Help with dieing in low rpms? Automatic Shifting at very high RPMS?

[HavingaHardTime94]

Hello, I'd appreciate anyone's ideas with a few problems on my '94 Explorer Sport. I've got 3 problems. One main problem, and another that's extremely annoying, but I can live with it.. and another is just adjusting the idle.

My first immediate problem is that tonight, while driving, I had just gotten off the Highway and I turned into my town and noticed a really loud low rumble, it almost seemed like it didn't shift out of overdrive from the highway, but I really have no idea here. There are no real stops between my house and the highway except turning into the driveway. When I turned in, and went up the little slope, my car suddenly just turned off. I tried turning it back on, because I wasn't all the way pulled forward.. I put it in park, turned it on, put it in drive.. and again, it turned off. Now I'm not exactly an expert on cars, but I immediately realized something was wrong, lol. If I put it in reverse, it runs, just with the really loud low rumble. I also noticed the light smell of MAYBE a belt burning.. like burning ruber, but I wasn't sure. But, I figured I should add that in there anyway.

My next, much less important, but still annoying problem is that when I get onto the highway, I'll still be in 1st gear(It's an automatic keep in mind), and I'll be slowly pushing down on the accelerator, and I'll get up to like around 5000 RPMS, and yet I still dont shift up. Many people dont appreciate someone going 45 in a 65, so I usually have to turn off the main road and take a county highway. I have to like.. pump the accelerator to get it to shift up. It only does it once, after not being driven for several hours, and then the rest of the driving period it works fine. Any ideas?

My last question.. what is the idle of a 94 explorer supposed to be at? when in park, or at a stoplight or something, I'm only idleing around 600 RPMs, and I hear that might not be healthy? Again, any ideas are helpful.

Thanks to everyone who can help.

[HavingaHardTime94]

An added inquiry.. My Check Oil light's been coming on the past few days and has been staying on. I've been checking the oil.. but it's perfect, it's not due for a change for another 2000 miles. Any ideas?

[Ken Naw]

Might check the EGR valve for help with 1 and 3. The EGR valve is supposed to be closed at low RPM and open at higher RPMs. If it is stuck open, the engine rumbles, idles low, stumbles, and dies easily but will seem to run okay at higher speeds.

Good Luck, let us know what you find.

[Ken Naw]

I don't know your ability, time, or equipment, so the easy way to check the EGR valve is to remove it and look at it. You should see the valve is closed and that you can not blow thru it.
The EGR valve is controlled by an EGR vacuum regulator. It also should be checked for stuck open. Trace the vacum line from the EGR valve back to the regulator. Remove the lines from it and attempt to blow thru. If air passes freely, suspect EGR vacuum regulator (a very small flow is okay).

Good Luck