Got a used 2004 Explorer... what should I look out for?

[usa1]

This last weekend, my wife and I purchased a 2004 Explorer XLT 4WD with 93K miles. It will be our winter/camping vehicle. I've cleaned it up and everything works fine on it. Oils appears to have been changed about 1K miles ago.

My question to the forums are what things would you recommend I thoroughly check, replace, etc at this time? Any known problem points I should proactively address at this time? I've heard about tranny issues and was thinking of changing the fluid and filter. Any other ideas?

Thank much!

Mark

 

[j92184]

check to Parking brakes in the back... mine decided to fall apart on day... just got mine 2 but is an 03 with 130,000

i guess the guy who had it never used it, and when i tried them they fell part.

 

[jrford]

at 100k, . ..any history?

only thing really recommended at 100k:
Spark plugs
coolant if it hasn't been.

Optional suggestions:
F/R diffs
Xfr Case
Fuel filter

someone may have more suggestions.

 

[swetrid]

Technical Service Bulletins
2004 Explorer - US (English)

The Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) listed here may NOT apply to the vehicle you are working on. You MUST run OASIS with a specific VIN and Symptom Code to determine if it applies. If OASIS does not return the TSB, then it does NOT apply.


09-12-12
5R55S/5R55N/5R55W TRANSMISSIONS - SHIFT CONCERNS, LOSS OF 2ND, 3RD AND 5TH GEAR, INCORRECT RATIO DTC'S - PROCEDURE TO INSPECT AND REPAIR SERVO PIN BORE WEAR
09-4-2
4.0L - DTC - P0505 / P0506 / HESITATION / LOSS OF RPM / DIFFICULTY STARTING / LOW IDLE RPM
08-21-11
4 WHEEL DRIVE/ALL WHEEL DRIVE - WITH CONTROL TRAC - SHUDDER ON ACCELERATION/DECELERATION OR BINDING ON SLOW TURNS
08-19-3
UNITIZED SEAL DIAGNOSIS - LEAK / GREASE OIL SEPARATION - AXLE BEARING SEAL 8.8 IFS, 8.8 IRS, AND 9.75 IRS AXLES
07-21-2
4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V - SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE - NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY
07-20-5
REAR POWER WINDOW MOTOR INOPERATIVE/STUCK IN THE UP POSITION
07-12-11
BATTERY DRAIN - 4X4 - NEUTRAL TOW MODE
07-12-3
RCM FAULT REPORTING USING DTCS AND BIT-MAPPED PARAMETER IDENTIFIERS (PIDS) - SERVICE TIPS
07-5-8
BATTERY SERVICE - OPERATION OF BATTERY EYE - CHARGING SERVICE TIPS
07-4-3
LEATHER-WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL - LEATHER COMING LOOSE
07-1-7
MERCON® ATF REPLACED BY MERCON® V AS A SERVICE FLUID FOR SOME POWER STEERING SYSTEMS
06-26-1
MERCON ATF IS BEING REPLACED BY MERCON V AS A SERVICE FLUID FOR SOME MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS
06-25-15
ALUMINUM BODY PANELS - CORROSION - SERVICE TIP
06-21-19
HEATER CORE LEAKAGE AND ELECTROLYSIS (INFORMATION ONLY)
06-20-5
PARKING AID SPEAKER INOPERATIVE - DTCS C1742 AND C1743
06-19-14
NO CRANK / STARTER TERMINAL FATIGUE
06-18-16
IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT HEAD GASKET FOR CERTAIN REMANUFACTURED ENGINES - SERVICE TIP
06-17-10
MIL ON WITH DTC P0463 OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION
06-15-8
KEYPAD DIAGNOSTICS - DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORY
06-11-11
ADVANCE TRAC WARNING/CHIME WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF
06-7-1
NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY - SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS
06-4-4
LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS
06-3-7
LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON - TPMS SYSTEM SENSOR WAKE UP
06-2-12
MIL ON WITH PCM DTC P0463 AND/OR IC DTC B1201 - FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY OR SLOW TO UPDATE AFTER REFUELING
06-1-3
LEATHER SEAT MATERIAL CRACKING
05-26-2
MIL ON DTC P0191 WITH OR WITHOUT VARIOUS DRIVABILITY SYMPTOMS AND/OR ADDITIONAL DTCS
05-25-8
NOISE FROM REAR WHEEL HUB BEARINGS
05-24-2
BODY - LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE DAMAGED/CRACKED - SERVICE PROCEDURE
05-23-3
REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR
05-22-8
WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING
05-21-11
DOOR SPEAKER INOPERATIVE - TERMINAL CORROSION
05-21-8
DELAYED OR HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENTS - 5R55S TRANSMISSION - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 09/23/2004
05-18-7
WIRING - SOLDERING AND CRIMPING REPAIRS - SERVICE TIPS
05-17-8
CHIRP NOISE FROM FEAD BELT WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR IS ENGAGING
05-16-11
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED
05-16-4
DRIVELINE 1ST ORDER VIBRATION/BOOM/DRONE
05-14-4
WRENCH LIGHT ON WITH BOTH DTC P2106 AND P2135 - VEHICLES BUILT 11/29/2004 AND PRIOR
05-13-6
BACKGLASS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE
05-10-16
NO START/HARD START ON COLD SOAK - 4.0L ENGINE
05-6-4
FALSE PARKING AID WARNINGS
05-6-1
WRENCH LAMP ON AND NO DTC STORED
05-4-16
FRONT SEAT(S) SLIGHT MOVEMENT WHEN ACCELERATING AND/OR DECELERATING
05-3-10
SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE
05-3-9
MIL ON AND/OR RUNS ROUGH/MISFIRE - DTCS P0300-P0308, P0316 AND/OR P0171/ P0174, - 4.6L ENGINE
05-3-8
INCREASED TURNING EFFORT DURING LOW SPEED SHARP TURNS - FALSE 4X4 ENGAGEMENT
05-3-4
MOONROOF SQUEAK AND/OR RATTLE NOISE - CORNER INSERT REPAIR
05-3-1
MAF DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE TIP - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EGR SYSTEM MODULE (ESM)
05-2-7
5R55S TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS FROM CONVERTER HOUSING AREA - DTC P1783 - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 12/12/2004
05-1-5
REAR POWER WINDOW(S) INOPERATIVE
04-26-20
THROTTLE PEDAL RESPONSE ON TIP-IN
04-24-6
NOISE DURING A/C OPERATION FROM REAR OF VEHICLE
04-24-5
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR
04-24-1
RATTLE OR VIBRATION FROM REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM DVD PLAYER - DEALER INSTALLED UNIT
04-22-12
GEAR SELECTOR LEVER - INCREASED EFFORT TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK
04-22-11
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) P0172, P0175, P0171 AND/OR P0174 - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 10/4/2004
04-21-12
4.0L - ROUGH IDLE IN DRIVE
04-19-10
OIL LEAK FROM OIL FILTER ADAPTER - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE BUILT BEFORE 4/1/2004
04-19-5
FRONT WINDOW CLUNK NOISE
04-18-3
A/C HOOT NOISE WHILE DRIVING
04-17-15
FRONT AXLE TUBE SEAL LEAK
04-17-4
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS
04-17-3
RATTLE FROM REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (RES) DVD PLAYER
04-17-1
MESSAGE CENTER - DISTANCE TO EMPTY DISPLAYS THREE DASHES
04-14-6
RATTLE FROM DVD SCREEN LATCH ASSEMBLY
04-14-2
NO CRANK WITH DTC B1601 AND/OR B1213 - PATS SECURITY ACCESS ISSUES - 4.0L ENGINE
04-13-3
BODY - HEADLAMP - MOISTURE IN HEADLAMP
04-9-6
BODY - PAINT - IRON PARTICLE REMOVAL - INDUSTRIAL FALLOUT - ACID RAIN NEUTRALIZATION
04-4-5
BODY - TRIM - PAINT PEEL-OFF - ROOF RACK SIDE RAIL
03-26-3
BRAKES - ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DTC C1235, C1236, C1237 - VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENTIAL-MOUNTED REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
03-25-6
ENGINE - ROMEO BUILT 4.6L 2V - TICK NOISE FROM ENGINE - ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 9/17/2003
03-23-2
BODY - MIRROR - EXTERIOR MIRROR GLASS AND MOTOR REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIPS
________________
TSBs found:71

 

[jakedrew]

listen for the rear end hum. Get up to about 50, let off the gas, and get back on it slightly and then let off. If you hear a humming= rear end TSB ( NOT SURE ON THE #).

Also wheel bearings. I had a bunch of issues with my 04. But i cant complain. Every car has some common issues.

This is the best place to be.

 

[usa1]

Thank you for the pointers. On the TSBs, is there a time limit at which Ford is no longer an obligation to do the repairs? My Explorer is not under warranty any longer.

Mark

 

[swetrid]

TSB's are just info and will not be covered by warranty. Only recalls would be covered after your warranty expired.

 

[jrford]

TSB's are just info and will not be covered by warranty. Only recalls would be covered after your warranty expired.

Very true, a few of them are more 'how-to' for the techs. It doesn't mean all that is going to happen to every vehicle.

 

[ericautopart]

Wow. I never realized all the TSB's for the 3rd gens. Thank goodness my truck is a 98.

 

[usa1]

How can I get an OASIS report for my specific VIN number? Do I need to talk to the Ford dealer for this? Thanks.

Mark

 

[swetrid]

How can I get an OASIS report for my specific VIN number? Do I need to talk to the Ford dealer for this? Thanks.

Mark

You can go to the dealer but since its older the 10 years old its not going to tell you anything except if it has a recall. PM your vin and i can do it for you also.

 

[go pens]

You can go to the dealer but since its older the 10 years old its not going to tell you anything except if it has a recall. PM your vin and i can do it for you also.

What is an Oasis report? I just bought a used 05 Explorer and have never heard of this report.

 

[eldercaddy]

This last weekend, my wife and I purchased a 2004 Explorer XLT 4WD with 93K miles. It will be our winter/camping vehicle. I've cleaned it up and everything works fine on it. Oils appears to have been changed about 1K miles ago.

My question to the forums are what things would you recommend I thoroughly check, replace, etc at this time? Any known problem points I should proactively address at this time? I've heard about tranny issues and was thinking of changing the fluid and filter. Any other ideas?

Thank much!

Mark

Hi to you. I think you should try to drive it in a week. If you encounter no problem, I think you should not worry about it.

 

[jakedrew]

that report is just a history of your vehicle everytime it was worked on by ford and what recalls are needed to be done if any.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Welcome, Mark! Congrats on your new purchase...

What engine do you have, the V6 or V8?

 

[Cjpooch]

Hey Swetrid, do you know how much if any a Ford dealership would charge for an Oasis report? I just bought an '02 a few weeks ago and would like to see one for my vehicle.