Recommended Maintenance on my new-to-me '98 Explorer

[Jarred767]

Hey guys, just officially joined, but I guess I posted in the wrong sub forum first, so sorry about the repost. This site has been super helpful over the last few months...so, my situation....

I had a 95 Explorer and a few months back she finally gave up on me after just shy of 250,000 miles, but I had nothing to do with that feat as I admittedly did as little maintenance as possible and drove it into the ground. I had to buy another one quickly for work and found a great deal on this 98, but knew little about anything under the hood, so did one of those buyers inspections at a local shop (should have taken it to my guy, but the owner didn't want to take it that far). Long story short, I got screwed and ended up stuck with an Explorer that had been quite neglected and needed a lot of help. (So much for the great deal). After this, I vowed to never let it happen again and that I was going to be a much more informed and knowledgeable car owner and this site has been an absolute godsend.

I bought it with just over 160,000 miles on it and in my first six months or so I had my mechanic do the following:

-Gave it an oil change and did a thorough once over (this was where I realized what I was up against - it wouldn't even pass a smog test for tabs!)
-Replaced the Rear Axle Assembly with a used one
-Cleaned the Mass Air Flow Sensor
-Replaced Air Filter
-Replaced front O2 sensors
-Transmission Fluid Flush

And some things I did myself, many with a lot of help from this site after getting it driveable and tabbed.

-Full interior detailing including a slightly moldy vent system
-Full exterior detailing including a ton of much needed polishing
-Engine Coolant Clean and Flush
-Power Steering Fluid Flush
-Brake Fluid Flush
-Replaced Leaky Heater Valve
-Repaired badly weathered front grill with plasti-dip
-Restored neglected and yellowing headlights
-Replaced a couple burnt out tail lights
-Fixed Broken Driver's Seat Springs
-Fixed a sticky door lock and drivers window
-Replaced Rear Window Shocks

So, now for the help needed. With having those things done recently, and no record from the previous owner on what was done maintenance wise, (I'm assuming not much), what types of things should be checked (or just done) on an Explorer with this much mileage as I hope to get her to last at least to 200k. She runs a little rough, and doesn't love being put in reverse when the engine is cold, but overall, not too bad. My current list of things I need to do (hopefully all myself) is the following:

Replace Hood Shocks (current ones are toast)
Replace Front Brakes Pads and Rotors
Replace Front Sway Bar Links (one has completely snapped in two)
Replace Shocks and Struts (both are still original)
Replace Spark Plugs and Wires
Replace Fuel Filter and run a fuel cleaner through the system
Check/Replace PCV Valve???
Check/Replace Ignition Wires???
Check/Replace Distributor Cap???

Are any of these jobs things I should do before others/more important for an Explorer of this age, or anything else that I'm missing that I should be include on my list. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help!

Oh, and I've got a slight rear pinion seal leak and some sort of engine oil leak that I've probably got a lot of work to try and figure out where it's coming from on my to do list too. Thanks again!

 

[colintrax]

You don't have a distributor or struts.
Sounds like you got everything covered, just check the ball joints. They're prob toast

 

[drdoom]

If its 4wd change the transfer case fluid.

 

[Jarred767]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, thought I read somewhere about the distributor, but I guess I was crazy, same with the shocks. Oops!!

Transfer case flush and ball joints have been added to the growing list too and it sounds like front and rear differential fluids should probably be flushed as well??? Are the differentials and/or transfer case flushes as important if I never really use the 4wd feature on the truck? Sorry if that's a total noob question.

Also, what belts are most important to check/replace with this many miles? Thanks again guys!

 

[colintrax]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, thought I read somewhere about the distributor, but I guess I was crazy, same with the shocks. Oops!!

Transfer case flush and ball joints have been added to the growing list too and it sounds like front and rear differential fluids should probably be flushed as well??? Are the differentials and/or transfer case flushes as important if I never really use the 4wd feature on the truck? Sorry if that's a total noob question.

Also, what belts are most important to check/replace with this many miles? Thanks again guys!

Only has one belt, doesn't hurt to replace it but I'd check it first. I'd suggest changing the diff fluid, but they'll last 200,000 miles with the original fluid if that's all your concerned about. I'd do the transfer case fluid, but if you're never going to use 4wd I guess you don't HAVE to.

 

[Jarred767]

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like I'll do the transfer case, but probably put it and the differentials toward low priority end.

I also found that new tie rod ends will probably help the rough ride (if the ball joints, shocks and sway bar links don't first) and that I should probably clean the IAV valve and MAF sensor to help with the rough idle/slight moaning an groaning sound while idling.

Lots of work to do and then I gotta figure out some sort of schedule to get going for all this stuff. This site will come to be very useful over the next few months. Thanks a ton guys and if there's anything I'm still missing, please feel free to share.

 

[drdoom]

Transfer case fluid service costs about six bucks...mission critical item.

 

[Jarred767]

Good to know, even though I don't use the 4wd system at all, maybe it's better I just get it taken care of and move on. I know there's a ton of write ups on here, so time to do some more research. (I need to take a week off to get all this stuff done

 

[drdoom]

jared. The transfer case pump runs whenever the truck moves. And without the transfer case the truck won't move period. That is the failure mode for the 4405 the range hub that connects the transmission to the driveshafts.

 

[Jarred767]

jared. The transfer case pump runs whenever the truck moves. And without the transfer case the truck won't move period. That is the failure mode for the 4405 the range hub that connects the transmission to the driveshafts.

Thanks for that info, obviously shows you how much I'm still learning about my truck. I feel kinda like I've been completely oblivious in the past. I had read some other stuff about the transfer case and came to my own conclusions, (obviously the wrongs ones) and should have double-checked them. Thanks again, it is really appreciated.