New Member: 97 V8 AWD

[Wichitagreg]

A toast to all responsible for this wonderful website. If I make it through the first 30 days with my new old Ex, I'll upgrade to elite status.

Just took delivery of a nice 97 V8 AWD XLT, black, with 98000 miles. Fair to very good condition so far.

Following observations with less than 50 miles and 24 hours:

Sluggish? For a V8, feels heavy when leaving traffic lights. Will inspect plugs, air filter, throttle body and MAS. Could be normal, used to a 270 HP 2002 Bravada. Don't know what the rear drive ratio is.

Front map or reading lights inop, bulbs look good....hmmmmm.

AC cools, but doesn's seem real cold or frigid. Was only 85 here last eve, may have the dreaded blend door problem.

New tires, so hope it will wear normally. Looks like fresh tranny fluid, and fresh oil change. Was a "Certified" vehicle, but not from a big four dealer. Just the local KIA dealer, so I guess you can put a sticker on the windshield that says certified if you want to.

Some posts, and the owners manual, indicate not to change fluids in the drive axels, AWD case too? Really?

Had a Superchip in my Lincoln MKIII, really made a difference. How about these V8 AWD?

Read some posts about AWD may be more reliable than electronic 4x4 due to no electronics and such...true?

Radiator flush or coolant change....take it in? or DIY? I have reasonable skills, but some cooling systems are a bear to get all the air out....worth the $60 to have it done? Looks pretty yucky.

Seen some posts on ball joints. Easy way to check? Jack it up and wiggle top to bottom just like the old VW beetles?

All in all, even if I have to sped a few bucks on early warning maintenance, at $4600 I think it's a great vehicle.

Thanks again for this site, and I hope I can become a contributor of both information and support.

Greg
Wichita

[Wichitagreg]

Had coolant flushed and AC recharged today.

Changed to Autolite double platinum plugs, that cured the sluggishness.

Suspension and brakes inspected ok.

Now I will just drive it.

[section525]

YOu got a great deal on that thing. Sounds like you got all the answers to your problem too!

After you change the plugs and wires (to Motorcrafts ), I'd look into getting an Apten chip. That should wake up the 5.0L. The AWD transfer case is pretty bullet-proof. But better than the V6 4405 (in my experience).

I think you'll be happy with the V8. Just watch out or you may become addicted to modding it.

[Mbrooks420]

You can change the fluid in the tranfer case, just not the viscous coupling itself. The diffs can also be changed without hurting anything, just they use synthetic in the rear, and must think it last forever. You most likely have a 3.73 limited slip rear axle, which is the only one I have seen in the AWD's.

I had a v6 auto 4x4 before my V8, and I preffer the AWD. I ruined the stock t-case, without a lot of abuse, and didn't like the 4x4auto nearly as much as the AWD. The only time the "real" 4x4 t case was better was in low when you needed a lot of power at a slow speed.

Section-I have read several things, not just on this site, about the motorcraft plugs working best in these engines, but the wires should be motorcraft also? I assumed a "high quality" wire would be better.

[section525]

Originally Posted by Mbrooks420

Section-I have read several things, not just on this site, about the motorcraft plugs working best in these engines, but the wires should be motorcraft also? I assumed a "high quality" wire would be better.

I just meant plugs. Do you know of any high-performance wires that'll fit our 5.0s?

[Mbrooks420]

Not off hand, but I think I saw some while browsing for some maintenance stuff. I'll see if I can backtrack to the ones I was looking at, I'll need to get some shortly anyways.