3rd gen

Hi! I just bought a 2004 Explorer Ltd in really good shape a week ago. I bought it for the size, because I have 4 kids, and for the V8 engine to pull our camper trailer up the hill! That was a good deal. But now, I need to reconfigure the seating. This truck is a 6 seater and I need to make it a...

Hello explorer forum, I have a 2003 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4.6l V8 that I am in the process of manual swapping. I have been following whiteknight1982's guide to manual swapping 3rd gen Explorers, but before I commit to ordering the transmission I want to make sure that I will be able to get it...

Here are my pics and write up for a 3rd gen RAM Mount for the dash so that I could use a tablet for maps and vehicle information while underway. This process involves removing the dash which will take a few hours. If that is something you want to undertake I would consider proactively replacing...

here are my pics and write up for a 3rd gen roof rack with integrated wiring and lights setup. i used a rola roof cargo basket (from etrailer) with the extension. i selected it in part because of the aesthetics and it fits nicely on top of the roof rails. i wish it was not so heavy but i...

I have a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT with a 3” body lift, 3” suspension lift, and 35 in tires. My explorer has started to rock real bad side to side going 65+ after every bump. I have extended beefed up sway bar links front and rear, I replaced my rear struts and that made it go away for about a...

Hello! I was replacing my rear-hatch when I was about to plug everything in, one plug wouldn’t connect. I’m not sure what year exactly the new hatch is from, but it’s 2002-2005, and I have a 2003 limited. does anyone know how I would connect these?

I'm trying to do the brown wire mod on my 2004 explorer but I dont know which wire to cut into any hell would be greatly appreciated.

here are my pics and my write up for a 3rd gen dual battery setup. i had the local metal fab shop weld it together based on my design. the tray accommodates my 850 cca battery (7.5"w x 12"l x 7.5"h) and my 82 amp hour deep cycle battery (7"w x 10"l x 9"h). i use the second battery to power my...

Hi Good morning y'all, I'm posting this because this knocking/taping noise has been driving me crazy, some may say it's the timing chain, but said thing was replaced less than half a year ago, I would really like to know if any of you experts have a solution to my problem. I attach the video...

Hello just bought my first car and glad it's Ford, had 261,000 miles on it , got it for $1,200 tagged running but it didn't pass smog so I had to fix the EGR , then last year on December I took it to the shop for a tune up , motor craft Sparks , new wires , oil, coolant , fuel filter , air...

Hey everyone, I’m looking for a roof rack similar to a Prinsu or Rhino rack but am having trouble finding one for my 3rd gen Ex. Are there any company’s out there that make customs? I called Sherpa equipment co but they said their lead time was 8 months so hopefully looking to find something...

I was wondering what kind of cross mods are out there for the 3rd gen Explorers using mountaineer and aviators and there benefits and disadvantages

Hey, I have a 2004 Lincoln Aviator with the 4.6L DOHC and AWD(as I think they all are) and was curious as to what it would take to swap the AWD system with a 4x4 system from a 3rd gen explorer so I can have a low range. Im not sure if this is even possible. I saw someone one here post a how to...

hi, I’m new here. I have a 03 Ford Explorer. I have a crack at the Y or T (see in picture) I can’t fint the part to replace it. I tryed to seal it just to get by until I could find the part. But now one of the hoses fell out of the Y or T. It’s the hose by the arrow. It’s easy to get to I...

My 2002 XLT needs new control arms and ball joints. I don't need the best of the best but I do want something that will last a while. Plan to put a lot more miles than the 56K that's on there now. What should I go with?

In November, 2016, I got a new compressor installed. It worked flawlessly until just now. One day, about a year ago, it wouldn't turn-on. I didn't have pressure guages with me in Milwaukee, but I checked fuses/relays and no dice. At the end of the day, it magically started working again and...

I try to make this short. I’ve had a 2002 Ford Explorer XlT for about 2 years and have wanted to lift it ever since I purchased it. But I’ve looked around and read a bit, and no one sells lift kits for them, and everyone says don’t try to lift them. So long story short, would longer coils...

Hey guys, this is my first post and I ha e been utilizing the experience and info from this thread for many months. It has led me to fabricate the 3 inch ranger lift kit and get tons of after market parts on my 2003 ford explorer 4.0 2WD that has 315,000 miles on it all stock drive train parts...

Looking to change the front pads and rotors on my 3rd gen explorer. I've been recommended motorcraft, raybestos, and Wagner as good brands. Stock pads are suppose to be ceramic, but I think im gonna go with semi metallic for better stopping power, unless anyone has used ceramic pards that...

After seeing how “Explorer” looks on the hoods of the new Sport Ex’s I said I had to have it on my hood. So I went to the junkyard and pulled the letters off of the door of my same body style Ex. I used 3M double sided auto tape to tape them on.

So my wife and I, along with our 4 kids, do a ton of camping. This has prompted me to turn the family grocery getter (2005 4.6L awd mounty w/ 105k miles) into something of an overlander. I'm set on the mechanical side of things. 2.5in btf lift with a 1.5 BL. Btf upper control arms, moog struts...

I have a 2003 xlt that I'm starting to build so I will be looking here a lot for information and advice. I enjoy seeing and hearing what others have done with theirs and getting some ideas for mine. Like I said I'm just starting the process and I'm pretty new to the auto world so any advice from...

Hi all! I am a new member, so forgive me if I mess up on making this thread. I have had this problem with my 03 Explorer (150k) for a good 5 months now (since I got it). It is a RWD and has a 4.6 and the 3.73 LS axle. I've been getting pretty bad gas mileage, about 9-12 mpg. No CEL and no fluids...

So I've searched and searched and can't seem to find a bigger throttle body for my 04 explorer 4.6l. Since its an electric throttle body I can't just throw on a BBK. I currently have a K&N CAI, flowmaster exhuast, and custom performance tune through Unleashed Tuning. Anybody have any ideas or...

Hey guys. So, I got a new rough country lightbar. it's 50 inches, and i've got a aftermarket roof rack. I've got the steel and I'm going to just weld a bracket to fit onto the roof rack since it's only 37 inches wide. My problem is though, I'm really, really, really trying to avoid drilling...

My '02 Explorer and my buddies '68 Bronco hitting the trails

I drive an 02 mountaineer, and amoung other cars my dad has a 2013 limited explorer. One thing he and I both love about the 2013 in the multicolor ambient lighting inside. I'm looking to add something similar in my 2002, I found a 7 color kit on Amazon pretty cheap, and was thinking about how...

Last week I was walking outside to get into my truck and Glass was everywhere. My Back Window Panel was bent outward on both sides and I had a massive crack in the middle of the panel. The impact had to be very violent because I have tint on my window and it still threw broken glass pieces all...

this is my first post so i hope ive done everything correctly and got it all in the right threads! i know theres lots of threads about putting a manual transmission into an explorer but im a novice navigating the forum and working on fords so if this has been answered already sorry for beating a...

Hello everyone im killazombie I'm from south Texas. I was a longtime lurker until today. This site is awesome for explorer and ranger owners and enthusiast. I own a 2003 Eddie Bauer 4.0 RWD. And zombies are real... 80k on the odo, I'm wanting to upgrade the explorer since the last time I went...

Okay, so they make these things for the focus with LED's installed in them: I was wondering that hopefully someone knows if they make a version of these like that that are high quality: Any help would be amazing! :D

Hello everyone. I got an 05 mountaineer thats got a 3 inch body lift on it and i just got a set of the rockstar rims with nitto dune grapplers on them for a great deal on craigslist. My big issue rite now is barely any turnin radius they fit under my wheel well perfectly fine but the only...

I have a 3rd gen 2003 Ford Explorer with a 4.6 SOHC 16 valve V-8 engine. Does this vehicle come stock with a transmission cooler, and if not, do I really need one? It's a rare occasion I would ever have to tow more than 3,000 # with my truck. If i do need one, any reccomendations?

Hi, I just signed up here but I've been lurking for quite sometime. I know some of you will just get angry and claim that I haven't looked through the other threads, but that's not the case. I've been looking at getting an '04 Explorer XLT recently as a first car. However, I'm hesitant because I...

Hi all, I've all but decided to join the ranks of Explorer owners - seem to be good value, reliable trucks that meet the needs of a growing family. I'm having difficulty deciding whether I should go for a late model 3rd gen (04 or 05) or a an 06 4th gen (my budget won't really allow for a...

Alright so I have the 2.25 and 1.75 BTF spacers for my mounty and now im deciding on tires. Does anyone have pictures of their 3rd gen with the spacers and 265/70/16 or 265/75/16 tires? All info and pictures would be appreciated. Also, im wanting to get nitto terra grapplers. The 70s read 30.6...

Good afternoon everyone, I am in the middle of doing an overhaul of my 2003 xlt and was fortunate to get some mercury mountaineer seats from the same generation as mine. The thing is when I went to connect them the wires are completely different. The current seats in my xlt are as follows...

Well, my wife 2002 Ford Explorer XLT just decided it wouldnt start yesterday for no reason. I did the norm, verified the fuse for the Fuel Pump was Good, verified the relay (#48 under the hood I beleive) was good by replacing it with the AC relay (they are the same), then I checked the voltage...

OK, I might be taking a small bit of my retirement plan to pay for this, but need to get the truck fixed and want to do a few things. I've got: 1996 Ex XLT 4 dr, 4.0 L, Auto, 4x4. I've got a few problems, and one might be either a valve issue or could be as simple as a bad coil...

Siten on brake at work had to walk to work today cuz got drunk and stupid thought my by 02 sport was a tank and sank it pass the axles in a feeled (pics to fallow soon) so no other truck can get to it a 250 & 350 didn't even get close so to night im getin a shovel and a case of beer and...