Things to check before buying

[Route66]

Hi All!

Newbie to the Explorer World Here...Looking at buying a 94 Explorer XLT....description says "We have put new radiator in it, brake pads, plugs, ball joints, u-joints, major tune up all in the last two years. Power everything, 4x4 works awesome in snow. Extra vehicle only reason we are parting.Car is in good shape.Miles 270K highway. "

Higher mileage...but highway helps...and alot of the maintance seems to already be done as far as the joints/plugs/radiator/etc. Anything else should I ask the owner/look for when I go check it out?

He's asking $1000..which is wayyy too high..whats a fair price? Its in good condition inside/out with very minimal rust near running boards & 1 wheel well trim....

so, come on fellow explorer lovers! Help me out here with your advice/opinions. Thanks!

 

[Masterd]

Sounds like a fair price for the condition its in.

 

[Route66]

He did say it has the original motor/trans..but 270k miles on the trans doesnt sound right...

Hi All!

Newbie to the Explorer World Here...Looking at buying a 94 Explorer XLT....description says "We have put new radiator in it, brake pads, plugs, ball joints, u-joints, major tune up all in the last two years. Power everything, 4x4 works awesome in snow. Extra vehicle only reason we are parting.Car is in good shape.Miles 270K highway. "

Higher mileage...but highway helps...and alot of the maintance seems to already be done as far as the joints/plugs/radiator/etc. Anything else should I ask the owner/look for when I go check it out?

He's asking $1000..which is wayyy too high..whats a fair price? Its in good condition inside/out with very minimal rust near running boards & 1 wheel well trim....

so, come on fellow explorer lovers! Help me out here with your advice/opinions. Thanks!

 

[ilh]

route66,

im checking one out myself so im whipping up a big checklist...
are you willing to get on your hands and knees and root around?

 

[Route66]

Update: Known issues

The check engine light is an EGR valve sensor. The repair is going to cost 310. He did look it over and it has a small antifreeze leak around the timing case, said not an issue other than keeping an eye on fluids, just seeping. Everything else appears ok.

He's willing to sell it to me for 1200 w/ repairs done...or my best offer w/o the repairs being done....

This being said...is any of this anything to be concerned with combined with the mileage? He says it drives fine with the CEL on..and the EGR valve sensor isnt a big deal so i can just get thet replaced when i have the money....

Is the antifreeze leak around the timing case any issue?

 

[safn1949]

Man,that's a lot of miles,too many for me and I'm a mechanic.There are just too many better deals out there with a lot less miles on them,you may pay a little more but you really do get what you pay for. Having said that,if you can get it for $800 or so and it lasts 6 months with no trouble....sure why not,but it's not a keeper.Don't worry about the EGR,the trucks not worth a $300 fix and really not worth $1200

 

[tommyt]

I have a 91 XLT with 420,000K. Runs great, uses about 1 litre engine oil per month. Trans is fine. Power everything and everything works. Paid $250 for it. (which was a very good deal) The truck you've described would go for about $600-$800 around here.



http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/tommyttigs/Explorer.jpg

 

[Route66]

update #2

Another update..since it has the 5-digit odometer he was going through his own maintance recipts and it actually has 167,000 miles...not 267,000 miles....that should make a huge difference. original trans though..how long can i expect to get out of the original trans on a 94 xlt?

Man,that's a lot of miles,too many for me and I'm a mechanic.There are just too many better deals out there with a lot less miles on them,you may pay a little more but you really do get what you pay for. Having said that,if you can get it for $800 or so and it lasts 6 months with no trouble....sure why not,but it's not a keeper.Don't worry about the EGR,the trucks not worth a $300 fix and really not worth $1200

 

[rustbucketMI]

$1000 still sounds like a fair price. ball joints alone will cost you $800 and those have been done. You're biggest issue will be the trans, those motors run forever. 170K is about the limit of those trans'. I'd say drive it, see how the trans feels. If it feels good i'd say go for it

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Doublecheck the balljoints though, make sure they're tight. Also check the bearings, if there's any play ask about it. I'd venture to say there should be no movment when testing if they've just been done.