So there is this one 2 gen Ford Explorer. I am not from US and i was thinking about buying it. I want it to be my DD. I am not choosing between different explorers, just this one (pic related).
It's 1998 4.0 AT with only 130k miles on it. What potential problems it might give me? What is general reliability? How bad is gas mileage?
Explorer 1998
Liam Powell
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David Ortiz
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Carter Martinez
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Julian King
Also, how do i know which engine it has? Wiki says there were two 4.0 engines.
Ford Cologne 4.0 L OHV V-6
Ford Cologne 4.0 L SOHC V-6
William Peterson
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Nolan Cook
They're pretty durable and parts are available easily in burger land, idk about there tho. The 4.0 v6 is a weezing boat anchor, and gets terrible milage. But it's reliable at least
Logan Morris
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David Martin
This, but that 4.0 actually wasn't that bad. I mean it's no racecar but it isn't nearly as bad as lots of other SUVs from that time. I used to race riced out Civics in mine with the V6 all the time and beat em pretty gud.
They're straight. On any SUV that old, you want to test the 4WD if you think you will need it because that shit goes bad sometimes since it isn't used much and people kinda neglect it. Other than that, I had the same thing but 1997 and owned it from like 75k miles to 175k miles. Around 100k, it needed some wheel bearings, at like 120k needed an alternator ($120 part and 10min job because of where it's located, super easy), and then by like 150k the suspension was getting real boat-like so coulda used some shocks and struts. But overall it was a great car if you don't mind getting 12mpg city and like 16mpg highway. Never had any issues aside from the typical stuff that goes wrong on any car between 100k and 150k.
Landon Foster
I've read some opinions that Explorer has terribly stiff suspension which is great on pavement, but is unbearable on gravel roads.
Also, people say that engine is solid and unlikely to bring any problem, but the transmission, however is weak and breaks a lot. Is it really that bad?
What type of 4wd it has? Some say it's automatically distributing momentum to front wheels depending on how hard you press accelerator. So you can't just turn it on and have constant front and rear axle momentum distribution?
Ayden Green
For the trans, never really heard complaints. I had the auto and it made it to 175k just fine with like zero maintenance.
And all SUVs from that era had stiff suspension because they are trucks. But when the suspension gets old, it starts to drive like a boat. But I mean that's about the same with any older and heavy car, shocks and struts along with some bushings and shit are a good idea between 100k and 150k. 3000lb econoboxes do it too, but not to the same extent as a big 4500lb sedan or SUV.
And I think there were a couple different 4wd systems. My Explorer had the knob where it's 2WD (RWD) or regular driving and then you can turn it to 4WD High for snow driving and stuff or 4WD Lo for locking everything up and climbing out of a mud pit. Worked fine on my car even when it was old, but I just hear about problems with those 4WD systems on all sorts of older SUVs and trucks and most people don't fix it because the RWD works fine for normal driving and it's not work spending $3000+ on a car with 200k.