Bought an Explorer at an Auction! EEK!

[FirefighterJose]

So I sold my 02 explorer earlier this year to get rid of a car loan
getting out of debt. Drove around a beater I had and long story short
went to an Auto Auction for my first time trying to grab something that
1. Ran and drove
2. Had Air Conditioning and Heat.
3. If I liked it, huge plus!

You don't get to test drive the vehicles, only look and inspect during the bidding process... Which is fast!

So after letting 4 or 5 cars go by being timid and not wanting to bid because I
hate making quick decisions I placed one single bid and won this....

2004 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 v6 3rd row
229k miles
Tires appear new and all match
Was a repo, so it was being driven
COLD AIR CONDITIONING
All windows worked

Winning Bid: $1,300

Photos I took after they pulled it out and parked it.

So, At this point I'm happy I got a decent deal... It's gamble but at the price sure I'm willing to gamble. Hopefully it makes it home. If it makes it through the winter I got my monies out of it for sure.

I go home, get someone to bring me back and pay for the car, also get a temp tag for $5 and drive it home. At this point, I'm downtown Nashville in rush hour.
My normal drive home from Nashville is one hour. It took double that amount of time due to the rush hour.
It never got hot, ran pretty smooth outside a thud going into 3rd gear IIRC.
The largest problem I learned was probably the rear end noise. I expected it.
And hopefully new fluid will help that out....
The Left Steering wheel stalk is broke, everything functions but it's kinda floppy.

So yeah, its not the nicest, it has a lot of miles but if I can clean it up and change the fluids and it lasts me the winter then I'll be estatic!

Things I've Done to it

Oil Change, Penzoil High Miles 10w30
Installed my Bi-Xenon Retrofit headlights I had from my last explorer


Plans:
Fluids change! Rear Dig, Tranny and front diff
Wheel Bearings probably
Remove front tint since it's damaged. New tint 15% all the way around.
Nice Dash system with Navigation, Back up Camera etc... I had a Jensen VX720? I Don't remember but I enjoyed it.
New Stalk from the junkyard
Dark Leather Front Seats from the junk yard ($40 each)
I might do leather seats all the way back if they have em, really just want the fronts at least.
LED bar top of windshield probably....
New Bi-Xenon Retrofit.

 

[drdoom]

Awesome, hope you enjoy your new wheels! Best wishes.
Doc

 

[EBfan]

I've seen much worse than that bought for a lot more money You might also want to replace that front drivers side fog lamp and grille that's missing and the passenger running board that looks like a shark took a bite while you're down the junkyard other than that it sounds like you're heading in the right direction to having a great winter car for a bargain price

 

[chris8428]

Looks like you made a nice find. Congratulations on it. I have a 2005 Explorer that I love, good luck with yours.

 

[funfool]

Congratz on getting out of debt.
I went to 2 auctions before. The first one was a little local towing company.
Was a group of car buyers that seemed to know each other well.
They were all making deals with each other, on which cars they would bid on and purchase, right before the auction started. I did not bid.

The second one was a huge auction, and needed a basic transportation car bad.
We ended up buying a 1981 corolla for $350 We named her Rumba.
That was 25 years ago, but that old beater ran forever.

Hope you have as much luck as I did

 

[Tyleryac]

Good luck with it, and I like that you have a plan.

 

[eeprete]

good luck with it! you did ok, I think

 

[Sweersa]

Great deal!

I'm happy with my 2005 Explorer. Just passed 180,000 miles the other day. Had to have two wheel bearing replaced (one in front, other in rear) and ball joints.

The tranny is goofy, but it works (for now)

 

[Number4]

There are plenty of these out there running, with higher mileage.

 

[FirefighterJose]

Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to cleaning it up.

 

[Tankentaisha]

This is one of my favorite colors for these and I think you got a great deal even if you have to rebuild the tranny.

 

[p38fln]

That's awesome!

I got mine from a dealer, but a family member owns the dealership and told me that he bought it from an auction, and we're both pretty sure it was also a repo.

Yes, you got a great deal I looked up the normal retail value for one of these before I bought mine.

Mine is also a 4x4 with the 3rd row and V-6 engine.

It has some REALLY odd body damage that looks like someone punched it or something, I'm wondering if the previous owner tried to stop the repo? Mine now anyway and I'm at least 600 miles away from them.

 

[Matted2thefloor]

Good luck with it!

Just some food for thought... when you change the rear differential oil, be sure to add the friction modifier with the new fluid...IF it has a limited slip differential. If not, then no need for it.

The "clunk" in 3rd gear is a common trait...mine does it pretty bad at 175k...when I worked at the Ford dealer the trans specialist told me ther is a servo bore in the trans case that wears which causes that clunk. There's a few options for a fix, but all involve dismantling the trans completely...or replace the unit.

 

[FirefighterJose]

Hey guys, thanks again!

Just an update, I'm trying to decide if I should keep it or try and flip it for profit and buy something else.

I went to the junkyard and had a pretty good score!
OEM Cassette and CD radio, I wanted cassette so I could use a Cassette Aux. Converter so I could stream anything from my phone. Works great! Though the unit only required 2 of my 3 factory harness plugs for the radio.

I also scored a Fog Light, I wasn't able to get the trim but maybe next time.

Header Panel so replace the one that is there. Whatever they hit they broke the mounts for the headlight built into the header panel. No problem, bought another.

Also got 3 Rows of Leather ( Or vynal? ) Seats for $130
All 3 rows with power driver seat. Looking forward to cleaning it all up and putting those in.

The other great score was the turn signal stalk, got it and installed that. Like new!

So for just under $200 I was able to get all that stuff for it!

I noticed today that both front sway bar links are broke and not attached to
the front sway bar... That explains the body roll!

I need to go back to the junkyard and get a factory rear full size bumper reciever so
it looks oem and doesn't have two on there... lol

Also need the running boards still.

My largest concern is what I think is Chain Slap when I first start the car up.
Then also under load is sounds like a rock bouncing around in a tin can from the motor... wtf?

I installed my Retrofittted Lights already.

Bi-Xenon Projectors retrofitted into the headlights. It was a cheap project but is better
than the oem stuff!

 

[Number4]

Seeing as how you have the V8, fix the chain issue sooner than later. If you can catch it before the guides disintegrate, you won't have to drop the pan to clean it out. Usually just need tensioners and guides. Chains and gears are usually still good.

 

[eeprete]

^^ what number4 said. Get the mechanicals solved sooner vs later.

 

[FirefighterJose]

I don't have the V8... I have the V6

From reading, the motor has to come out to change them correct? If so, I might as well see about getting another motor
and just wait for the thing to explode.

 

[eeprete]

Engine has to be removed for the chains however do not wait for further damage if you can prevent it. My brother has an 04 Mountaineer, his too sounded like the chains. After diagnosing further it turned out being a $12 broken valve Spring. I think too frequently people are willing to change the engine when it may not be needed.

 

[Number4]

Gotcha, might change the info in your side bar, it says V8 still. Perhaps your earlier Ex.
Sorry, as you know, not as easy a fix. But don't wait.

 

[FirefighterJose]

Yeah from my prev. explorer. Will change that