Hello Explorers!

[mhardig]

Long time Explorer owner (1998 XLT 5.0, 397,000 miles) former member of the board (but I've lost my old login and I can't retrieve the password no matter how I try)

I had an issue with my 98 many years back that turned out to be a cracked front pulley, this caused me no end of trouble and I still have the greatest thanks for the people here who helped me narrow down the trouble.

Now I have a new (to me) 1999 Limited, which is really in great condition aside a few issues. it has 122,000 on it, whcih to me, is like new. I bought the 99 specifically because I like the 98, know how to work on it, and know the mechanicals like the back of my hand.

The new truck had a radio panel that would not illuminate. I fixed it already, because of excellent instructions i found here. The drivers door has a bad door lock motor, I've already fixed them before, mostly thanks to info I've gotten here, and the left front wheel bearing is starting to howl, but I can change those in my sleep.

I mostly wanted to thank the people here who have been so helpful to me in these projects, without which my Sploder ownership would not have been so enjoyable.

The new truck has those switches on the steering wheel, and I've found I can order an adapter(Peripheral PXDP)that will let me change the songs on my Ipod with this. it has a single CD/cassette and I think it has the capability of a CD changer (Which I would not use). I see several people have done this, can anyone tell me definitively which radio I need to make this happen? The radio I have has three plugs and one empty socket with no pins in it. I believe it is a MACH radio, whatever that means.

I also have leather seats for the first time, and I have no experience with them. They are in excellent condition, and i hope to keep them this way, I'd love to hear from anyone with good information there, or links to threads I haven't been able to find yet.

The 99 Limited is a great machine, and I look forward to driving it for a long time, and my Daughter will learn to drive on the 98.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Are those 397K miles on the original engine & transmission?

 

[mhardig]

Yes, original engine and trans

The engine (other than the front pully kerfuffle) has run long and strong. It has religiously received Mobil One every 10,000 miles, and I use a good quality filter. The trans gets a fluid and filter change every 60,000 miles.

I have replaced pretty nearly every front suspension component. It only sees about 15% off-road, but it's used hard every day.

There have been a lot of little annoying things. I lost the pinion seal on the rear diff this winter, and dumped 85W140 all over my garage floor, but that got replaced a month ago.

the exhaust manifold gaskets leak some. Makes a bit of noise on startup, but quiets down fast.

There's minimal rust, the right rear wheel well in front of the tire (usual place) and the bottom of the back doors, but not rusted loose yet. She's a workhorse and I love her to death.

 

[mhardig]

I'll be taking some pics for it's 400,000 mile birthday

 

[mhardig]

yeah, probably. Turned 398 tonight. I do a minimum of 550 miles/week.

 

[mhardig]

I'm definitely shooting for 500, but I want to give it a rest this summer, I figure I can do some long term repairs to it that I won't tackle and risk stranding myself. I want to put new front suspension bushings (lowers, already did uppers) I want to see if i can bust loose the ex. manifold bolts, and I want to see if I can get the few small rust spots repaired.

 

[mhardig]

yeah, it never would let me back in. I don't know why. Here is the original thread, I was posting as og. It just won't let me log back in, maybe because it was so long ago and my login disapeared into the aether.