Soon to be Explorer owner needs advice!!!!

[joecollins2]

Hello, and thanks for having me. I'm looking into buying a 98 EB Explorer. It has the 4.0 V6. Sadly it has almost 180,000. (Yes, I'm getting it for CHEAP from a friend)

He's had for a little over a year.

He said the only problem he had was it draining a battery. he said he got a new battery and it's been fine since. (That was about 6 months ago)

He said it burns pretty much no oil.

However, i talked to a guy who was a Fod tech and he said to stay away!!! He said they're famous for tranny's and head gaskets going.

I figured I would ask the people who know what I should look for. Any signs that things are going wrong???

What are explorers infamous for as far as things going wrong. Any advice on what to look for would be GREATLY appreciated.


Thanks in advance everyone!!!

 

[mattferkey]

pop the hood and see if it has a sohc 4.0 or a ohv 4.0

 

[96eb96]

pop the hood and see if it has a sohc 4.0 or a ohv 4.0

Edit: **Sorry, thought it was a 96!**, but the issues are similar

96 is definitely an OHV. They are very solid engines and don't have any SOHC chain issues. I don't think head gaskets are an issue in that year. Few have intake gasket issues, but that is a minor repair. The electrical problem MAY be a weak alternator, you can check that out.

Any vehicle at 180K miles is going to have a risky trans. I was told that the 96(4 spd) trans has less problems than the 97+(the 5 spd). Check condition of fluid and quality of shifts. Your best bet though is to drop/replace the pan and filter and search here how to do a DIY fluid exchange with mercon V. Other issues: Check front end/Ball Joints, Idler pulley (cheap- change if original), Wheel bearings, Blend door (make sure heat/air conditioning work), change thermostat and temp sensor, flush/change the coolant and hoses.

Nice truck, looks like my EB in Black. If its cheap and it checks out I would go for it.

 

[Glen4X4]

Any vehicle can have tranny problems, it's how you take care of it too, but if it is the stock tranny, it's going to be a risky but these explorers are good vehicles taken care of, a good bit of people get over 210k miles out of their original motors, and they're pretty good off road in stock format. If the price is worth it and you like it, go for it. There is plenty of help here if something would come up that you need help with.

 

[mattferkey]

96 is definitely an OHV.

but its a 98

 

[96eb96]

but its a 98

My bad I misread, but some stuff still applies! Didn't know the 98 had the long neon 3rd light...

 

[Glen4X4]

Since its a 98 its more than likely got the SOHC

 

[96eb96]

Since its a 98 its more than likely got the SOHC

In addition, if its a 98 w/sohc check it carefully for any timing chain noise/rattles. Also, make sure the trans shifting has no flaring between shifts or other issues. The 97+ 5spd units have some valve body issues.

 

[BIGHVM]

I agree the timing chain tensioners are an issue in the generation of Explorer, the milage is not if it has been looked after well, I mean regular oil changes of the correct grade in the engine and gearbox, the back axle should be fine if it has never been of road in deep water, if you know it has and buy it assuming it is quiet, please make sure you do an oil change on that and get the friction modifier that ford recommend to add to it. Apart from that and if all above is checked and ok, I cant see you will have issues, the gearbox is really very good if looked after and the head gasket thing is a myth, more likely is the upper intake manifold seals drying up and making the mixture lean, an easy and cheap fix that can be done at home, diagnosis is simple if you can get your hands on a code reader.

Good luck if you buy her and Welcome to the fold!

I hope you have many years of happy driving!

 

[onecrazyfuq]

Ok well i have a 95 ohv and at about 126,000 my head gasket went, it was 1500 to replace with no grantee of the rest of the engine being fine or buy a used engine wiht 66,000 for 2500, and this year at 136,000 my tranny went, needless to say 2500 dollars later it had a rebuild tranny, so my preference stay away from so old, look for sohc instead of ohv try 98 and above. P.S. i have the same tailights and grill lol

 

[1997green]

I think your friend told you the wrong year. The 98's and up had a different tailgate and rear bumper. The plate would be on the tailgate the bumper doesnt hold a plate on 98's. so Id ask about that unless his truck was hit sometime and just used old parts which is very possible I think.

 

[Glen4X4]

I think your friend told you the wrong year. The 98's and up had a different tailgate and rear bumper. The plate would be on the tailgate the bumper doesnt hold a plate on 98's. so Id ask about that unless his truck was hit sometime and just used old parts which is very possible I think.

Good attention to detail there, I didn't pay that close of attention.

 

[joecollins2]

Hmm, I think that's what he said. I'd have to ask him again...

So would it being a 96 or 97 make much difference in the issues?? It's a good price I'm paying for the truck but I don't want to have to sink a bunch of money into it soon as I get it. I'm glad that the head gasket thing is just a "myth"!

Thanks to everyone's who chimed in. Keep it comin...

 

[1997green]

I have two 97 explorers and nothing expensive has broke. I had a few little things that cost $100-$200 but nothing major. I think at 180,000 miles alot of the things that would fail would have already failed and been fixed. The only thing I would worry about is the tranny but that is the same with any car with 180,000 miles. But it looks very clean and well cared for so that shows how the other owners took care of it. It seems some people make it well pass 200,000 miles and others have a bunch of problems before that.

 

[joecollins2]

Alright cool. Yeah he's had it about a year or so, so I was thinking that if he didn't have any issues before that whoever previously owned it most likely took care of anything major that happened.

Thanks a lot for all the input everyone!!

 

[96eb96]

Ok well i have a 95 ohv and at about 126,000 my head gasket went, it was 1500 to replace with no grantee of the rest of the engine being fine or buy a used engine wiht 66,000 for 2500, and this year at 136,000 my tranny went, needless to say 2500 dollars later it had a rebuild tranny, so my preference stay away from so old, look for sohc instead of ohv try 98 and above. P.S. i have the same tailights and grill lol

Did it ever overheat? Were the coolant and trans fluid serviced properly?

 

[joecollins2]

Okay, so finally got it right. It's a 97 SOHC EB Explorer....