back to the forum after a long break, some advice please

[trooper182]

Hello all, its been a while since I have posted on here. OK OK a long time (2007) but it has been a long few years. I am getting ready to come home in a few weeks from my 3rd deployment and I am up in the air about trading in my explorer. I have a 2004 xls 4.0l with 104000 on the clock. I bought it back in 2007 with 58000 miles on it and have kept up with basic maintenance (oil changes ETC). At about 75000 miles I had to have the shift solenoid replaced (was slamming into reverse) but luckily I had an extended warranty and only had to pay $100. Other than that I have not had any big issues with it. Well I am at the point were I have read some horror stories of things going wrong with the explorer. My extended warranty is up at the end of the year or 117000 miles.

I like this truck and it has always been reliable. I owe $6000 more on it and I kinda don't want to start on new payments on a new car. Now that I have a kid I want the explorer to be reliable. I would like to get at least another 50000 out of her. So now the questions. First the obvious, is it worth keeping or should I move on? If I keep it what are some things I should think about replacing at this point?

Currently there is a groaning noise coming from the front end when going over things like speed bumps. I had my brother push down on the front while it was parked and you could clearly hear it. After reading on the forum I am going to go with the sway bar bushings. Am I correct? Also if I do keep it I am going to replace the shocks, front rotors, and breaks. Anything else I should do or have a mechanic check? Sorry to make this so long but I appreciate any help or advice. Thanks

 

[Joe Dirt]

The front end noise could be ball joints, too... Try spraying then one by one and pushing the truck, to see if you can isolate.

If you owe $6k, I would drive it yet. It's a crap shoot, but the odds are: x% that you spend money fixing stuff, and 100% sure you lose money trading it in... Just my .02

Thank you for your service!

 

[EasyRhino]

Hello all, its been a while since I have posted on here. OK OK a long time (2007) but it has been a long few years. I am getting ready to come home in a few weeks from my 3rd deployment and I am up in the air about trading in my explorer. I have a 2004 xls 4.0l with 104000 on the clock. I bought it back in 2007 with 58000 miles on it and have kept up with basic maintenance (oil changes ETC). At about 75000 miles I had to have the shift solenoid replaced (was slamming into reverse) but luckily I had an extended warranty and only had to pay $100. Other than that I have not had any big issues with it. Well I am at the point were I have read some horror stories of things going wrong with the explorer. My extended warranty is up at the end of the year or 117000 miles.

I like this truck and it has always been reliable. I owe $6000 more on it and I kinda don't want to start on new payments on a new car. Now that I have a kid I want the explorer to be reliable. I would like to get at least another 50000 out of her. So now the questions. First the obvious, is it worth keeping or should I move on? If I keep it what are some things I should think about replacing at this point?

Currently there is a groaning noise coming from the front end when going over things like speed bumps. I had my brother push down on the front while it was parked and you could clearly hear it. After reading on the forum I am going to go with the sway bar bushings. Am I correct? Also if I do keep it I am going to replace the shocks, front rotors, and breaks. Anything else I should do or have a mechanic check? Sorry to make this so long but I appreciate any help or advice. Thanks

First, congrats on wrapping up your (current) deployment, and thanks. My oldest is over there now, and I retired after 24 years and multiple deployments back in the day (old guy now).

Anyway, first the easy part - your front end squeak is by far most likely to be the front sway bar bushings (where they bolt to the frame), which are easily accessed up under the front end forward of the radiator. The type of rubber used combined with a lack of a grease fitting results in a dried out bushing that then grabs that sway bar and squeaks like crazy (and makes your truck seem junkier than it is).

The good news is that is incredibly simple to fix, I spray mine down 1-2 times/year with WD-40 - the cheap man's fix (I do it while changing the oil and mine no longer squeak and remind me of their demand for attention, although many here have replaced the bushings which is a simple and quick job as well.

As far as keeping the Ex goes, that's tougher, many have been bit hard and many have been lucky. I've had my 2002 fully loaded Limited since new, now at 112K miles and 9 years old. Since I'm cheaping out on the cost of a new car now, I'm making it last.

I figured out that even if I have to eat a 4K new tranny (mine is beginning to act up a little - so I know it's coming), keeping it another 2-6 years is a money winner. It's long ago paid off and I have plenty of income, I just want my money to go somewhere else right now.

Good luck in your decision/future, and thanks for standing guard for the rest of us.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Well said, Rhino-

Even at $4,000 high end for a trans, that's 8 months of car payments, and a new ride will probably be 60. I love not having one, dreading when I will soon...

 

[trooper182]

what are some of the normal things I should replace as far as things like belts, hoses, timing chain?

 

[Robsbrd99]

I also agree. Keep it. Much cheaper to fix what would come up vs. getting another car. If I was going in for service, I would have them check the front wheel bearings and get the trans. serviced. I might also spring for a transfer case drain and refill if it hasnt been done yet.

 

[EasyRhino]

what are some of the normal things I should replace as far as things like belts, hoses, timing chain?

Just did the belts and hoses on my 2002, and they would have been fine another 100K for a total of 200K, so I would not sweat those.

I would pay attention to the tranny and, although I don't know the 4.o, ask around about the timing chains.

Expect to replace front wheel bearings eventually.