2001 Sport Trac with 97K mi

[Gincophie]

Well, just paid $4500 cash for a 2001 Sport Trac with 97K mi. Always was curious about these trucks, and wanted a light truck but any Ranger or whatever was $6-9K and 180K mi. Hoping this will be a good utility vehicle. Little worried about it being the 1st model year. Know issues include: gear shift indicator WAY out of adjustment (R=D and D=D1), broken antenna, broken cruise control cable, rear door stuck closed, other rear door only opens from outside, moisture in running light, broken tail light. Gonna see how many of these I can resolve this weekend

 

[Mbrooks420]

Welcome to the site. You may want to do a Search in here about pre-oilers and consider a large transmission cooler.

 

[ptf18]

Rear door being stuck may be due to the "child lock" being set to.... child lock.

My "advise" would be to go thru the S/T and change out ALL the fluids and filters, probably the plugs and wires. I use MotorCraft parts only. Check the body bushings. Give the vehicle a through cleaning inside and out including the undercarriage.

Thats a great price for a "low" mileage S/T.

 

[410Fortune]

Welcome to EF!!!

the shift indicator needle is adjustable, under the steering column you will find a little wheel you can turn to adjust the position of the orange needle. It is best to adjust it with the transmission in N
Although it is the fist year of the actual sport trac, it is not the first year for that drivetrain... the 2001 SOHC engine and auto transmission are very good, especially with 97K miles! We can see 250-350K miles on these engines and transmissions if you keep them cool, change the oil OFTEN and use full synthetic ONLY
Sounds like a nice ride! Be sure to post up some pictures, we love sport tracs and we love pictures!!

 

[Gincophie]

Welcome to the site. You may want to do a Search in here about pre-oilers and consider a large transmission cooler.

Thanks for the advice. I definitely will.

 

[Gincophie]

Welcome to EF!!!

the shift indicator needle is adjustable, under the steering column you will find a little wheel you can turn to adjust the position of the orange needle. It is best to adjust it with the transmission in N
Although it is the fist year of the actual sport trac, it is not the first year for that drivetrain... the 2001 SOHC engine and auto transmission are very good, especially with 97K miles! We can see 250-350K miles on these engines and transmissions if you keep them cool, change the oil OFTEN and use full synthetic ONLY
Sounds like a nice ride! Be sure to post up some pictures, we love sport tracs and we love pictures!!

Appreciate the feedback sand motivation to take care of the fluids properly! Found the little wheel, but the little plastic mounting bracket is broken which renders the adjustment wheel ineffective. Took up the slack by wrapping the string one turn around the end of the actuator: P = P and R = R (for now at least).

 

[Gincophie]

Rear door being stuck may be due to the "child lock" being set to.... child lock.

My "advise" would be to go thru the S/T and change out ALL the fluids and filters, probably the plugs and wires. I use MotorCraft parts only. Check the body bushings. Give the vehicle a through cleaning inside and out including the undercarriage.

Thats a great price for a "low" mileage S/T.

lol child lock being locked WAS part of the problem but in addition both rear interior latch handles are hyper extended and the little pegs that you grab with your fingers to unlock the doors were unscrewed so far that they were catching on the door frame and getting stuck.

Checked where the body bushings SHOULD have been, but found slightly compacted dust instead.

 

[Gincophie]

 

[ptf18]

Good looking S/T. How is the roof paint? And the interior?

The interior latches "may" have been damaged when someone attempted to open the doors from the inside. Replacements are available. Be REAL careful and LEARN what needs to be done to take off the interior door panels BEFORE you go prying them off.

The body bushings are well talked about here on the Forum.

 

[Mike65]

Welcome. Nice looking ST.

 

[Gincophie]

Good looking S/T. How is the roof paint? And the interior?

The interior latches "may" have been damaged when someone attempted to open the doors from the inside. Replacements are available. Be REAL careful and LEARN what needs to be done to take off the interior door panels BEFORE you go prying them off.

The body bushings are well talked about here on the Forum.

Roof paint is quite good. Hood paint is all scratched up (like someone was tossing a clipboard up there). Interior is dirty. Plan to remove and paint the panels. Thanks for the caution regarding the door panels.