Possibly Buying 1998 Explorer XLT

[95BlackGA]

Hello all, I may be buying a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT. Before I buy anything I like to ask questions about the vehicle. What are some areas that I or my mechanic should check over? What's the best preventative maintenance that can be done to keep this Explorer on the road? It does have fairly high miles, but not bad for a 10 year old truck, 119,000. It does have a 4.0L V6 (not SOHC). After a while, I will want to lift it, and put some bigger treads under it, so what is the most cost effective 4-6" lift? Here's the Explorer in question. It's in GREAT physical condition, but I have yet to test drive it.

 

[96eb96]

Hello all, I may be buying a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT. Before I buy anything I like to ask questions about the vehicle. What are some areas that I or my mechanic should check over? What's the best preventative maintenance that can be done to keep this Explorer on the road? It does have fairly high miles, but not bad for a 10 year old truck, 119,000. It does have a 4.0L V6 (not SOHC). After a while, I will want to lift it, and put some bigger treads under it, so what is the most cost effective 4-6" lift? Here's the Explorer in question. It's in GREAT physical condition, but I have yet to test drive it.

Blend door. Make sure the heat and A/C work perfectly, and there are no noises as you adjust temperature.

Make sure the thermostat is good and the temp gauge works.

Check the front end/ball joints.

Thourougly test the transmission for any unusual shifting.

When you get it of course change all fluids, etc.

Can't go wrong with the OHV...no major issues.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

i'd keep looking. get the SOHC, you'll wish you had later. the SOHC gets better mileage and has more horsepower.

 

[wood1]

Hey, welcome to the site. It's a nice looking 'sploder.

 

[95BlackGA]

i'd keep looking. get the SOHC, you'll wish you had later. the SOHC gets better mileage and has more horsepower.

I'll definitely check all the areas mentioned, I already have some lubricants, plugs, wires, and a complete gasket set on hold (I due this with all my new (used) vehicles). It is a really nice truck, very clean. I did find out that it has EVERY service record since new, and all mechanic receipts. Nothing major was wrong, just a few small things such as filters that were not serviced by the dealer.

 

[96eb96]

i'd keep looking. get the SOHC, you'll wish you had later. the SOHC gets better mileage and has more horsepower.

This is true, and otherwise the SOHC is a great engine. But I've seen what people went thru when the tensioners failed on early SOHCs and the kit didn't solve the problem. I know two cases. If he does get one it has to be thourougly inspected for any strange startup noises, even then it come back later. With that understanding he should get one, and searching the forum for SOHC tensioner.

The other option that i"m sure you would agree is the V8, where he would be getting a great transmission too.

 

[95BlackGA]

This is true, and otherwise the SOHC is a great engine. But I've seen what people went thru when the tensioners failed on early SOHCs and the kit didn't solve the problem. I know two cases. If he does get one it has to be thourougly inspected for any strange startup noises, even then it come back later. With that understanding he should get one, and searching the forum for SOHC tensioner.

The other option that i"m sure you would agree is the V8, where he would be getting a great transmission too.

With gas prices these days, V8's even small, V8's, are not the best financial buy. I can not wait it out to find an Explorer with the SOHC, it's either I get this one, or I get a 2000 Chevy Blazer. I had bought a truck from a dealership, and it was fully paid for, but when they were delivering it, the truck was involved in an accident. The dealer said he would give me either of the 2 trucks I have mentioned, and give me 1/2 of what I paid for the other truck back.

 

[trevell407]

Go for the explorer.
What kind of truck did you buy that was in the accident?

 

[96eb96]

With gas prices these days, V8's even small, V8's, are not the best financial buy. I can not wait it out to find an Explorer with the SOHC, it's either I get this one, or I get a 2000 Chevy Blazer. I had bought a truck from a dealership, and it was fully paid for, but when they were delivering it, the truck was involved in an accident. The dealer said he would give me either of the 2 trucks I have mentioned, and give me 1/2 of what I paid for the other truck back.

forget the Chevy. I would get the red X with the OHV. Change the coolant and thermostat(motorcraft), you will get another 100K+ trouble free miles from it if its in good shape now.

 

[marragtop]

Make sure that the trans and the 4x4 work properly.

 

[95BlackGA]

I bought a 2001 Blazer with 30,000 miles on it. I'm kind of torn between the Chevy and the Explorer. The Chevy has 78,000, and the Explorer has 120,000 miles. I do like the Explorer A LOT, but the mileage throws me off. I am a Chevy guy, but I had a Grand Am (GM of course) that I bought and within 2 months the motor was toast. I had a '96 Mercury Mystique that I thought wasn't in running condition, but I threw a battery in it, and she started right up. I've put 20,000 miles on it, and it's been a great car until recently. I am now liking Fords for that simple reason. I figured I could just buy a newer car cheaper than what it would be to get the car running perfect and to get the car in great condition. So, I bought the Blazer, it was suppose to get delivered to me, after it had a lift put on it. Everything was done, they were like 20 miles from my house. A semi lost it's brakes and smashed the rear of it. Totaling it. They offered me any vehicle that was on the lot, I was drawn the the Explorer and the Blazer, 'cause they were cheaper than all others, and I know from experience on that these are decent off road vehicles.

 

[96eb96]

We are biased here but if you do your homework the Ford is probably the better of the two quality wise. I know a used car dealer that wont sell some old blazers, too many issues.

Here are some "biased stats" from carreview.com (all years of explorer and blazer)

Chevrolet Blazer Statistics
Would buy another Chevrolet? 43%

Ford Explorer Statistics
Would buy another Ford? 59%

 

[marragtop]

If the dealer had ownership of the Blazer when it got wrecked, I'd ask for all my money back and go elsewhere. Buy what you want, not what that dealer has 'on the lot'. Don't get slickered. Just my 2 cents...

 

[95BlackGA]

If the dealer had ownership of the Blazer when it got wrecked, I'd ask for all my money back and go elsewhere. Buy what you want, not what that dealer has 'on the lot'. Don't get slickered. Just my 2 cents...

I have bought from the dealer a few times in the past few years. (No, I did not buy the Grand Am from them.) Never had a problem. He has several others vehicles that I would like to have, but these 2 are the nicest V6 models that are on the lot. I could easily go somewhere else, but I can get basically the same vehicle, for half the price. (I do get half of my money back.)

 

[trevell407]

Tell them to lift the explorer and give you half your money back because of the price difference.