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Engine appearance not as year describes

Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
While trying to diagnose my used trucks symptoms discovered engine components differ from part store's information on model. How do I identify true engine specs.
Friday, December 20th, 2019 AT 9:51 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,816 POSTS
The 4.0L can be identified by looking at the VIN number at the base of the windshield (driver's side) or on the registration card.

Count 8 digits in from the left of the VIN. That will be the engine code. On you car, it should be either an X or a E.

What part doesn't look correct?

Let me know.
Joe
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Friday, December 20th, 2019 AT 10:12 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
The parts store guy came out to my truck to show me how to remove my thermostats housing and said the motor for my model has a plastic housing at radiator bottom where as my engine has an older placement on front of engine that is metal. He said mine looks like a 1996, but my model is documented a 1999 Special edition Eddie Bauer XLT. Now I'm confused not sure what to believe but I have had difficulty finding information on my models engine it doesn't match up with the pictures.
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Friday, December 20th, 2019 AT 10:22 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
  • 85,000 MILES
The parts store guy said his specs of my model are not the same as what is actually in my truck its like some of one years components and some of another years.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 4:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Let us start with the problem. Then you can tell me what specs are not the same?

Roy
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 4:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,816 POSTS
Hi Terri,

Nearly 40 years in the business and I have never seen a thermostat housing on the radiator. I have seen them at the bottom of the engine feeding off the lower radiator hose. However, your vehicle should have one at the end of the upper radiator hose (top of the engine). If you follow the upper radiator hose to the engine, it will end at the thermostat housing. If you look at pic 2, it shows what the housing looks like, As far as plastic or metal, both were used over the years, but that really shouldn't matter.

If you are replacing the thermostat, here is a link that explains in general how it is done. If it is a different problem you are fixing, let me know what it is.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Here are the directions for alldata. They are a bit vague. That is why I included the link above. The worst part of replacing it is you have to craw under the vehicle to open the drain on the radiator. You will need to drain the coolant just a little below the height of the thermostat; otherwise, it will leak from the engine when you remove the thermostat housing.

___________________________________________

1999 Ford Truck Explorer 4WD V6-4.0L VIN E
Procedures
Vehicle Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Cooling System Thermostat Service and Repair Procedures
PROCEDURES
Removal

CAUTION: Do not mix Standard (green) Coolant with Extended Life Coolant (orange). If mixing occurs, drain engine cooling system and refill with originally equipped coolant type. If this contamination occurs the service change interval on Extended Life Coolant will be reduced from 6 years/150,000 miles to 3 years/30,000 miles.

1. Partially drain the cooling system.
2. Remove the upper radiator hose.

pic 3

3. Remove the bolts.

pic 4

4. Remove the thermostat and gasket.

Installation

pic 5

1. Follow the removal procedure in reverse order.

______________________________________________

Let me know if this helps. Also, if you have questions or need help, please feel free to let me know. One last thing. the first and last pics below is an actual photo of the entire inlet assembly. I circled the thermostat housing portion. There are (I think) three bolts that hold it on to the unit. Under that is the thermostat. For some reason, it ended up being on there twice and I can't delete one of them. Sorry.

Take care,
Joe
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 9:40 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I am so grateful for your response I am a single mom here in Gainesville Georgia and I have a child with special needs and it's been raining here like mad and there's mud all around my mobile home so I'm having a little bit of difficulty being able to even work on the truck. It's starting to look like I may have to go to a mechanic but of course I cannot afford one right now so I'm just crossing my fingers and praying to God we can make it until I get my paycheck.
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Friday, December 27th, 2019 AT 6:28 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Terri,

We are here to help and nothing more. Please feel free to let me know if you need anything. If I can do anything that will help, I will. By the way, I envy you being in GA. I'm way north of you and hate cold weather. LOL

Also, when you get a chance, take a picture of the thermostat housing on your vehicle so I can see what you have. If you follow the upper radiator hose back to the engine, it should lead you to the housing.

Take care and let me know what I can do.

Take care,
Joe
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Friday, December 27th, 2019 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
XLS is the not XLT I was mistaken oh and I took a bunch of pictures so whatever you guys want to see I probably took a picture of it. So if anybody can help me identify what exactly the engine model is that would be great. I even got the tag things that are on the inside of the door. But I'm pretty sure those kind of things could be changed if they really wanted to make it look good. Normally I wouldn't be so paranoid but now two different people have had issues identifying stuff on this motor. I had to replace the radiator hoses just recently and I had to send somebody to do it and they came back with the wrong parts like a super short one and a real long one.
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Friday, January 10th, 2020 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Can you upload a few pics of the thermostat housing?
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Friday, January 10th, 2020 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Sorry, it's just I had taken like 30 pictures with my camera and my phone went dead before I could get you know better and more thorough pictures or suggestions of better pictures and now it's night time here in Georgia so.
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Friday, January 10th, 2020 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Not a problem. Tomorrow when it's light, get me some pics of the housing itself. I will watch for your reply. I can't see the housing in these pics.

Take care,
Joe
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Friday, January 10th, 2020 AT 9:28 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I have to take the mass air flow hose and all that stuff off to to get a clear picture of it because everything's really crammed in there in that spot. But alongside that spot I did find a number that I think I got a pretty clear picture of. I don't know if you can do anything with it or what it means but I'll show you a picture the other three are the first two under the hood at the front of the truck over the grill and of course the other ones the one on the driver's side door the door. One apparently says that it is an automatic 5-speed which it's an automatic but I didn't know it was called an automatic 5-speed and it's also says 3.73 limited slip. So I'm not sure what they mean. I acquired subscription for Alldatdiy they have a acronym list for some of them but again I find several of the ones I have are not listed from the stickers. I haven't finished reading up yet on the other letters and numbers I'm working on that right now.
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Friday, January 10th, 2020 AT 9:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,816 POSTS
Okay, I think I figured this out for you. Based on the vin number (pic 4), you have a 4.0L V6 with an engine code (X). For some reason that shows up differently when I check the pictures. Take a look at the attached pic and let me know if this is what yours looks like.

Although it is a Ford 4.0L, the engine in your vehicle is of a slightly different design and this design isn't as common as the other.

Now, if that looks correct, I checked online and found the dorman part number. See pic 2.

Anytime you need parts for this engine, indicate that it has an X engine code.

Let me know if that looks right.

Joe
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 7:15 PM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
That's it baby woohoo you are the man! So here's the latest I have decided to replace the MAF sensor first because its got a reading of P0171 which is either too lean fuel or power-train. Oh and I found this seriously handy VIN reader that you guys might like I'll give you the link right here check it out it's pretty interesting it gives you a lot of information on how to read your VIN and I found out some real funny things about my VIN half the stuff in my VIN stating what it is in the vehicle is N/A on my (supposed) model. Mine has steering controls running boards second row folding seats split bench front seats fog lights and what my VIN says is those aren't available with the VIN number I'm supplying. It also says it's supposed to be and XLT sport utility and it's supposed to have leather seats with the adjusters that are electric. Even more interesting the custom seats with a name and custom painting and pinstripes I looked up the name Mike Shanaghan it's a Ford distributor in Canada and I don't think somebody drove their Ford up there just to get custom seats and a pinstripe paint job I think the big mystery here is it was actually distributed and manufactured possibly in Canada. Also not sure if I told you guys but I did replace the radiator hoses I don't have that smell anymore that smells like it was overheating but the gauge was not saying it was so that's all good now no more smelt but it still has the hesitation like it it's not getting power all the way and the idol itself just seems a little rough so those symptoms are the reason why I checked it with the OBD ll and got the P0171 reading.
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 AT 4:30 AM
Tiny
TERRI M ESSEX
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
https://www.faxvin.com/company/contact/sent
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 AT 4:31 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,816 POSTS
It is possible the vehicle could be from Canada. As far as that code, that indicates a lean fuel mixture. Most commonly, the cause is either low fuel pressure or a vacuum leak. That could be the cause of the rough idle and low power.

Do me a favor. Here are directions for checking both for a vacuum leak and fuel pressure. Start with fuel pressure. Although a leak will cause a rough idle, low fuel pressure will cause a power loss.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If you look at the attached picture, it shows the manufacturer's specs as far as pressure. Note that KOEO stands for key on engine off.

Check this and let me know what you find.

Joe
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 AT 5:57 PM

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