Inherited a 1994 Explorer XTL, 4X4, Auto, 4Dr.

[LBA]

First off let me just say I really enjoyed this site. All 1122 pages of the 1991 – 1994 Explorer Ranger Navajo 1st Generation Stock Forum. Learned a lot.

A little about me, I have been an aircraft mechanic for more than 45+ years so I am no stranger to a toolbox. 8 years Army, At Fort Campbell, except for the 18 months at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Retired 2 years ago from civil service at Edwards Air force base as an avionics inspector. I am now working for NASA at Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base as an aircraft inspector currently working on the X59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD)

I just inherited a 1994 XTL, 4X4, Auto, 4Dr. 168K total miles, power everything. Appears to have the tow package, 3.73 axles, tranny cooler, trailer light relays.

The interior is in ruff shape, I believe this mainly because the first owner drove it to Alaska for a few years, (Fairbanks, North Pole area) and back where a relative ended up with it. He did not it treat very well; he was a bit of a pack rat.

The exterior is in not to bad of shape. A few bumps and bruises. No rust I have found yet.

Been driving for the last couple months, and it has some items that need to be fixed, A/C, Heater, Cruise control, some leaks underneath. First thing I did was change the oil and replaced the front calipers and rooters and one leaking slave cylinder on the left rear brake. As soon as I get my car (C-Max) back from my daughter, I plan to part it and start all the repairs it needs to make as sound as possible.

I’ll end here and will post more as I start the work and look for help.

Thanks Michael

 

[Josh P]

Welcome to the forum

 

[donalds]

Welcome

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[410Fortune]

Welcome! You lucky dog you!
1994 Explorer is a tank when in mechanically good shape and well cared for.
Plenty of simple upgrades can be done, like front 1.5-2" lift coils and shocks, Skyjacker makes a 1.5" lift coil and shock kit, really improves the ride,
95-97 Ranger knuckles and brake calipers up front will gain you dual caliper front pistons without the slide pins.
If it still has automatic hubs up front you may consider converting to manual, that way when you do need 4wd it will work!
A4LD automatic and early generation 4.0 engine, heat is the ENEMY
I like to remove the factory radiator fluid/fluid trans cooler and run two large aux coolers instead. This way you cannot have an internal radiator failure and mix coolant with atf, plus the stock trans cooler inside the radiator is TINY and it actually more of a preheater for cold climates, then a cooler IMO. Backflush the heater core and radiator, keep that 4.0 nice and cool, operating between 190-205 coolant is perfect.........below 220 degrees for sure......over that and well the head gaskets are prone to issues with age/time/miles
Interiors can be upgraded, seats from 99-04 trucks make a nice upgrade, carpet is same 91-2001, and headliner as similar until 91-97, if you look at 95-97 explorers you will see they are identical to your 94 from the B pillar back, (98-01 they made a lighter and less durable tailgate)

 

[Mike65]

Welcome.

 

[A&P/IA]

Thanks everyone, great advice. Will be looking at all the different threads for repairs. Top of my list is fixing the heater, even in Southern California the mornings are cold in December.
Michael