Just Bought a 91 XL, Lovin It!

[jesda]

I recently purchased a 1991 Explorer XL with 170,000 miles, and I was shocked (in a good way).

I'm 19, and I've only driven imports. My parents never bought American brands, and we have never been disappointed.

I've been through a 1988 Nissan Sentra, 1987 Chevy Nova (Toyota Corolla), mom's 1993 Mazda MPV (drove regularly), and a 1988 Mazda 929 (owned and loved it up to 220,000 miles). All have been incredibly loyal. I just get into frequent accidents.

ANYWAY...

Living in Spokane WA requires something more than a 2wd car, I discovered. I saw an ad for a 1991 maroon 4x4 Explorer XL for $3100. I offered $2400 to the dealer and took it home. It was that or a 1987 Honda Accord.

Issues:
Lifters click like mad
--I resolved the lifters clicking problem with a bottle of CD2.
Vibration between 35-50mph while accelerating
--The vibration I was told by a local shop could be fixed with new bearings... or something.
Broken/warped interior door handles
--I nailed the handles back to the door.
Brake light comes on
--The brakes need major work I discovered after having them checked, but the rotors and pads are fine.
Cruise control still works great
Loose and misaligned steering
AC does not work
--Needs to be recharged and sealed, and freon for the old type of AC system is pricey.
Loud exhaust
Fading black paint on the door exterior
--Bought a can of spray paint and fixed that
4x4 works great, but what the heck is Low Range? I dont have a manual.
9-11mpg city, 20mpg highway between Spokane and Seattle, 700 miles round trp.

I added an overhead console from a later-model Explorer. I managed to get it mounted by doing some extra drilling and screwing, but I probably wont get it hooked up for a long time.

I added running boards from a 94 Explorer by drilling holes into the side of my 91 and simply snapping the boards in.

I tinted the windows by buying a roll of auto tint film from Wal-Mart for ten bucks and applied it myself.

I yanked the radio and put in a Clarion CD changer and cassette-controller I grabbed at a pawn shop, but I couldnt find a good place to put the changer box. Any ideas? For now I have duct tape holding it down in front on the floor in the center.

Also, sometimes when I disengage 4x4 mode there will be a buzzing or loud clicking sound coming from the front, unless I pull over, go into park, engage 4x4, turn off the engine, turn on the engine, disengage 4x4, and then go back into drive. Is that how Im supposed to do it or is something wrong? And what's Low Range?

Most importantly, it feels very safe, drives like a champ, goes everywhere, carries anyone and anything, looks perfect, and I hope that it defies what my parents told me about American-brand cars.

I hope I can get this up to 200,000 miles, and if I can, I'll buy a new Explorer right away (not the spanking new 2002, it looks like a soccer mom's minivan.) If it doesnt last up to 200,000 miles, I'm buying a Pathfinder.

Thanks!
-Jesda G.

 

[mattadams]

first off, welcome to the board. Sounds like you've got a great mind for low-cost modifications, and some great experience maintaining stuff. Sounds like you got a decent deal on it, especially since most of the bad stuff was fixed in a very cost efficient manner.
I think whether you buy an american or import is really irrelavent, hell many Fords are assembled in Mexico, and if they aren't assembled internationally, you can bet most of the parts inside them are! All your paying for with an american car is for them to assemble the parts in the states instead of assembling it overseas.
FYI, unless you do some off-roading, you won't need low-range. If it'll only be used in town, standard 4x4 is all you need. Low-range is for times when either you need more power or you need more torque. Its a lower gear in the transfer case is all.

 

[Trapper14]

WOW!

I cna't believe it we have the same exact vehicle I have a maroon 91 xl!! I love mine

127650 mile and still going strong. Welcome to the BOARD and congrats!

 

[mdrut]

To engage 4x4..Come to complete stop, shift to neutral, push button, and off you go...To disegage, Come to a complete stop, shift to neutral, push button, but this time, back up 10 to 20 ft to disengage the auto hubs....Good luck.

 

[Rhett]

About finding a place for the CD changer:

Mine is installed below the dash, below the A/C and heater controls, attached on a bracket. I have an Alpine 6-disc changer, it came with the bracket. Anyway, it is a great spot to put it, because it's out of the way (I have never kicked it by accident) and yet it's easy to pull the cartridge to change CD's.

Some people put their changers in the center armrest storage area but that's too much of a hassle to access.

 

[Big Poppa]

Welcome
You can buy the A/C retrofit kit to change over to R134a for $30 and then if all the components are alright, you can recharge it yourself for cheap once you fix the leak.
Good Luck

 

[BIGGUY]

Location for CD changer

I mounted a cd changer behind the rear seat (upright against the wall) on the drivers side. Gain access behind the plastic panel by removing the cover for the jack and then you can bolt the changer from behind. Good luck I have 170,000 miles and going strong!

 

[espnfreak]

rhett browing i have an alpine 1 disc in dash cd player and might get a changer what would you go with and it needs to be alpine? i got the 7863 head unit, it rules!