Tag: explorer

  • Mysteries of the Exploder

    Mysteries of the Exploder

    Sometime in the last year – maybe aligning with the deer strike or my own tinkering, the remote starter stopped working on the Exploder. This had led to some dashboard deconstruction and strange part replacements.. but still to no avail. But I did find a brand new key! Above, the TBXKEY. An old school way…

  • Cue the Pinball Machine

    Cue the Pinball Machine

    The Exploder (built in 11/2007) continues its march through the decades – check out that mileage. Can’t not think of this classic Sesame Street song:

  • Head Units

    Head Units

    Out of context it sounds like a way to measure a hat, I guess? Installing a backup camera is pointless without a way to view it.. so one more modernization was required for the old Exploder. Amazing how small these things are now! Especially compared to the ~20 year old tech it replaced. Oh and…

  • Back to the Explorer..

    Back to the Explorer..

    Two weeks previous to this post, I started the backup camera project. Here, the new camera is installed, wires cut, and now attached to the old wires. As noted previously, a LOT of things went wrong with the project, and lots of new stuff had to be purchased to complete the job. The wiring complexities…

  • A Long Project

    A Long Project

    What am I doing? Modernizing a dinosaur truck that just clobbered a deer and is rusting out? Yep. And what an adventure. Installing a backup camera is a bit complex. You have to route the camera from the outside of the car, inside, which requires removal of all kinds of parts. In this process, I…

  • No Go

    No Go

    For a moment after the Explorer vs deer incident I thought, “I’ll get some darker style headlights for the Explorer, to make it look a little cooler.” I also assumed the body shop would take my aftermarket parts – and now am quite sure they would have laughed at me. Turns out these would not…

  • Oh Deer

    Oh Deer

    Driving home after golf, a very very unfortunate deer decided to launch in front of the Explorer. It was an immediate impact, almost like the deer appeared out of thin air – and as later the police and insurance adjuster noted, the old Ford held up quite well. Nothing on the front end is particularly…

  • That pollen-sheen

    That pollen-sheen

    Tree pollen in high gear gave the Exploder a little green highlight under the street lamp.

  • Unfortunate discovery

    Unfortunate discovery

    A new and very ugly rust spot on the Explorer.. the door seal no longer has anything the clip into. Time is ticking. Imara’s not happy about it either:

  • Day 8 – Happening Today

    Day 8 – Happening Today

    Early march – the juniors are ready for take off.

  • Day 24 – Choice

    Day 24 – Choice

    Not feeling creative, but did find the Explorer’s headlights a little interesting after using the remote starter.