Throwing in the Towel

[bam_bam1ca]

Good morning fellow members and moderators!!

After having owned an 84 BroncoII and a full size 87 Bronco I decided to buy an Explorer as a family ute vehicle since I enjoyed the last two Ford 4x4's.

In October I unfortunately chose a 95 XL 4.0L with a few too many miles (160,000) on it. The truck ran great for a month, and since then has needed a crank sensor, TPS, MAF, alternator, fuel pump, and is spitting codes for the cam sensor, air temp sensor and now the secondary band in the tranny has broken. Plus I had to put on new rubber (not the truck's fault).

I would accept my "lumps" if I was doing serious off-roading or pulling, but all that I am doing with the truck is commuting to work and using the 4x4 an the road for snow conditions.

The big problem with the 95 is the cost of parts. Every time that I go to the dealer or jobber I am quoted double or triple the cost for parts over a 96 or 97 Explorer since a lot of parts and components were made in that one model year only. Also the 95 is ODBI and a lot harder to diagnose than an ODBII system.

It is obvious that this truck is NOT a keeper for me and I plan on getting the transmission fixed and then dealing it on down the road.

I still like the Explorer for my family. The style of truck fits our needs.

So....... I am looking for helpful suggestions please. Which engine/transmission combination is the most reliable in an Explorer, and which year will be the easiest and cheapest to fix. I can't afford to go any newer than a 2000 at the moment due to family matters. I do expect to have problems and breakdowns, but I am trying to learn more about Explorers so that I can minimise the pain. So far this unit has averaged $550.00 a month in repairs since I bought it so I figure the money is better spent in a newer unit that won't make me walk as often.

 

[Turdle]

I highly recommend a late 98-01 v-8--
Also,look for a Mercury Mountaineer--sometimes they are less money for some strange reason. The v-8 will be either awd, or 2wd, and uses a very strong transmission, along with the proven reliability of the 302 small block Ford engine.

late 97-early 98 would be a good year also--the only reservation here is the tubular exhaust manifolds, which crack. However, a set of Torquemonster headers will be a one time , permanent fix for this--

 

[Rick]

First gen Explorers are solid performers with the 4.0 OHV and a 5 speed manual tranny. The 5 speed holds up well as long as you keep a good slave cylinder in it. As soon as gear engagement becomes difficult get a new slave before you damage the tranny. I would avoid '91 Explorers since that was there first year and many changes were made in later years. '94 is the most refined of the first gens.

As you already know the '95 is a ******* year so you don't want to do that again... 2nd gens came with 3 engine options. The 4.0 OHV, 4.0 SOHC, and 5.0. I would reccomend either the 4.0 OHV (super reliable), again with a manual transmission (hard to find) or the 5.0 V8 2wd or AWD.

Welcome to the site

 

[bam_bam1ca]

Thanks for the advise so far guys.

I think that I want to stick with the 4.0L OHV and unfortunatly I have to stay with an automatic tranny because my girlfriend and daughter both can't drive stick. (one of the reasons my 02 GT Mustang is a 5spd). I also want to stay 4x4 because of the snow in Ontario. It's nice to get up in the morning and shrug your shoulders at the snow instead of gritting your teeth on the drive to work.

 

[410Fortune]

automatic = get a v8, you COULD bolt a 96 V8 drivetrain into your 95 truck, all you have to do is buy the complete 96 V8 donor, or sell your 95 and get a late model 98-2001 5.0L V8 2wd or AWD 4 door.

160K miles on a 95 auto = I would have steered clear of that sucker, 95 is an odd year for the explorer, new body, old drivetrain, nothing is the same in 94 or 96

 

[nismotunedgtr]

I havn't had any trouble with my 93'. Just routine maintenance.

Guess how many miles she has? 224k. Runs like a top and never fails me.

Original motor and I think second tranny (got the truck 40k ago). 4.0L OHV / A4LD / 3.83 LS rear (D4) / 4x4 / 4 door.

I love my Explorer and when she dies I will re-build. Although I don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

[Dignan]

I also have a first generation with 220,000 miles. I just barely had to replace the transmission for the first time. With all of the horror stories about a rebuilt A4LD, I decided to go with the 700R4 conversion from Advance Adapters. It is awesome, if you decide to go with another auto and not a V8, keep that in mind for when your A4LD kicks the bucket.

 

[bam_bam1ca]

Hey Fortune, good afternoon.

Well, that would be fun.... but, this truck is my daily driver until the spring. If this would have happened when my Stang was on the road I would have just parked it and looked for another good used tranny and spend an afternoon on my back in the driveway.

Ya..... I hear you about the mileage, and being a 95. Like I mentioned to you before I wasn't THINKING when I picked a 95. I should have waited for a 97 or 98, but the winter was coming, my car was going into storage and this was only $2,500 dollars with a rebuilt motor with only 100,000Kms on it, so I figured the motor would be OK.... and it has been, except for all the bolt on electronics that are going. When I bought it I also noticed that most of the front end was new and had been replaced so I figured I would be good for that also.

I'm having the tranny shop look at the cam sensor plug to make sure it is clean and making proper contact since it is right out in the open anyway. It's too bad that you didn't find your spare that we were looking for.

 

[bam_bam1ca]

Hey guys

Well, the 95 is history. I traded it this weekend on a 98 4.0L OHV, 5R55w tranny with 140,000Km on the truck. There are a few glitches, but hopefully not like the 95 was. I have a P0153 code, so it looks like I have to do an upstream drivers side O2 sensor. Front rotors are warped, so a brake job seems to be in order. Both front door locks are also not working because the truck had been sitting unused for about 6 months.

 

[Nocturnall]

I think you have a 5r55e not that there's much of a difference.