95 Explorer hesitation problem

[retiredfornow]

Have a 95 Explorer 2WD,Auto,V-6 4.0 pushrod engine, 138000 miles well maintained.
Recently have an intermittent engine hesitation that occurs now more on initial driving when cold then only off and on. Feels like a plug missing, a quick hesitation only. Idles fine and accellerates fine. I recently replaced both o-2 sensors, cleaned the MAF sensor and throttle body, new fuel filter but none of these fixes changed the problem.
I have never had a check engine light which leads me to another question, Will the code scanner you buy at the auto parts store tell you anything if the check engine light hasnt come on? Would it be a waste of money for me to buy one and check for trouble codes?
Thanks for any help

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

I'd suggest you try adding a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to the tank. Run it for a hundred miles or so and see if it helps.

If not, next time the engine is acting up, take a can of throttle body cleaner and spray it around the intake manifold gasket. If the engine speed changes, you probably have the fairly common intake manifold gasket problem.

If the intake manifold gasket does not appear to be the problem, then check the engine coolant temperature sensor. A sender drives the temp guage on the instrument cluster, the sensor is what the PCM uses for fuel management and timing adjustment.

As for a scanner, yes, a true scanner with datastream mode will be able to tell you information about the engine even if there are no diagnostic codes set. However, the less expensive code reader will not. Your 1995 is OBD-I, so the auto parts store may not offer the free code reading service. Many times this only applies to OBD-II systems, but it may be worth asking.

-Rod

[retiredfornow]

Thanks, I'll try your tips

[jacobunderwood]

ok 95 is one of those iffy years most 95 ford explorer's have OBDI so the new scanner will not help you out at all you will have to by the big kit to get the lead that you need to check you check engine like. most of the time when it starts hesatating it means that its time for a tune up! thats what i would do

[retiredfornow]

Thanks for the replies to my 95 expl hesitation problem. I had replaced the platinum plugs and wires about 32000 miles ago and ruled them out as the cause and because checking them out would be a long task. Came to be that they were the problem. I replaced them and problem solved. I had tried all the other fixes including new fuel filter, cleaning the throttle body, MAP sensor,replaced both O2 sensors,etc
On the plus side, all the other things I did didnt hurt doing and may well prevent future problems for a longer time.
Thanks again for the help. Hope I can help others on this great forum in the future.