sergipujol
New Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2024
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Terrassa
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 XLT SOHC
Hi all.
First of all, thanks a lot to those making this forum such a helluva virtual place. I've been sucking information from the Explorer Forum tit for about a whole year now, when I got myself a 2nd Gen Ford Explorer XLT, 1999, Euro model, as I am based in Barcelona, Southern Europe (kinda like the European Florida). So, big thanks.
I woulda loved to get myself a Bronco but those are really rare around this side of the pond.
Here's the story of my little truck: The Explorer I got was imported by Ford Spain back in the year 2000, designated for a high level manager. Then, 2 years after it, when the big fish had to replace it for a newer model, it was purchased by the manager's brother. For 16.000EUR (back then, around 20kUSD) with 16.000km (~10,000 miles). I bought it from the brother, hence, the second owner.
Europe is facing today a fartards' gov't decisions with many regulations against common sense. One of them is in big cities you aren't allowed to drive a car/truck unless it's got a low level CO2 emissions, basically, being a newly made car will do it. Inconsistently, big cars with a small battery with an autonomy of 20 miles is considered an Eco-vehicle. Bigger, non-electric, or simply old enough, won't cut it. Just like my Explorer. And that is the reason why the former owner sold it, as he cannot drive it where he lives.
Old Explorers here are a rare thing, as said. In twelve months driving around, I've seen only two. A first gen and a second gen, no third gens around here or beyond. The ones made around 2020 are more common but hold your pants: expensive as hell. The cheapest I find today, used one, made in 2021 with 50,000 miles is being sold for 50.000EUR (60kUSD I guess). New ones start from 75.000EUR (85kUSD) if you find one, because the only one Ford promotes is the electric one. IMHO, just as with the electric Mustang, they should've changed the name.
So, I wanted a car I could maintain (mostly) myself. Not being forced to take it to the shop for a light-bulb switch just 'cos I don't own a special tool.
Besides new liquids and filters, so far, I've changed the rear shocks and cancelled the noisy self-levelling system, replaced the timing chain tensioners (I was shocked because it had installed TWO LOWER -shorter- tensioners...), replaced the transmission (lucky me, got myself a broken reverse band, just a month after I got it), I'm on the process of installing an ATF temperature gauge, add some heavy duty shackles on the rear more for levelling than for lifting, replacing the 5E55R cover for a newer one with drain, plus ATF and filter, also put in a new thermostat as the temp needle never even reached half of the total travel... I'd say that's all.
It runs smooth, and all I want is it to run well as I take my 3 and 5 years old kids and the wife to do some mild off-road on summer, across the Pyrenees.
That's it. Mainly, a big thanks for this site to who may it concerns
Here's a picture of it beside a first gen I found on my way to work, and of course I had to pull over and take a picture as Explorers are really hard to spot round here. This was before levelling it with the shackles.
First of all, thanks a lot to those making this forum such a helluva virtual place. I've been sucking information from the Explorer Forum tit for about a whole year now, when I got myself a 2nd Gen Ford Explorer XLT, 1999, Euro model, as I am based in Barcelona, Southern Europe (kinda like the European Florida). So, big thanks.
I woulda loved to get myself a Bronco but those are really rare around this side of the pond.
Here's the story of my little truck: The Explorer I got was imported by Ford Spain back in the year 2000, designated for a high level manager. Then, 2 years after it, when the big fish had to replace it for a newer model, it was purchased by the manager's brother. For 16.000EUR (back then, around 20kUSD) with 16.000km (~10,000 miles). I bought it from the brother, hence, the second owner.
Europe is facing today a fartards' gov't decisions with many regulations against common sense. One of them is in big cities you aren't allowed to drive a car/truck unless it's got a low level CO2 emissions, basically, being a newly made car will do it. Inconsistently, big cars with a small battery with an autonomy of 20 miles is considered an Eco-vehicle. Bigger, non-electric, or simply old enough, won't cut it. Just like my Explorer. And that is the reason why the former owner sold it, as he cannot drive it where he lives.
Old Explorers here are a rare thing, as said. In twelve months driving around, I've seen only two. A first gen and a second gen, no third gens around here or beyond. The ones made around 2020 are more common but hold your pants: expensive as hell. The cheapest I find today, used one, made in 2021 with 50,000 miles is being sold for 50.000EUR (60kUSD I guess). New ones start from 75.000EUR (85kUSD) if you find one, because the only one Ford promotes is the electric one. IMHO, just as with the electric Mustang, they should've changed the name.
So, I wanted a car I could maintain (mostly) myself. Not being forced to take it to the shop for a light-bulb switch just 'cos I don't own a special tool.
Besides new liquids and filters, so far, I've changed the rear shocks and cancelled the noisy self-levelling system, replaced the timing chain tensioners (I was shocked because it had installed TWO LOWER -shorter- tensioners...), replaced the transmission (lucky me, got myself a broken reverse band, just a month after I got it), I'm on the process of installing an ATF temperature gauge, add some heavy duty shackles on the rear more for levelling than for lifting, replacing the 5E55R cover for a newer one with drain, plus ATF and filter, also put in a new thermostat as the temp needle never even reached half of the total travel... I'd say that's all.
It runs smooth, and all I want is it to run well as I take my 3 and 5 years old kids and the wife to do some mild off-road on summer, across the Pyrenees.
That's it. Mainly, a big thanks for this site to who may it concerns
Here's a picture of it beside a first gen I found on my way to work, and of course I had to pull over and take a picture as Explorers are really hard to spot round here. This was before levelling it with the shackles.
