Help please ! 98 EXPLORER LIMITED V6-245 4.0L SOHC

[ddg5006]

Hi, thanks for taking some time and helping me address my concerns about my car. First off let me start by saying that i am pretty new to owning my own car so if i am not using some correct terms and have trouble explaining my problems with a limited car vernacular i am sorry but as i read more i will be come a little more familiar with it. I will lay out the problems as i see them and what i think might be connected to it. If i am completely off please feel free to let me know, i am just making assumptions based on a general understanding of how things work.

So i have a 1998 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER V6-245 4.0L SOHC.

Has a few problems i would like to have fixed and i was wondering how i might go about it or any ideas people might have.

So the first problem is my speedometer, it doesn't work, no matter what speed i go it stays at 10, but the one that shows the RPM's works fine. The cluster that shows me the car status in the center doesn't calculate my miles left correctly, now i suspect that this is because the car doesn't know how fast i am going. The mile counter for my overall miles doesn't work either, nor the trip counter. Now something you should know is that the engine was replaced with a new engine. I dunno if that has any significance but i though i should say it incase it might help explain any problems i am having. The mechanic i have looking at my car tried replacing some speed cable but said it didn't work, so he said something about an abs module will fix the problem. I dunno, he could be telling me that. I have no idea.

Next would be what i was talking about in another thread,
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...42#post4702642

The next problem would be my check engine light, and ABS light. Now i sort of have an idea of what it might be because my mechanic pulled a code off and said it was a transmission code, now i dunno what that means but i had another person look at it and they said it was the same thing but it had to do with the speedometer. Now if the mechanic was right about the ABS thing then i assume that this should clear up the check engine, and abs light, plus it should fix the speedometer thing too.

The next thing is automatic starter. When the car was purchased it had an auto starter built in. When the engine was replaced it stopped working half way, if you tried to do it it would start up and shut off, but then the ABS thing happened and it stopped working all together.

So thats all i can think of for now, any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[sreilly77]

Originally Posted by ddg5006

Hi, thanks for taking some time and helping me address my concerns about my car. First off let me start by saying that i am pretty new to owning my own car so if i am not using some correct terms and have trouble explaining my problems with a limited car vernacular i am sorry but as i read more i will be come a little more familiar with it. I will lay out the problems as i see them and what i think might be connected to it. If i am completely off please feel free to let me know, i am just making assumptions based on a general understanding of how things work.

So i have a 1998 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER V6-245 4.0L SOHC.

Has a few problems i would like to have fixed and i was wondering how i might go about it or any ideas people might have.

So the first problem is my speedometer, it doesn't work, no matter what speed i go it stays at 10, but the one that shows the RPM's works fine. The cluster that shows me the car status in the center doesn't calculate my miles left correctly, now i suspect that this is because the car doesn't know how fast i am going. The mile counter for my overall miles doesn't work either, nor the trip counter. Now something you should know is that the engine was replaced with a new engine. I dunno if that has any significance but i though i should say it incase it might help explain any problems i am having. The mechanic i have looking at my car tried replacing some speed cable but said it didn't work, so he said something about an abs module will fix the problem. I dunno, he could be telling me that. I have no idea.

Next would be what i was talking about in another thread,
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...42#post4702642

The next problem would be my check engine light, and ABS light. Now i sort of have an idea of what it might be because my mechanic pulled a code off and said it was a transmission code, now i dunno what that means but i had another person look at it and they said it was the same thing but it had to do with the speedometer. Now if the mechanic was right about the ABS thing then i assume that this should clear up the check engine, and abs light, plus it should fix the speedometer thing too.

The next thing is automatic starter. When the car was purchased it had an auto starter built in. When the engine was replaced it stopped working half way, if you tried to do it it would start up and shut off, but then the ABS thing happened and it stopped working all together.

So thats all i can think of for now, any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

I believe (and someone can correct me if I am wrong) that there is a cable that plugs into the transmission and that actually gives you the reading on the spedometer. make sure everything is plugged in.

Now if you say you have a transmission code, that could possibly tie into the problem that you are having with your spedometer.

The ABS light is completely seperate from any codes on the check engine light. It could be as simple as the wire is loose on the ABS system itself under the hood. but check the wheels too make sure everything is connected.

My opinion of auto-starters: They are nothing but problems! I would disconnect it.

Hope this helps.

[shorod]

On your 1998 Explorer, the speedometer is electronic, no rotating cable. The vehicle speed is determined by the rear axle speed sensors for the ABS system. If this sensor or the 4-wheel ABS module is faulty, it could certainly explain why the speedometer and distance to empty module don't work, as well as why the ABS light and probably even the Check Engine Light are on. The communications network of your 1998 ties all the modules together and they can all be accessed electrically by the OBD-II connector under the dash.

Do you know what brand the remote engine starter is? I've installed a few remote start systems, and put one in my 2000 Mercury Mountaineer (Sister to the Explorer). I have yet to see one that is tied into the vehicle speed sensor, but most will prefer to monitor the engine speed.

Also, they typically incorporate a hood pin switch which will kill the engine if the hood is opened during remote operation, or prevent the engine from starting if the hood is open. I suspect that when the new engine was installed, the wire for the hood pin switch may have been snagged or disconnected.

Also, many remote starter systems will incorporate a diagnostic LED which will flash a code out that will indicate what the problem is.

-Rod

[sreilly77]

Originally Posted by shorod

On your 1998 Explorer, the speedometer is electronic, no rotating cable. The vehicle speed is determined by the rear axle speed sensors for the ABS system. If this sensor or the 4-wheel ABS module is faulty, it could certainly explain why the speedometer and distance to empty module don't work, as well as why the ABS light and probably even the Check Engine Light are on. The communications network of your 1998 ties all the modules together and they can all be accessed electrically by the OBD-II connector under the dash.

Do you know what brand the remote engine starter is? I've installed a few remote start systems, and put one in my 2000 Mercury Mountaineer (Sister to the Explorer). I have yet to see one that is tied into the vehicle speed sensor, but most will prefer to monitor the engine speed.

Also, they typically incorporate a hood pin switch which will kill the engine if the hood is opened during remote operation, or prevent the engine from starting if the hood is open. I suspect that when the new engine was installed, the wire for the hood pin switch may have been snagged or disconnected.

Also, many remote starter systems will incorporate a diagnostic LED which will flash a code out that will indicate what the problem is.

-Rod

ah ok thanks for correcting me I wasn't 100% sure if it was electronic or not. that makes sense now. thanks

[ddg5006]

Im glad the you confirmed my suspicions, from what i was experiencing i thought that the abs module could be the center of most of the problems, i am following that avenue for now.

[reekor]

Get a scan tool on the truck and see what the rear speed sensors have to say while its being driven.

Originally Posted by ddg5006

Im glad the you confirmed my suspicions, from what i was experiencing i thought that the abs module could be the center of most of the problems, i am following that avenue for now.