JonC
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- June 30, 2009
- Messages
- 176
- Reaction score
- 15
- City, State
- Derby
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '99 UK spec - LPG soon!
My 1999 Explorer is up for sale.
I wrote this for people who maybe don't know Explorers so a lot of the following will be 'general knowledge' on here:
Bought in May 2018 with 39,000 odd miles on the clock, it’s now done 55,986 - only 495 of those since February 26th which is why it’s for sale.
It was going to be a big deal (you’ll see why/how) but I now have a new job with a company vehicle and as it’s worked out, I don’t drive the Explorer very much at all!
For a 22-year-old truck, it’s a very nice one. There are less than 500 Explorers left on the road in the UK and very few of them with this kind of mileage. You’ll typically be looking in excess of 100k – which doesn’t bother them, they’re easily capable of 250k – but lower mileage is always nice!
Explorers have a long list of endemic faults. I’ve had one with none, I’ve had one with most of them and I have this one which has a very small number (in single figures).
It doesn’t have the fatal and well-documented Explorer engine ‘death rattle’. I think by this age, Ford had finally given in and sorted it and this one is absolutely fin in that respect. I set out to do things ‘properly’ when it wanted something so it hasn’t had any corners cut.
It had a new fuel pump a couple of years ago. In 2019 it had a complete exhaust system (from the engine back - including the cats). It also had new front discs and pads.
In 2020, it had a new Bosch battery with a 5-year warranty. At 2 ¼ tons, you don’t push an Explorer so what you do is get a good battery! Under the bonnet, it’s also got a K & N filter – not a ‘performance’ one, a permanent (100,000 miles) one.
This year it’s had new rear discs/drums along with new caliper slide pins, EBC pads a full hardware kit and new parking brake shoes so unusually for an Explorer, it’s got a working parking brake!! Never use them myself, it’s an auto….
It also had new (Gabriel) front dampers for the last MoT.
Less essentially, I stripped and repainted the towbar last year, at the same time replacing the existing sockets etc with some proper quality (Durite) sockets and a stainless bash plate. It’s also had the wheels refinished, They’re Ford alloys and they’re now painted in a baked silver.
It’s got Osram Nightbreaker headlight bulbs and as a result, it’s got the best (legal) headlights I’ve ever known on an Explorer! Going through the photos I’m reminded that it’s had new bonnet rams – so the bonnet no longer falls on you when you’re filling the washers etc!! It’s also had new tailgate rams. They lift well but one has always been a bit noisy in operation.
It has four very good tyres and as you will see in the photos, it sits very nicely – for two reasons – it has 35mm hub-centric spacers fitted with give it a ‘proper’ stance and Explorers have self-levelling rear suspension which on this one, is properly set and works! You load it, it recovers to the correct height – simple as that.
Inside, I wanted to bring in into the 21st Century so I (very carefully) fitted a Pioneer DMH-A3300DAB touch screen multi-media receiver. I won’t try to list all the things this does – Google it, it’s amazing – but the key things are touch-screen everything, AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth, external USB, hands-free phone and perhaps most useful of all, a brilliant reversing camera. Very helpful as it stops you destroying lesser vehicles you hadn’t noticed behind.
Unfortunately, contest between an Explorer and a more modern car is a bit like throwing a Coke can at the QE2 – it isn’t going to notice!!!
It’s not perfect! It’s a 22-year-old truck – not a new Range Rover Vogue (it’s WAY more reliable than that!). The interior plastics don’t like sunlight after a few years and you will see evidence of this in a few places. Conversely, the air conditioning is superb and the sun roof doesn’t leak!
There are one or two bits which show some rust. Kurust stops this well and some I’ve already treated as such. The B-posts could do with painting or wrapping (I was going to paint them) as with the roof rack.
I won’t try to list every little issue – look through the photos – but there’s nothing really nasty and it’s way better than most of this type and age and it’s all perfectly recoverable if you really wanted to.
The left-hand mirror doesn’t work – I’ve got a replacement for it, just not fitted. Explorers have electric everything and on this one, it all works with a couple of minor exceptions.
The remote locking can be temperamental. It’s a receiver range issue. It has two new fobs – both suitably programmed – and usually works perfectly but on odd days, it just ignores you unless you either stand next to the left rear wing (where the receiver lives) or point to fob at your head when you press it!
It’s got an aftermarket mat in the load area – not a Ford one – and it HAS got the retractable load area cover, it just wasn’t on for the photos.
One thing that might alarm some people is the 4 x 4 system. The dash lights flash a code at a specific interval and I’ll explain why if you’re interested. If not, skip a few lines…..
Explorers have an electric transfer case. This allows selection between three modes; Auto 4 x 4 high (normal – and the car system decides if/when it needs to be in 4WD). 4 x 4 High – this forces the system to engage 4WD and 4 x 4 Low – this is the one you might want for serious off-roading but is NOT to be used on a hard surface – unless you want to tear the axles off…..!!!
It does it’s thing by virtue of an electric motor on the transfer case and a couple of electronic sensors which tell the computer ‘where’ the selection mechanism is within the box so it can stop powering the stepper motor.
The ‘Low range’ sensor is duff and as a result, if you switch the system it gets lost in between ranges and you sit there with no gears and no drive! To prevent this, I’ve disconnected the transfer case system (electrically) but of course the computer recognises this and flashes lights to tell me!
It makes NO difference to ‘normal’ everyday driving. I just couldn’t get the duff sensor out and got fed up trying.
The lock/unlock switch on the driver’s door doesn’t work. The rest of the locking system is fine and if I get time, I might have a look at this. It’s not likely to be a big deal to fix but with remote locking, it’s never been a priority.
The shark fin FM aerial I fitted doesn’t work – but as it’s got DAB and I only listen to one station, I never got round to changing it.
I bought a ton of stuff to go on the truck which I never got round to fitting and if it goes for (or near) to the asking price, this lot will all go with it: NGK plugs, NGK silicone leads, Headlight automation kit, professional colour-matched spray paint kit.
There’s probably more I’ve forgotten – any questions, just ask!
https%3A//i.imgur.com/QDhqbZl.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/xqhyhj5.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/baciTph.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/IYPFtUd.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/PtcaeZH.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/3dLsRxn.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/TSNdF90.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/6fkC8Mw.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/D50LUVq.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/YLECrEp.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/pouVDU2.jpg[/img]']
I hope I've done this right?!! Apologies if I haven't! There are more photos - I just didn't want to overdo it here - and I'd like £2500 o.n.o. for it. I'm halfway between Derby and Nottingham.
Cheers guys!
I wrote this for people who maybe don't know Explorers so a lot of the following will be 'general knowledge' on here:
Bought in May 2018 with 39,000 odd miles on the clock, it’s now done 55,986 - only 495 of those since February 26th which is why it’s for sale.
It was going to be a big deal (you’ll see why/how) but I now have a new job with a company vehicle and as it’s worked out, I don’t drive the Explorer very much at all!
For a 22-year-old truck, it’s a very nice one. There are less than 500 Explorers left on the road in the UK and very few of them with this kind of mileage. You’ll typically be looking in excess of 100k – which doesn’t bother them, they’re easily capable of 250k – but lower mileage is always nice!
Explorers have a long list of endemic faults. I’ve had one with none, I’ve had one with most of them and I have this one which has a very small number (in single figures).
It doesn’t have the fatal and well-documented Explorer engine ‘death rattle’. I think by this age, Ford had finally given in and sorted it and this one is absolutely fin in that respect. I set out to do things ‘properly’ when it wanted something so it hasn’t had any corners cut.
It had a new fuel pump a couple of years ago. In 2019 it had a complete exhaust system (from the engine back - including the cats). It also had new front discs and pads.
In 2020, it had a new Bosch battery with a 5-year warranty. At 2 ¼ tons, you don’t push an Explorer so what you do is get a good battery! Under the bonnet, it’s also got a K & N filter – not a ‘performance’ one, a permanent (100,000 miles) one.
This year it’s had new rear discs/drums along with new caliper slide pins, EBC pads a full hardware kit and new parking brake shoes so unusually for an Explorer, it’s got a working parking brake!! Never use them myself, it’s an auto….
It also had new (Gabriel) front dampers for the last MoT.
Less essentially, I stripped and repainted the towbar last year, at the same time replacing the existing sockets etc with some proper quality (Durite) sockets and a stainless bash plate. It’s also had the wheels refinished, They’re Ford alloys and they’re now painted in a baked silver.
It’s got Osram Nightbreaker headlight bulbs and as a result, it’s got the best (legal) headlights I’ve ever known on an Explorer! Going through the photos I’m reminded that it’s had new bonnet rams – so the bonnet no longer falls on you when you’re filling the washers etc!! It’s also had new tailgate rams. They lift well but one has always been a bit noisy in operation.
It has four very good tyres and as you will see in the photos, it sits very nicely – for two reasons – it has 35mm hub-centric spacers fitted with give it a ‘proper’ stance and Explorers have self-levelling rear suspension which on this one, is properly set and works! You load it, it recovers to the correct height – simple as that.
Inside, I wanted to bring in into the 21st Century so I (very carefully) fitted a Pioneer DMH-A3300DAB touch screen multi-media receiver. I won’t try to list all the things this does – Google it, it’s amazing – but the key things are touch-screen everything, AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth, external USB, hands-free phone and perhaps most useful of all, a brilliant reversing camera. Very helpful as it stops you destroying lesser vehicles you hadn’t noticed behind.
Unfortunately, contest between an Explorer and a more modern car is a bit like throwing a Coke can at the QE2 – it isn’t going to notice!!!
It’s not perfect! It’s a 22-year-old truck – not a new Range Rover Vogue (it’s WAY more reliable than that!). The interior plastics don’t like sunlight after a few years and you will see evidence of this in a few places. Conversely, the air conditioning is superb and the sun roof doesn’t leak!
There are one or two bits which show some rust. Kurust stops this well and some I’ve already treated as such. The B-posts could do with painting or wrapping (I was going to paint them) as with the roof rack.
I won’t try to list every little issue – look through the photos – but there’s nothing really nasty and it’s way better than most of this type and age and it’s all perfectly recoverable if you really wanted to.
The left-hand mirror doesn’t work – I’ve got a replacement for it, just not fitted. Explorers have electric everything and on this one, it all works with a couple of minor exceptions.
The remote locking can be temperamental. It’s a receiver range issue. It has two new fobs – both suitably programmed – and usually works perfectly but on odd days, it just ignores you unless you either stand next to the left rear wing (where the receiver lives) or point to fob at your head when you press it!
It’s got an aftermarket mat in the load area – not a Ford one – and it HAS got the retractable load area cover, it just wasn’t on for the photos.
One thing that might alarm some people is the 4 x 4 system. The dash lights flash a code at a specific interval and I’ll explain why if you’re interested. If not, skip a few lines…..
Explorers have an electric transfer case. This allows selection between three modes; Auto 4 x 4 high (normal – and the car system decides if/when it needs to be in 4WD). 4 x 4 High – this forces the system to engage 4WD and 4 x 4 Low – this is the one you might want for serious off-roading but is NOT to be used on a hard surface – unless you want to tear the axles off…..!!!
It does it’s thing by virtue of an electric motor on the transfer case and a couple of electronic sensors which tell the computer ‘where’ the selection mechanism is within the box so it can stop powering the stepper motor.
The ‘Low range’ sensor is duff and as a result, if you switch the system it gets lost in between ranges and you sit there with no gears and no drive! To prevent this, I’ve disconnected the transfer case system (electrically) but of course the computer recognises this and flashes lights to tell me!
It makes NO difference to ‘normal’ everyday driving. I just couldn’t get the duff sensor out and got fed up trying.
The lock/unlock switch on the driver’s door doesn’t work. The rest of the locking system is fine and if I get time, I might have a look at this. It’s not likely to be a big deal to fix but with remote locking, it’s never been a priority.
The shark fin FM aerial I fitted doesn’t work – but as it’s got DAB and I only listen to one station, I never got round to changing it.
I bought a ton of stuff to go on the truck which I never got round to fitting and if it goes for (or near) to the asking price, this lot will all go with it: NGK plugs, NGK silicone leads, Headlight automation kit, professional colour-matched spray paint kit.
There’s probably more I’ve forgotten – any questions, just ask!
https%3A//i.imgur.com/QDhqbZl.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/xqhyhj5.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/baciTph.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/IYPFtUd.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/PtcaeZH.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/3dLsRxn.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/TSNdF90.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/6fkC8Mw.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/D50LUVq.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/YLECrEp.jpg[/img]']
https%3A//i.imgur.com/pouVDU2.jpg[/img]']
I hope I've done this right?!! Apologies if I haven't! There are more photos - I just didn't want to overdo it here - and I'd like £2500 o.n.o. for it. I'm halfway between Derby and Nottingham.
Cheers guys!
