96-00 Explorer Questions.

[1998Limited]

Hello all, long time past ford owner, I am looking at buying a 96-00 Ford explorer 4WD with about 125K miles. Engine most likely be the 4.0L, with a automatic transmission..

How reliable are these SUV'S? Engines and transmissions with this amount of miles? In the spring i am going to tow a light garden tractor and trailer.

What are the common problems/areas with these suvs?

Thanks! for now. I will be reading up on them.

 

[my pos mounty]

If you do read up on these, you will see that the V8 (5.0) would be a better choice. No timing chain issues, and the transmission mated to the V8 is as close to indestructable as you can get.

 

[section525]

5.0L all the way.

 

[red101]

I have 2 explorer's one is a 96 and the other is a 99 both are 4.0. The 96 has 136000. I tow a 3500 pound trailer once a week and although I can not nor I would not want to go 70 it does the job. All I have done in this truck is change the oil and the shocks . Great vehicle

 

[1998Limited]

Thanks for the replys, how would i know what explorers have the 5 speed auto or the 4 speed auto? Any easy way to tell just by looking at it?

How bad are these timing chain issues? Is it a guarantee that this one part will fail?

 

[celly]

If you do read up on these, you will see that the V8 (5.0) would be a better choice. No timing chain issues, and the transmission mated to the V8 is as close to indestructable as you can get.

Sage advice grasshoppa. Join the 5.0 club.

 

[Delta Dog]

I may be mistaken but it sounds like you are confusing the 5.0L, V8 engine, as some (including myself) would recommend with a 4 or 5 speed transmission.

Forget about the transmission for a moment.......start looking for the bigger 5.0L, V8 engine and odds are you will have less issues and beter reliability.

 

[2000StreetRod]

V8 transmission

There is no 5 speed automatic transmission available with the V8 engine. The V8 engine is more reliable and less expensive to maintain than the SOHC and has more power. The 4 speed automatic transmission that comes with the V8 is more reliable than the 4 or 5 speed transmission that comes with either V6. The OHV V6 is more reliable than the SOHC but has a lot less power. The only advantage of the V6 over the V8 is better fuel economy. For the age and typical mileage of the vehicles you're considering the V8 is probably the less risky and more suitable choice.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Get the v8. The SOHC is a piece of junk, the ohv is underpowered for the size of the vehicle, and all of the v6 trannies suck. SOHC 4.0 has considerably better mileage than the OHV 4.0, but OHV 4.0 to the v8 mpg is comparable.

 

[firepop5]

96

I have a 96 Eddie Bauer V8 for sale on Long Island. Very good condition, but 163K miles. PM me if you are interested. I can e-mail you pictures

 

[1998Limited]

Well, thanks for the replies.

So, i am now just going for the V8. I am looking for something reliable, and this seems like it will be much better then the 4.0 with a auto.

Also, are the Mercury Mountaineer's the same? Did they all come with these V8s? Found a white 98 with 122K miles, loaded for $3K... Good deal, i most likely will miss this deal, as its been a few days, but, they are just a good? I kinda like the look of them, slightly different, but yet the same.

firepop5, are they highway miles or city? Also, a picture would be nice. How much are you looking for? Any problems, noises, things of the like?

Thanks.

 

[celly]

Also, are the Mercury Mountaineer's the same? Did they all come with these V8s?

Most, but not all 2nd gen Mounties seem to have the 5.0, but the 4.0L V6 SOHC was an option too in some years. There seem to be fewer trim levels in the Mounty offerings with most having similar options as the Eddie Bauer and Limited Explorers.

 

[1998Limited]

Well, thanks for the replies.

So, i am now just going for the V8. I am looking for something reliable, and this seems like it will be much better then the 4.0 with a auto.

Also, are the Mercury Mountaineer's the same? Did they all come with these V8s? Found a white 98 with 122K miles, loaded for $3K... Good deal, i most likely will miss this deal, as its been a few days, but, they are just as good? I kinda like the look of them, slightly different, but yet the same.

firepop5, are they highway miles or city? Also, a picture would be nice. How much are you looking for? Any problems, noises, things of the like?

Thanks.

 

[The Captain]

I would recommend the 2WD with a V8. The truck gets about the same Gas Mileledge as a 4.0L 4WD but with V8 power.

 

[Mbrooks420]

If his part of NY is anything like where I am in PA a 2wd won't do.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Honestly- if you're pulling a small trailer, the V8 whatever combo 2wd or 4wd you get will get the same or better mileage than a V6.

There was negligible MPG difference between the V6 and V8 when new.

Good call on the V8. Much more stout drivetrain, especially if you're trailering with a vehicle that has miles on it.

 

[celly]

Also, are the Mercury Mountaineer's the same? Did they all come with these V8s?

I answered you already on this. Remember, 5.0=302=V8. These terms get used interchangeably on the site.

One important thing to remember about gaining membership into the 5.0 club is that you can use "Torque Monster Headers" on our trucks. The stock exhaust manifolds are a well documented weak spot on the 5.0. I won't go off on a tangent on this one. Just use "Torque Monster" as a search term on one or both of the site's search engines or in Google to see what I mean. I just did the upgrade this past summer.

I would recommend the 2WD with a V8. The truck gets about the same Gas Mileledge as a 4.0L 4WD but with V8 power.

Maybe where you live in Cali, but anywhere there's snow, AWD is superb. I enjoy driving in winter with AWD, especially with dedicated snow/ice tires.

 

[firepop5]

Mostly highway miles. Minor exhaust leak in area around right exhaust manifold you can hear when engine is started cold. It goes away once warm and hasn't gotten any worse since I've owned the car. I bought the car in 2003 with about 90K miles. I'm looking for $2,500. I don't know how to post photos here so if you send me your email address, I can send pictures directly to you. I am in Floral Park. Where are you located?

 

[my pos mounty]

That "little" exhaust leak could very well be a cracked exhaust manifold. Quite typical for the V8 Mountys/Exploders. Dont want to interfere with your sale at all. Had one leak like that for 5 years, then just went to open real quick at the worst possible moment for me. These are pretty much a tank, go forever with proper maintenance and care though.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Also very possible it is a slight gasket leak. Mine ticked when I bought it with 63k. It now has 175k on it now, still ticks the same amount, and has seemingly caused no problems.

As for Mounty vs Explorer the base Mounty is usually better equipped than the base Explorer. The Mounty has better glass headlights, where the Explorer has the plastic lens housings that tend to get yellow/hazed. I had a 96 4.0 before the v8 Mounty. Gas mileage was comparable. I didn't notice any real increase in my weekly gas spending. I did notice the 3 transmission rebuilds Never another v6 tranny for me.