Explorers should come with a tool set....

[doonze]

I was just going over the list in my head of all I've had to do so far. Owned the truck for about 4-5 months, put about 4000 miles on it.... And I've had too...

Replace MAF
Replace thermostat
"super" flush the radiator (for many months)
replace temp sending unit
fixed the 4x4 (shift motor bushing fix)
replace about 6 dash lights (and now have another one to do, just went out)
replaced interior lights (still short 1)
got all breaklights working
Fixed drivers door striker
fixed all locks, and ignition switch could use replacing.
Replaced all rear break lines
Fixed the uncompleated RA bushings fix previous owner had started
Replace all 4 rotted speakers
Fixed may CEL's, some to do with MAF's some to do with O2's
Changed M5/transfer case fluid (black and full of metal)
Fixed M5 rubber bushings (RTV to the rescue)
Fixed the little lights in the bumper (superglue and rust scraping to the resuce)
Put a rear wiper arm back on (mine was missing)
Removed aftermarket third row seating that was just in the way. (course seating 7 in a two door SPORT is way cool)
Used a pry bar to get the rear hatch to close due to someone hitting something in the rear right on the corner. Doesn't look damaged but was keeping the hatch from closing on the drivers side
Replaced muffler, stock was shot, still sounds crappy

Hmmmm.. think that about covers it, I'm sure I'm missing some stuff...
Other things I NEED to get too but haven't..

Valvue cover gaskets
Front and rear diff fluid changes
wheel bearings poss replace/repack tighten
swiss cheese air box (mainly I don't want a straw sucking water into my engine)
Shifter bushings need replaced
U-jonts need some love
replace both front and rear bumpers (damage, and I want custome ones anyway! hehe)
new shocks
there's more I'm sure

Anyway, my point is, this is with 4 months of ownership and only 4000 miles of use...

Geesh.... is this normal? LOL, I mean she's only 16 years old.... not even legal yet! Not that I mind really, I like projects, but REALLY???

Course some of this could be lack of previous maintance.... but they did do plug/wires, tires, RA bushings (sorta), clutch....

So how much has everyone had to do?

 

[LBarr2002]

With anything that old there's going to be a lot of maintence. You really don't need a whole tool kit though... you really need:

a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm socket
a 1 1/8" socket
couple screwdrivers
and a REALLY BIG HAMMER

 

[Willard]

Sounds like you just had a lot of catching up to with maintenance. Also sounds like the PO didn't take good care of it. Unfortunately there aren't many first gens anymore that are still in really good condition. Most of the ones I see are just being let rust and rot away until they stop running.

 

[IAmTodd]

You have a 16 year old car and have to toss a spanner around a few times. Sheesh!

 

[doonze]

Naw, I love wrenching..... it's just when I was going over the list in my head it made me want to write it down... so I did it here. I was just wondering if everyone has had this experence, or if I was just lucky?? LOL

To tell the truth, I'm surprised how good this thing runs, now that I've gotten some of the work done.

93 with 164000k, not too shabby.... NOW.

But I've owned many 16+ year old cars, but I've never had to do so much so quick. I'm just curious if everyone has had to deal with such neglected trucks of if I'm just the lucky one..

 

[Gus Gorilla]

Sounds like 16 years of maintenance in the last 4 months. The reasoning behind the abuse of these vehicles is that "hey, it's just a truck" You won't hear "hey, it's just a Mustang GT" These trucks, on the whole, are abused more than the average vehicle. Bought new, driven daily and hard, retired to teenage drivers as a first truck where maintenance is unheard of. Later turns into the third car and sits to rot most of the year. Then it's finally sold at age 16.

 

[doonze]

Yeah, that sounds about right...

Hey, question I've been meaning to ask... anyone with an M5, how wore is you clutch peddel pad? How about the break pad? Auto owners, how wore is your break pad and how many miles do you have???

I'm tring to figure out some stuff on if my OD has rolled once....or twice.

 

[mikeinri]

Many of the items on your list are "nice-to have" that someone driving a truck could decide to live without (dash lights, etc.).

Many people elect to ignore CEL. If I were looking at buying a truck, and the CEL was on, that would be a MAJOR clue that this was an abusive owner, and I would expect to find more "surprises" needing fixing.

But, at that age, if the body's in good shape, you're 90% of the way there, the rest is easy to fix!

Mike

 

[doonze]

Yeah, I bought this thing as a project. I think I may have mis spoke in my origional post. I'm not complaining about the work, I love working on cars, I have several projects currently and have built a number of classic cars from the ground up.

What I'm trying to find out, is if this the normal experence or if I just got a extra negelected truck. I'm wanting so see what others have had to do in their first few months of ownership, I KNEW i was in for it.... I lucked out, and the interior and body are in really pretty decent condition. But I think most of the rest of the truck has been ignored.

The werid part, there is evidence SOMEONE did advanced work as some time, but I'm not sure who or when.

So, I should have asked in my OP, What did you have to do when you first bought your truck (if you didn't get it new) to get it in decent shape?

 

[KobeJ05]

i got mine at a dealer in wa had 120k they replaced the motor and trans. first they toldme they were both rebuilt. turns out but were used the trans blew out a week later got it replaced twice in a week. i also found out there was no thermo in my engine it was loseing water. but ya it sucks but the blown head gasket got me by for over a yr just keep adding water and changeing out that one spark plug. i love the truck even though i got jipped on it. i beleive what goes around comes around for selling me a truck with a crappy engine. i got the truck in may 07 at 120k now it has 151k

 

[mikeinri]

OK Justin, now I get it.

I bought my 94 in 99 with 54,000 miles. I've run it up to 280,000 now. I really didn't have too much trouble with it over the years, the usual Gen 1 stuff: u-joints, RABs, sensors, and of course typical brakes, tires, etc. More recently, I've been neglecting a bunch of stuff because the body's getting to be in worse shape (mainly rust, lots of small dings, etc.). I've actually had it off the road (not running) since May due to bad brake lines.

I bought my 04 in 07, with 59,000. It's now up to about 90,000. Alternator went, other than that, it's been OK. Needs a HVAC blend door, and may need wheel bearings soon.

Mike

 

[IZwack]

You have a 16 year old car and have to toss a spanner around a few times. Sheesh!

"spanner"? What, you drink "tea" 3 times a day too?

:

 

[surf]

Unfortunately at this age and mileage you are living on borrowed time. I have owned my 93 since it was new and even with careful maintenance things start to fail. Radius arm bushings, transfer case shift motor, dash lights, timing cover gasket, radiator, are just a partial list of my repairs. At this point it still runs strong but I know that just around the corner there will be a new and more interesting problem to address. The joys of owning a high mileage car I guess.

 

[MrQ]

When I got mine it was in very nice cosmetic condition 11 months ago with 155,000 miles on the clock (It now has 158,500), but the PO knew nothing about the mechanical aspect. I have since

Replaced 4 relays ( needed one just to get my blower working)
Changed the oil
Redid all the spark plugs and wires (the wires looked OEM and both the spark plugs and the wires were really bad. The boot broke off in my hand!)
Added freon
Redid the brakes
Changed the filter to CAI
Replaced the wipers
Changed out the gas cap (couldn't get inspection cause it was leaking)
Replaced both lights in the 3rd brake lamp
Replaced the old head unit
Fixed the passenger side window so it works
Replaced the wrong size tires on the front
Replaced the master cylinder

Still need to

Fix a large coolant leak
Get a new battery
Replace the PS pump
Get a front end alignment
Change the oil again
Fix a broken key
Fix the two rear windows that don't work

So really no, your not in a class by yourself. We are all getting a taught here.

 

[Robrt32]

Ive had mine a year and a few days now.... Ive cleaned the MAF,put Manual locking hubs, put bushings in all 4 window motors, RA bushings, and some cosmetics... I'm having a little tranny trouble at the moment, nothing serious yet


edit, Ive also redone all the brakes with new rotors, new plugs and wires, I think that's all besides regular oil changes.. I got 188 grand on it.. It had 171 grand when I got it, If i remember correctly

 

[eXcali]

That sounds like typical repairs for a 16y/o truck. When things get outside the warranty period people let repairs slip. Some people just don't have the know how and a shop may have quoted $100 to change the dash lights etc.

 

[bill32399]

Sounds like the previous owner sold you alot of work to be done. I agree it's old too.

 

[doonze]

Unfortunately at this age and mileage you are living on borrowed time. I have owned my 93 since it was new and even with careful maintenance things start to fail. Radius arm bushings, transfer case shift motor, dash lights, timing cover gasket, radiator, are just a partial list of my repairs. At this point it still runs strong but I know that just around the corner there will be a new and more interesting problem to address. The joys of owning a high mileage car I guess.

That's exactly what I like about them, as soon as you get everything done, it throws you some new stuff to work on!!

I've never owned a car/truck younger then 10-12 years old. And many 20-30 years old. I like classics. I like working on stuff.

Point is, I'm just seeing what everyone elses experences have been. (to tell the truth, I'm kinda looking for things I can look at doing this winter. Things I haven't seen/noticed maybe causing problems.)

EDIT:
I lied...I should have said I've never BOUGHT a car younger then 10-12 years old... I was giving a 05..... wife drives it....><

 

[LesMinton]

I think I need an angle grinder so I can open the hood.

 

[doonze]

I think I need an angle grinder so I can open the hood.

I think, from what I'm seeing, that many of the PO's of these trucks thought the same thing...

So is the entire population of people who WORK on these here on this board? LOL

Sound like 95% of people who bought these new just sold it when i gave trouble and the ball just kept rolling until one of use got ahold of it....