mitch1204
Active Member
- Joined
- September 23, 2015
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 34
- City, State
- Dayton, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1997 Ford Explorer XLT
Hi guys! Since I bought a broke down 1997 XLT 2wd VIN X I figured I'd join this place for some knowledge and education.
I'm a novice shade tree mechanic for 38 years or so. Beyond contrary belief I enjoy getting greasy and busting knuckles.
About my Craigslist purchase, lol... A beautiful Desert Tan XLT with 89,000 miles I bought for $1200. The body and interior are perfect. The young woman was in a bind and the bank was about to repossess it so I thought I had a deal in the works. The young woman told me she hit a speed bump fast, stopped at Wal-Mart and then it wouldn't start. Supposingly her mechanic said it jumped time since there was no compression. Dummy me trusted her. I figured $1200 the worst that could happen is I'm out a motor.
I replaced the timing set only to still have no compression. #@&$. After removing the heads I seen a couple stuck valves, a few push rods laying to the side and cylinders scorched and stained. I then knew she had a major event and lied to me. She knew she couldn't pay her loan off if she told the truth.
With questions in hand here I am. Hopefully I can learn and share some info. I use to own a 1994 Explorer Sport so I'm not totally blind. I also own a 1991 Mercury Capri and belong to a Capri forum so I know how handy and enjoyable a forum can be.
After googling an Explorer question led me here.
I'm a novice shade tree mechanic for 38 years or so. Beyond contrary belief I enjoy getting greasy and busting knuckles.
About my Craigslist purchase, lol... A beautiful Desert Tan XLT with 89,000 miles I bought for $1200. The body and interior are perfect. The young woman was in a bind and the bank was about to repossess it so I thought I had a deal in the works. The young woman told me she hit a speed bump fast, stopped at Wal-Mart and then it wouldn't start. Supposingly her mechanic said it jumped time since there was no compression. Dummy me trusted her. I figured $1200 the worst that could happen is I'm out a motor.
I replaced the timing set only to still have no compression. #@&$. After removing the heads I seen a couple stuck valves, a few push rods laying to the side and cylinders scorched and stained. I then knew she had a major event and lied to me. She knew she couldn't pay her loan off if she told the truth.
With questions in hand here I am. Hopefully I can learn and share some info. I use to own a 1994 Explorer Sport so I'm not totally blind. I also own a 1991 Mercury Capri and belong to a Capri forum so I know how handy and enjoyable a forum can be.
After googling an Explorer question led me here.
