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Ford Repair - Ford Explorer.... the soon to be death of me... please help!
Expert: James - 11/10/2009
Question
QUESTION: Hi, Im hoping you can save me and my Explorer by figuring out this problem for me. Recently when I stopped to get gas, after filling up I came back out to the truck to start it and when turning the key all I heard was a click... When I got the truck back home I installed a brand new starter; Im 99.9% positive I hooked it up and did everything correctly, re-connected the battery and went to start the truck. When I turned the key, and I heard the engine starting up, I got excited but then when the engine started It made a really loud, sharp, grinding noise. I now believe that I need a new flywheel. Do you think this is the problem... and if so, roughly how hard it is to install a new one? Thanks for your help...
Brandon L.
ANSWER: Please note your year model, engine size, and if it is a four wheel drive or AWD. Also what base model it is.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Sorry about that, I don't know how I could have forgot to include that ifo. Thank you for your timely response. My truck is a 1992, Ford, Explorer XLT (4x4) 4.0L, V6. I also had a heck of a time when I tried to change the spark plugs, they have never been changed so I couldn't get them off and didn't want to break them... I've been spraying around the plugs with PB Blaster (suggested by my mechanic) to hopefully break them free.. any advice would be great... a little more concerned now about the starting/grinding issue...
Thanks alot,
Brandon L.
Answer
I like kroil for penetrating oil. It used to be a little hard to find until the wonderful internet came along. Now Amazon carries it for 8 bucks. It just takes a squirt. As far as the flywheel goes, a gets a little tougher when you have a four wheel drive. You are right about the plugs though, whatever you do don't break them. Just keep dousing with penetrating oil, and try to get as much leverage as possible, such as a breaker bar. I know what you are saying,"How in the world am I supposed to get a breaker bar in there?" The answer is, you are not. You have to improvise. If you do have to remove the transmission, that is a perfect time to get in there with the leverage you need. So look at it as a glass half full. You ave to change out those plugs, it is imperative. At all cost before you do internal engine damage. And for the sake of not going through this again, apply anti seize to the plug threads on install.
As for the starter, it sounded like a solenoid in your initial description. However, given the fact that it was able to start up upon replacement, you can rule that out. Also, make sure that the starter is correct. The noise should have stopped upon the bendix disengaging. This leads me to believe that the starter is not the culprit. It almost sounds like the starter is staying engaged. So before you start to think flywheel, remove the starter and have it tested where you purchased it. Throw a solenoid on the fender well for the sake of argument upon replacing the starter. It is less than twenty bucks. If you do not need to replace the flywheel, you still have the plugs issue. Removal of the throttle body or any other components not allowing you to use a breaker bar may be required.
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