Even though the Trooper has a 10
> year/120k drivetrain warranty... :-)
>
> It has a "power mode" button, which definitely helps. It tends to upshift
> too quickly without it...I've gotten to the point I like to just leave it in
> that mode all the time. Problem is it then likes to downshift way to
> quickly if you have to punch it...
>
> Did you replace the OEM Michelins with the same thing? Just wondering what
> to put on the Trooper when it finally wears out its original shoes (only up
> to 16k so far). It's got 16" Bridgestone Dueler's on it now...
>
> Wesley
>
>
> "Bill Jeffrey" > wrote in message
> news:OWf5e.210$Xs.143@fed1read03...
>
>
>>Overall, this has been a great vehicle. I replaced the OEM Michelins at
>>about 80K, and just last week replaced the OEM battery. I change oil
>>religiously every 3K, but other than that haven't had to do anything to
>>it. My only complaint is that the tranny REALLY REALLY needs a Tow Mode
>>- it behaves very improperly when the camper is behind it. (I think
>>this is the 5R55W trans.) I also wish it had a tranny temp gauge (but
>>that's minor) and an extra tranny cooler.
>
>
>

some info on their site.


http://www.nosway.com/


The way I see it, it's a no-sway Weight Distribution hitch

sounds like they try to simulate the hitch as if it was a Pin hitch
(same as for a 5er)

Mel



Wesley a écrit:
> I used to have a similar problem with a 1978 Ford van I used to
> drive...towing or on a long acceleration, it would throw the front heat/ac
> system up on the windshield instead of the dash, and the rear heat/ac would
> turn to heat. I was told it was a vacuum leak somewhere in the system, but
> no one could ever pin it down and wasn't worth a bunch of $$ to figure out.
>
> What is a "hensley hitch"? I've not heard of that before...
>
> Wesley
>
>
> "respk" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I used to have an V8 AWD Explorer which we used to tow our 25' TT about
>>5000#. It towed it just fine as far as power goes. The only thing I
>>noticed was that on a long hill the air conditioning would start to blow
>> warmer air and then cool back down when we crested the hill. I also
>>towed with a hensley hitch since the wheelbase is so short on the
>>Explorer. Would not have tried it without one.
>
>
>

Thanks. Basically, the smaller the wheel/tire the easier to pull/stop.

"C. E. White" > wrote in message
...
> Two ways -
>
> 1) Larger wheels and tires effectively lower the gear ratio.
>
> 2) Larger wheels and tires weigh more. This is a double hit
> to your braking an acceleration. When stopping you not only
> have to burn off the extra forward inertia added as a result
> of the extra weight of the larger wheels and tires, but you
> also have to burn off the extra rotational inertia. Bigger
> tires and wheels are both heavier and have a larger diameter
> - this makes them a better flywheel - which is not a good
> thing when you are trying to change speeds (either slowing
> down or speeding up).
>
> Ed
>
>> --
>> Chris Cowles
>> Gainesville, FL
>>
>> "tobe" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > The max tow trailer weight depends upon the engine size (V-6 or V-8),
>> > the
>> > axle ratio (3.55 or 3.73), and the size of the wheels (16" or 17") and
>> > 4X2
>> > vs. 4X4.

I saw a 2004 or 2005 explorer pulling a Uhaul last weekend. I wondered
about that because I tried to rent one once for my 2000 XLT and was
denied. Are you sure the UHaul policy is not related to the model
year? Could be that this guy knew someone at UHaul or got someone who
didn't know better.

-troy

Here is the statement from the UHaul web site just now when I pretended to
try and rent a trailer using a 2005 Ford Explorer RWD as a tow vehicle:

"This vehicle is not authorized to tow U-Haul equipment. U-Haul does not
rent behind this tow vehicle. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause you. Is there a different vehicle that you can use for towing?"

"tfandango"
>I saw a 2004 or 2005 explorer pulling a Uhaul last weekend. I wondered
> about that because I tried to rent one once for my 2000 XLT and was
> denied. Are you sure the UHaul policy is not related to the model
> year? Could be that this guy knew someone at UHaul or got someone who
> didn't know better.

Jean -

You are exactly right about that. In situations like that, I would kill
for a decent supercharger that would boost the pressure back up to
something near sea level.

I've looked. There are a lot of shysters out there selling mini-blowers
that are too small to do much of anything. There are also a lot of
leave-rubber-at-the-light kind of macho dorks who think of a
supercharger as something to get a burst of power to leave someone else
in the dust. But boosting intake pressure above sea level for more than
a few seconds is liable to harm an engine that isn't designed for it.
What I am looking for is something that will bring pressure back to sea
level and no more, and can operate for a half hour at a time without
hurting itself or the engine, as I negotiate a mountain road. Haven't
found anything.

Any ideas?

Bill
--------------------------------

Jean wrote:
> Bill Jeffrey wrote:
>
>> Richard -
>>
>> In Nov '01, I bought a 2002 Explorer ... The vehicle has
>> been adequate, but no more than that, pulling this trailer into the
>> high Sierras and over Loveland Pass and Vail Pass in Colorado. The
>> combination of steep grades and high altitude just kill the engine's
>> output.
>
> It's not surprising that your Explorer couldn't cope with the mountain
> passes. Based on my readings, you have to derate the capacity of a
> vehicle anywhere from 2% to 4% per 1000 feet of altitude above sea
> level. So for Loveland Pass (~12000ft altitude), that means you lose
> anywhere from 24% to 48% of towing capacity - which makes towing your
> 3500lb camper kinda iffy.
>
> Jean