Looking at buying a 3rd Gen Ex -- What to Avoid?

[ghh97eb]

Hi,

I currently have a 97 Eddie Bauer V8 AWD Explorer that I really love. It has about 140,000 miles on it. I am planning on keeping it for another 60 K miles or so, assuming things continue to hold up as well as they have. I baby it and have fixed a number of smaller problems myself, thanks to info found on this site.

When it comes time to replace my '97, though, I will probably get a 3rd Gen Ex. I'm really only considering the V8 engine, as I like the one I have in my 2nd Gen, and I drive over a steep mountain every day to work and really like having the extra power (particularly in the summer when I want to run the AC going uphill). I also like AWD, although 4X4 is also good, since my Ex is also the "get around in the snowy weather" car for me and my wife.

So, anyone have advice as to things that I should look for and avoid if I find them with a 2002, 2003, 2004, or 2005 V8 Explorer that has either AWD or is a 4X4? Anything that I should look for that will factor favorably into the choice? Any info you provide would be really helpful. For example, I already know that I should avoid getting a V6 version because of the dreaded timing chain tensioner problem, so this only makes my preference for the V8 engine stronger (it is my understanding that the V8 does not suffer from this problem).

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[410Fortune]

pssst keep your 5.0L

My only advice for a Gen III is dont get a 2002, the first year of a new platform is always problem prone

 

[jrford]

Stay away from 2002 for sure maybe the 2003 too. Good buys so far are the 2004, or 2005. Although I really like my V8 AWD they are kinda of rare. Although if you check the Mountys they seem to have a lot of V8 AWD and its the same truck except for the badge. I think they also discountined the AWD in the Ex in '06 or '07 not sure.

 

[FordLover]

I supose there must be an issue with the 02's that I don't know about.

I've been happy with mine, and it's about what your looking for, gen 3 with the V8 and 4x4. So far I've only had minor troubles, like a airbag light (something to do with the seatbelt pretensioners) and a 2nd row seat headrest losing it's springloaded quality.

 

[P. doggy]

And the fact that the tranny is made of glass. Any 02-05 you get will have some sort of drivetrain problem. It will either be a Tranny, rear end if you have LSD, or bearings in the rear end. The tranny issues tend to show up around 60k miles. If you must have a 3rd Gen, buy a third party warranty that covers the entires drivetrain. It is an excellent investment for a 3rd Gen. They also went to throttle by wire in '04, and there are some issues involving delayed throttle response. It is probably a faulty Throttle positioning sensor. They changed the styling in '04 as well with the outside trim packages. 02-03 had plastic splash gaurd trim on XLT and up models. 04-05 got rid of that plastic and went to a single splash "strip"; much like they used on the XLS '02s. Other than that there are a few sensors that go out in the engine (DPFE, EGR, Mass airflow, etc.). Your best bet is an 03-05. I know many of us 3rd gen owners like our rides despite their faults. They handle very well, and ride pretty smooth thanks to the fully independent suspension. Just remember: It is not a question of if the tranny will fail, but when.
Jared G.