IPcamper
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- September 11, 2014
- Messages
- 187
- Reaction score
- 30
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
Here is a post about buying an old 2002 Mountaineer. Let it be a warning to whoever is thinking about something similar.
At the end of October I spotted a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer Premier on Craigslist. It came with a 4.6L V8, AWD, Tow package, and rear climate control. 76,000 miles only $1800. My son and went and looked it over and while it only had a few cosmetic issues like the front bumper cover broken and some scratches, the body and interior where in good shape.
The engine not so much, It had sat for nearly a year. The previous owner had turned it over from time to time, but not driven it. The engine started, but ran really rough, a scan tool gave a bunch of errors. So I checked the compression, and it was good. so I took a chance on it and bought it.
6 weeks later
New plugs
a new COP on cylinder 5
New fuel filter, manually cleaned the injectors and fuel rail
New serpentine belt, tensioner, idler pulleys, water pump, clutch for the fan.
New brake pads, new rotors, new parking brake, flushed the brake fluid.
New rear struts due to broken right rear spring.
New front wheel bearings ( both sides )
New front half shaft axles ( rebuilt )
New right rear wheel bearing ( along with a new 12 ton HarborFreight press )
Salvaged bumper cover and new fog lamps
New tires
Flushed front Differential, Rear differential ( 3.73 LS )
Flushed transfer case.
Flushed coolant
Flushed the powersteering
Changed oil ( 2x in last 6 weeks )
Used Forscan to program 2 new keys, ( only had one )
Things left to do
Change the transmission filter and fluid
New intake manifold gasket ( minor air leak, temporary sealed with silicone )
A whole lot of labor ( mine ) and about ~$2000 in parts, tires, fluids, and tools.
It was a lot more work than I had hoped, but there wasn't anything I couldn't handle with time. It runs well and is very smooth on the highway at 70mph. It even passes the wife test.
So if any of you are thinking about doing something similar when you see a deal too good to past up, check it more thoroughly then I did, but don't let the hard work scare you off from a good deal. I figured I am into this for $3800 ( before tax and tags ) and if I can get few more years out of it then great.
At the end of October I spotted a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer Premier on Craigslist. It came with a 4.6L V8, AWD, Tow package, and rear climate control. 76,000 miles only $1800. My son and went and looked it over and while it only had a few cosmetic issues like the front bumper cover broken and some scratches, the body and interior where in good shape.
The engine not so much, It had sat for nearly a year. The previous owner had turned it over from time to time, but not driven it. The engine started, but ran really rough, a scan tool gave a bunch of errors. So I checked the compression, and it was good. so I took a chance on it and bought it.
6 weeks later
New plugs
a new COP on cylinder 5
New fuel filter, manually cleaned the injectors and fuel rail
New serpentine belt, tensioner, idler pulleys, water pump, clutch for the fan.
New brake pads, new rotors, new parking brake, flushed the brake fluid.
New rear struts due to broken right rear spring.
New front wheel bearings ( both sides )
New front half shaft axles ( rebuilt )
New right rear wheel bearing ( along with a new 12 ton HarborFreight press )
Salvaged bumper cover and new fog lamps
New tires
Flushed front Differential, Rear differential ( 3.73 LS )
Flushed transfer case.
Flushed coolant
Flushed the powersteering
Changed oil ( 2x in last 6 weeks )
Used Forscan to program 2 new keys, ( only had one )
Things left to do
Change the transmission filter and fluid
New intake manifold gasket ( minor air leak, temporary sealed with silicone )
A whole lot of labor ( mine ) and about ~$2000 in parts, tires, fluids, and tools.
It was a lot more work than I had hoped, but there wasn't anything I couldn't handle with time. It runs well and is very smooth on the highway at 70mph. It even passes the wife test.
So if any of you are thinking about doing something similar when you see a deal too good to past up, check it more thoroughly then I did, but don't let the hard work scare you off from a good deal. I figured I am into this for $3800 ( before tax and tags ) and if I can get few more years out of it then great.