Hello Everyone

-se7en · 01-25-2012, 07:19 PM

So I figured I just jump right into this. First off, I stumbled upon this thread while looking into some small issues I'm having with my new (Used explorer) And everyone seems friendly & helpful so I thought I'd join.

Anywho, my first nice car that I worked my tail off to buy was a 1999 Ford Explorer Limited. I LOVED it! I bought it with 32,000 miles on it & I drove it until it had 286,000 miles on it (I used it for delivering lost luggage for 4 years while in college, thats why it got sooo many miles!) But all that ever needed done on it was 2 water pumps in 7+ years (Besides basic maintance of coarse). I finally parted with it because i was blown away by how long it lasted & I was sure that big repairs were just around the corner..

From there I got a 2002 trialblazer LS which was decent but I missed my explorer! Well, my trailblazer just got hit by a drunk driver & totalled...

I just used my money to buy a shiney 2003 V8 ford explorer Eddie Bauer edition! (It was the closet thing I could find to my limited that I had loved so much!) I couldnt find one near me in Cali so I bought it from Minnesota & literally just got it home 2 days ago.. So far it drives great & Looks fantastic BUT with a few minor things...

1) MY TAILGATE JUST CRACKED!!! I couldnt believe it!! I was looking for info & found this forum & appearntly it's super common! I couldnt believe it!! So I hopefully can find some current info on fixing that!!

2) My right hinge on my tailgate window is also cracked & its making my glass sit a little crooked & rattle a bit on bumby roads so I was hoping someone could point me towards finding replacement hinges so I dont have to pay $100each from a dealer!

3) a few minor things I also noticed. How do you do a puddle lamp bulb replacement!? I can pry the little cover glass down a bit but I cant get it completely off without feeling like Im going to break it! Then I need to figure out what the little piece is in the middle back seat that is basically a seat belt guide is called. It is cracked & popping out on mine. It seems like a cheap fix but I dont know what the part is called to look up a new replacement. Then my visor mirror covers hang when I have to put my visors down (does that make sense?) Like the little spring or whatever that hold the cover on the mirror doesnt hold anymore.. & lastly, I need to replace a stylus arm on just the glass part of my tailgate. It doesnt have enough strength to hold the Window up by itself anymore..

Sorry to be new & bombard you guys with my little issues but thats why Im here! haha I'll poke around the forum to see what info I can find but if anyone reads this & can point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks!!

oh & lastly, other than the short list above, my explorer runs & looks fantastic! *knock on wood! I can only hope I have the same kind of luck I had with my 99 limited! (But this one doesnt quite seem as well made (cosmetically) but I dont know yet because its only been 2 days. BUT it runs like a champion & thats the most important thing!)

Thanks again guys!

**BrooklynBay** · 01-25-2012, 07:43 PM

Welcome to this forum! Contact some of the vendors on this site for hinges. I'm sure that it will be easy to find & repair. The V8 drivetrain was a good choice. Search around this site for answers to your questions. I'm sure that there's a thread on everything.

01-25-2012, 07:19 PM	#1
-se7en Wannabe Elite Explorer Mission Beach (San Diego), California 2003 Eddie Bauer Explorer Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Hello Everyone So I figured I just jump right into this. First off, I stumbled upon this thread while looking into some small issues I'm having with my new (Used explorer) And everyone seems friendly & helpful so I thought I'd join. Anywho, my first nice car that I worked my tail off to buy was a 1999 Ford Explorer Limited. I LOVED it! I bought it with 32,000 miles on it & I drove it until it had 286,000 miles on it (I used it for delivering lost luggage for 4 years while in college, thats why it got sooo many miles!) But all that ever needed done on it was 2 water pumps in 7+ years (Besides basic maintance of coarse). I finally parted with it because i was blown away by how long it lasted & I was sure that big repairs were just around the corner.. From there I got a 2002 trialblazer LS which was decent but I missed my explorer! Well, my trailblazer just got hit by a drunk driver & totalled... I just used my money to buy a shiney 2003 V8 ford explorer Eddie Bauer edition! (It was the closet thing I could find to my limited that I had loved so much!) I couldnt find one near me in Cali so I bought it from Minnesota & literally just got it home 2 days ago.. So far it drives great & Looks fantastic BUT with a few minor things... 1) MY TAILGATE JUST CRACKED!!! I couldnt believe it!! I was looking for info & found this forum & appearntly it's super common! I couldnt believe it!! So I hopefully can find some current info on fixing that!! 2) My right hinge on my tailgate window is also cracked & its making my glass sit a little crooked & rattle a bit on bumby roads so I was hoping someone could point me towards finding replacement hinges so I dont have to pay $100each from a dealer! 3) a few minor things I also noticed. How do you do a puddle lamp bulb replacement!? I can pry the little cover glass down a bit but I cant get it completely off without feeling like Im going to break it! Then I need to figure out what the little piece is in the middle back seat that is basically a seat belt guide is called. It is cracked & popping out on mine. It seems like a cheap fix but I dont know what the part is called to look up a new replacement. Then my visor mirror covers hang when I have to put my visors down (does that make sense?) Like the little spring or whatever that hold the cover on the mirror doesnt hold anymore.. & lastly, I need to replace a stylus arm on just the glass part of my tailgate. It doesnt have enough strength to hold the Window up by itself anymore.. Sorry to be new & bombard you guys with my little issues but thats why Im here! haha I'll poke around the forum to see what info I can find but if anyone reads this & can point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks!! oh & lastly, other than the short list above, my explorer runs & looks fantastic! *knock on wood! I can only hope I have the same kind of luck I had with my 99 limited! (But this one doesnt quite seem as well made (cosmetically) but I dont know yet because its only been 2 days. BUT it runs like a champion & thats the most important thing!) Thanks again guys!

01-25-2012, 07:43 PM	#2
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,685 Vehicle Specs	Welcome to this forum! Contact some of the vendors on this site for hinges. I'm sure that it will be easy to find & repair. The V8 drivetrain was a good choice. Search around this site for answers to your questions. I'm sure that there's a thread on everything. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.