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Have any of you folks added a wireless cell phone charger to your 3rd gen at all? I've seen some other vehicles with a wireless charger added in some fashion. I have a "vision" but not sure if it'll fully work. Ideally, I'd like to put a wireless charger in that blank spot just below the HVAC...

For me, using the synthetic blend in my Mustang GT is simply because that's what it's always had. I bought that car new, and from day 1 I've used the Motorcraft synth blend per the manual. It's worked for me so "why upset the apple cart", ya know? Not sure why I won't move up to full synth on...

For my V6 Explorer, I've been using the Mobil 1 full synthetic high mileage and a Motorcraft filter. For my Mustang GT, I've always used Motorcraft synthetic blend and Motorcraft filter. The filter is the same between the two vehicles, so that's kinda helpful.

I'll need to try and tackle this. My '03 has good temperature and good vent position, but the pressure coming out of the vents is horrible IMO. If I have the fan speed set on 4, I can't feel any air flow from the vents if I place my hand at 6" from the vent. But it sure sounds like it's pushing...

I bought my '03 XLT nearly 3 years ago with 167,500 on the clock. Today it rolled over 219K. Since I've owned it, I've put the Mobil 1 full synthetic high mileage in it (5 qt jug is about $27 at Walmart). For my 2003 Mustang GT...I bought that car new and it has always had Motorcraft synthetic...

It could be a couple other things. The more "complicated" one is that there's a wire in the harness that's broken. Usually inside the rubber boot near the door hinges. The "easier" one is that it's the door latch assembly. Yes, you may have tried the WD40 trick, but sometimes that still isn't...

I had one of K&N's cold air kits on my Mustang GT. It really didn't seem to make a lick of difference in the power department. I switched back to the factory air assembly and still felt no difference. I kinda got sick of cleaning the filter...just seems easier for me to just change the filter now.

Are you trying to engage the 4x4 LOW properly? Mine does the same thing, and before I was told the right way, I also thought something was wrong. Someone here said that the vehicle has to be completely stopped with foot on the brake pedal, the transmission must be in neutral, and then press the...

I did it on my last '03. It came out just okay...it was passable; it wasn't perfect but it looked a lot better than the bare primer color it was before I painted it. The part was already in primer so I first wiped that down with some rubbing alcohol to clean it up a bit, then I just got a...

Ahh, the Outer Banks. Wonderful area for vacationing...just relax and do next to nothing. I'll be headed down there this weekend, in my '03 XLT, for a week of relaxation. My girlfriend rented the same house as she did last year...and I drove the Explorer down there then as well. I was a little...

Do you have a picture of the hole? That might help in determining if there's anything else you could do.

For what it's worth, I've always used the Motorcraft semi-metallics on my 2003 Mustang GT over the years...I bought the car new and it's on it's 4th set right now (177K miles later). Also Motorcraft/Brembo rotors. I tend to stick with Ford/Motorcraft stuff for that car in general. My '03...

Keep up on the maintenance and you'll be good to go! I'm coming up on 209K on my '03 XLT and it's still going strong as well. I had 334K on my previous '03 XLT...a deer killed that one though. Both of them are even the 4.0L V6!

FYI, if you didn't know already, there is a black rubber-ish button to the right of the tailgate handle that will release the hatch glass. It's not very apparent and does seem rather tucked away...you gotta kinda feel around for it or squat down and look up at the handle area.

Congrats! I hit that milestone a few months ago, just turned over 207K this past weekend, and still climbin'. :) I do have to address a P0430 for emissions by April but other than that, still going strong.

Well, thank you for this, and the instructions. My '03 is lacking an owner's manual and as long as I've owned this one, I just assumed the truck had to be in PARK to switch between 4x4 modes. I would put it in park and it would go into 4 HI just fine, but 4 LOW always resulted in the light on...

It probably is just one. I couldn't remember if it was one or two per lens... Beyond the bulbs, I personally do not have any other knowledge on what to check for. Maybe just check if the wiring going into the bulb sockets is in good shape? Someone else will have to chime in on any further...

The bulbs are quite an easy fix really. Open the tailgate and on the side of each light housing, there are 2 Philips-head screws. Remove the screws and then pull the light assembly away from the body of the vehicle (just need to do a little finagling; it's not bad). Then the light sockets are on...

Well, interesting...I don't spend much time in the back seat of mine, so I went and tried. Sure enough, the rear doors do not open if the door locks are engaged. But the front doors do open with the doors locked. I can only surmise that this is by design, but does seem a bit risky of a design...

...and here I had gotten chastised a few years ago (I think it was another forum though) for having a quarter-pallet of flagstone loaded into the back of my '03...and that was only 600 lbs.

Can the rear locks be unlocked manually (i.e., pushing on the actual lock switch)? I can't remember if that's normal behavior or not...the rear doors not opening when locked. I remember years ago in cars, if the door was locked, you had to unlock them to exit the vehicle. But I know as of late...

If they're anything like the intake manifolds for the 4.6L in the Mustang, they're made of plastic. On the first iterations of the Mustang's 4.6L, it was all plastic...and this plastic was prone to cracking at the crossover where the thermostat sits. Sometime around 2001 (I think?), Ford...

Okay...first, how much fuel do you ACTUALLY fill the tank with when you refuel? I'd pay attention to that, because I doubt you're using all 22.5 gallons each time you fill...so first determining the actual mileage is key here. I have a V6 in my XLT and I'll get between 17-20 mpg depending on...

Okay, this kind of bothers me. Why is this a thing now? Why aren't all gas stations on the same level, even within the same brand? This "Top Tier" nonsense just seems so ridiculous to me. I can only surmise one answer... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I have the WeatherTech visors, which go in the window channel, and they've been great as long as I've had them (3 years). Once they're in there, they are quite snug and won't shift or slip out of the channel. If you need to remove them, they will come out with slight pulling but they do stay in...

Have you tried RockAuto? I had to find one for my '03 XLT when I first bought it and I think that's where I got it from. I've bought a good deal of parts for the Ex from them...

Sounds about right. The housing on my previous Explorer, a 4.0L as well, was replaced and it was around the $200 mark P&L. The part itself is fairly cheap from what I saw but factor in the replenishment coolant, labor, etc.

The problem with coolant leaks, at least in my experience, is that you never really know where it's truly coming from just by looking at it. On my '03 GT a few years ago, there was a coolant leak. I didn't know it but the car overheated on me one day in the middle of August. Found the reservoir...

As far as I can tell it's all original, V6, 4x4.

I got one of those overlay kits a while back to help remedy the same situation. The problem I saw with the kit is that the acrylic is about 1/2"-3/4" thick, and it just sticks on the existing pillars. So you've got this raised plastic piece just sticking on top of the pillar and it's a bit...

...and if a caliper were sticking, you'd probably notice a lot more brake dust on the offending wheel than the others. I went through that recently...I would run the Ex through a car wash, get everything all nice and clean, and then 2 days later the passenger front wheel was looking just as bad...

Last night while returning home from yet another road trip to NC, my '03 XLT crossed the 200,000 mile mark. I can't take all the credit though...I've only owned it for just shy of 2 years and I bought it with 167,580 miles on it already. It had 2 previous owners...the second owner having owned...

My driver's door switch had gone bad as well ultimately...I did the WD-40 trick and that didn't last long so I ended up getting a new switch from Ford. It was about $50 at the dealership and wasn't too difficult to replace when it came down to it. I did need to go out and buy some little hooked...

Oh wow, I'll bet that lone 235/65 tire was the main culprit. Glad you got it easily squared away. Good luck with the transmission!

For my 2003 XLT with V6, it doesn't seem to take much time for that to get up to temp. I'll start the car up in the morning and immediately go...when I'm only about 2 miles down the road, the temp gauge shows at the "normal" point, and warm air is just starting to blow from the vents. It takes a...

Interesting thread! What I love about my Explorer...well, I think I've been "in love" with these 3rd gens since my dad bought his new in 2005. I love how it looks, how the interior is laid out...I love the comfort and interior size (relatively speaking to a smaller car). And I bought my first...

I'm not entirely certain on the 4x4 light blinking...I've looked that up here as well since my 4x4 LOW light blinks if I hit that. If I recall correctly it's related to sensors in the transmission or the solenoid...I don't quite remember. You can do a search on this forum for it and there were...

Is it bucking as you're accelerating through those speeds or if you're going steady at that speed, it bucks? I had a bucking issue with my '03 XLT 4x4 when I first got it nearly 2 years ago. There were two different tires on it...the fronts were BFGs, the rears were Firestones. Even though they...

The one in this thread posted above is over a year old. Chances are it's expired.

I just had a set of Power Stop brakes put on my '03 XLT back in June. Ceramic pads, rotors, and calipers. Got the kit off Rock Auto for ~$330 shipped, after a 6% forum discount. I just use the Explorer for driving around, no towing...these brakes are great. Especially given the price I paid for...