Just bought 1998 xlt, need some info

[cantspell]

Hi there,
WOW, i actully went ahead and bought this thing. Anyways, are there any problems i should look for before signing over everything...such as specific leaks, etc. Also it has 170K kilometers - how long do these enignes last for? It has the 4.0L SOCH.

Also, how do i tell which tranny it has (4 or 5 speed auto) and what sort of axles do these things have? And are any of them (front or back) limited slip? And can i assume that the towing package ones came with a higher gear ratio? IF so, what is the normal gear set and what do you get with the towing package? Thanks a lot. I"m a little nervous about this, cause i sort of has to buy this quickly...but it's a sweet looking black with tints...i look forward to lifting it and wheeling!

 

[Alec]

1) dunno about specifics you should look for...see if it had any relevant recalls or TSBs performed.
2) 5R55E 5 speed auto
3) many different axles were available, limited slip or open in the rear, open in the front.

gear ratio codes, your code will be on the driver door:
43 Open 3200 3.08
41 Open 3200 3.27
42 Open 4.10
46 Open 3.73
45 Open 3200 3.55
D4 Limited Slip 3200 3.73
D2 Limited Slip 4.10
L73 Limited Slip 3.73

Put a tranny cooler on it if it doesn't have one already.

Good luck!

 

[mosinman]

Only thing I can add to Alec's list is to look for transmission fluid leaks around the bell housing/front pump area of the 5r55e tranny.

 

[cantspell]

How or where do I check what type of transmission it is? OH and what's the top speed limit of these things?

 

[Robb]

2) 5R55E 5 speed auto

That is what tranny you have

Robb

 

[cantspell]

hey, that's pretty cool. I thought so from the test drive, but it's hard to tell the first time you drive a vehicle.

Now how do i tell if it has the towing pkg - specifically if it has a tranny cooler and what gear ratio?
Thanks!

 

[Alec]

I gave you all the answers you need in my first post. Except....the tranny cooler will be a smaller radiator type thing in front of the radiator and A/C condenser on the driver side.

 

[mosinman]

Not sure what top speed is, or why you would want to experience it in an EX. If speed is what you need, you are looking at the wrong vehicle, as EXs are loud, uncomfortable, and less than stable at high speeds in stock trim anyway. In my mind, wanting to know top speed in an EX is like wanting to know how well a corvette handles off-road, but to each his own.

 

[Nick C.]

I've heard they go about 100 mph stock but I seriously haven't done it and would be afraid to. In my 96' I feel stable 95% of the time...but I've never been faster than 85mph and that was on a straight road.

 

[VOATMJ1]

Originally posted by mosinman
If speed is what you need, you are looking at the wrong vehicle, as EXs are loud, uncomfortable, and less than stable at high speeds in stock trim anyway.

Ummmm, not sure about yours, but on my 2000 Sport, my X will hit a top speed of 110 MPH. That's when the electronic govenor kicks in, and at that speed, it is not loud, OR unstable. My X is stock, except I ditched the Motorcraft shocks, with more stronger ones, other than that its stock and smooth.

I only ran this fast only once, just to see what is would do. But where I live, I regularly have my X at speeds of 75 to 85 daily. And that's just keeping up with the flow of rush hour traffic, including the cops running that fast. In fact, the POSTED speed limit is 75. You either drive or get run over! And they WILL run you over here!!

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by VOATMJ1
I only ran this fast only once, just to see what is would do. But where I live, I regularly have my X at speeds of 75 to 85 daily. And that's just keeping up with the flow of rush hour traffic, including the cops running that fast. In fact, the POSTED speed limit is 75. You either drive or get run over! And they WILL run you over here!!

For suvs Explorers aren't slow at all. When I first got my 94' when I was 16 I wanted to see how fast it would go. The limiter on the 94' is somewhere around 105-110 even though the speedometer stops at 85. I had 3 people in the truck and just floored it, ummm. the needle went well past the 85' mark

And like VOATMJ1 said, here also in Florida, driving belows 75mph is asking to get killed. Everytime were on the highway my mom has the cruise on her 5.0 Mounty set at 85mph sometimes 90mph. And even going 80-85 we've been passed by huge semi's, I can't stand it when someone on the highway is cruising at 65 or slower, then they wonder why they were holding up traffic and just got rammed I tow our waverunners and jet boat at about 75mph in the 94' and when ever we have to tow our Fountain in the Mounty, we set the cruise on 70mph. You should see peoples faces when we fly by them pulling a 27ft boat

 

[TPLYNCH]

Originally posted by Alec
I gave you all the answers you need in my first post. Except....the tranny cooler will be a smaller radiator type thing in front of the radiator and A/C condenser on the driver side.

Maybe needs to change his name to Cantread??

 

[mosinman]

I never said Explorers are slow. What i said is that if speed is what you need, you are looking at the wrong vehicle. almost any car is quieter and more stable at high rates of speed than an EX. If you Drive a Mustang GT at 100, then an Ex, you will experience what I mean. I have lived all over the country and noticed that everyone drives equally fast wherever you live. People that claim their state is somehow different usually have never lived elsewhere.

 

[sideswipe]

I would advise you to check for the 00M12 and 01M01 ONP and recalls and also to make sure the AC works because of the infamous "blend door" problem. Good luck!

 

[Alec]

Mine goes 110 without blinking. And that's with lift and 33"s. Not the best feeling vehicle at 110, but definately not unpleasant.