Jonathan

Greetings,

My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport, 4Dr,
2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.

Questions:

1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with this
motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this truck?

2. This price is about $1000.00 to $2000.00 less than Kelly Blue Book price
(depending on how you rate the vehicle). Should he be suspicious of the
truck because the asking price is less than book value?

3. Assuming normal maintenance, what (if any) large ticket items would he
be looking at repairing or replacing on this vehicle due to the age, useage
or mileage?

4. What is a realistic average MPG for this truck?

Thanks in advance for any help or sage words of wisdom.

Cheers - Jonathan

JimV

Seems like a good deal. The transmission is defintiely the weak spot on
those. Make sure it shifts good and fluid isn't dark and burnt smelling.
I would imagine 19/22 or so for a 2WD version.


Jonathan wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport, 4Dr,
> 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
> 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
> seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with this
> motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this truck?
>
> 2. This price is about $1000.00 to $2000.00 less than Kelly Blue Book price
> (depending on how you rate the vehicle). Should he be suspicious of the
> truck because the asking price is less than book value?
>
> 3. Assuming normal maintenance, what (if any) large ticket items would he
> be looking at repairing or replacing on this vehicle due to the age, useage
> or mileage?
>
> 4. What is a realistic average MPG for this truck?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help or sage words of wisdom.
>
> Cheers - Jonathan
>
>

Ulysses

"Jonathan" <Fire_Capt651@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9CnQe.2920$Wd7.1949@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Greetings,
>
> My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport, 4Dr,
> 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
> 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
> seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with this
> motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this
truck?

There were problems with the 4.0 V6 SOHC engine with the timing chain
tensioners (3 timing chains). From what I read they became loose and the
timing chains rattled and in some cases the tensioners actually broke and
clogged oil passages etc. From the information I was able to gather the
problem years were from '91 to '01. I suggest you do a google search for :
explorer SOHC timing chain and read what others wrote.

I am also looking for a used Explorer in that year range and I'm narrowing
it down to the V6 4.0 OHC (or OHV, forget which they call it) or the V8.

Around here they are selling for less than it seems like they should be.
One poster on rec.automakers.ford.explorer seems to think the market is
flooded with used Explorers making it a buyers market. This is plausable
because it continues to be the best selling SUV.

>
> 2. This price is about $1000.00 to $2000.00 less than Kelly Blue Book
price
> (depending on how you rate the vehicle). Should he be suspicious of the
> truck because the asking price is less than book value?
>
> 3. Assuming normal maintenance, what (if any) large ticket items would he
> be looking at repairing or replacing on this vehicle due to the age,
useage
> or mileage?
>
> 4. What is a realistic average MPG for this truck?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help or sage words of wisdom.
>
> Cheers - Jonathan
>
>

Jim Tiberio

"Ulysses" <therealulysses@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11h46o6cvcb61f3@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Jonathan" <Fire_Capt651@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:9CnQe.2920$Wd7.1949@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> Greetings,
>>
>> My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport, 4Dr,
>> 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
>> 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
>> seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with
>> this
>> motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this
> truck?
>
> There were problems with the 4.0 V6 SOHC engine with the timing chain
> tensioners (3 timing chains). From what I read they became loose and the
> timing chains rattled and in some cases the tensioners actually broke and
> clogged oil passages etc. From the information I was able to gather the
> problem years were from '91 to '01. I suggest you do a google search for
> :
> explorer SOHC timing chain and read what others wrote.
>
> I am also looking for a used Explorer in that year range and I'm narrowing
> it down to the V6 4.0 OHC (or OHV, forget which they call it) or the V8.
>
> Around here they are selling for less than it seems like they should be.
> One poster on rec.automakers.ford.explorer seems to think the market is
> flooded with used Explorers making it a buyers market. This is plausable
> because it continues to be the best selling SUV.
>
>>
Where are you? I'm selling a '98 Mountaineer AWD 5.0.

Ulysses

"Jim Tiberio" <jimtiberio@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3nndc0F2bajeU1@individual.net...
>
> "Ulysses" <therealulysses@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:11h46o6cvcb61f3@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "Jonathan" <Fire_Capt651@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:9CnQe.2920$Wd7.1949@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> >> Greetings,
> >>
> >> My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport,
4Dr,
> >> 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
> >> 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
> >> seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
> >>

I just bought a '97 with '97,000 miles in very nice shape, LTX, 4.0 V6 EFI,
auto trans, 4X4, Michelin LTX M/S tires etc from a dealer for a hair under
$5000. Southern California.


> >> Questions:
> >>
> >> 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with
> >> this
> >> motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this
> > truck?
> >
> > There were problems with the 4.0 V6 SOHC engine with the timing chain
> > tensioners (3 timing chains). From what I read they became loose and
the
> > timing chains rattled and in some cases the tensioners actually broke
and
> > clogged oil passages etc. From the information I was able to gather the
> > problem years were from '91 to '01. I suggest you do a google search
for
> > :
> > explorer SOHC timing chain and read what others wrote.
> >
> > I am also looking for a used Explorer in that year range and I'm
narrowing
> > it down to the V6 4.0 OHC (or OHV, forget which they call it) or the V8.
> >
> > Around here they are selling for less than it seems like they should be.
> > One poster on rec.automakers.ford.explorer seems to think the market is
> > flooded with used Explorers making it a buyers market. This is
plausable
> > because it continues to be the best selling SUV.
> >
> >>
> Where are you? I'm selling a '98 Mountaineer AWD 5.0.
>
>
Sorry, I just bought a '97 with the V6 EFI. Got kinda scared when I read
what others are getting for gas mileage with the 5.0.

Ulysses

Someday somone is gonna do a google and find my error, so I'll just fix it
now...


"Ulysses" <therealulysses@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11h46o6cvcb61f3@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Jonathan" <Fire_Capt651@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:9CnQe.2920$Wd7.1949@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > Greetings,
> >
> > My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport,
4Dr,
> > 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
> > 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
> > seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
> >
> > Questions:
> >
> > 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with
this
> > motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this
> truck?
>
> There were problems with the 4.0 V6 SOHC engine with the timing chain
> tensioners (3 timing chains). From what I read they became loose and the
> timing chains rattled and in some cases the tensioners actually broke and
> clogged oil passages etc. From the information I was able to gather the
> problem years were from '91 to '01.

Thats was supposed to be '97 to '01.

I suggest you do a google search for :
> explorer SOHC timing chain and read what others wrote.
>
> I am also looking for a used Explorer in that year range and I'm narrowing
> it down to the V6 4.0 OHC (or OHV, forget which they call it) or the V8.
>
> Around here they are selling for less than it seems like they should be.
> One poster on rec.automakers.ford.explorer seems to think the market is
> flooded with used Explorers making it a buyers market. This is plausable
> because it continues to be the best selling SUV.
>
> >
> > 2. This price is about $1000.00 to $2000.00 less than Kelly Blue Book
> price
> > (depending on how you rate the vehicle). Should he be suspicious of the
> > truck because the asking price is less than book value?
> >
> > 3. Assuming normal maintenance, what (if any) large ticket items would
he
> > be looking at repairing or replacing on this vehicle due to the age,
> useage
> > or mileage?
> >
> > 4. What is a realistic average MPG for this truck?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help or sage words of wisdom.
> >
> > Cheers - Jonathan
> >
> >
>
>

Jim Tiberio

"Ulysses" <therealulysses@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11hgrv8spg1ek99@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Jim Tiberio" <jimtiberio@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3nndc0F2bajeU1@individual.net...
>>
>> "Ulysses" <therealulysses@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:11h46o6cvcb61f3@corp.supernews.com...
>> >
>> > "Jonathan" <Fire_Capt651@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> > news:9CnQe.2920$Wd7.1949@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> >> Greetings,
>> >>
>> >> My brother is looking at purchasing a used 1999 Ford Explorer Sport,
> 4Dr,
>> >> 2WD with the 4.0L V-6 and automatic tranny with 113,000 miles (approx.
>> >> 20,000 miles per year). The truck looks very nice and runs well. The
>> >> seller is asking $5500.00 for an all-cash deal.
>> >>
>
> I just bought a '97 with '97,000 miles in very nice shape, LTX, 4.0 V6
> EFI,
> auto trans, 4X4, Michelin LTX M/S tires etc from a dealer for a hair under
> $5000. Southern California.
>
>
>> >> Questions:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Are there any issues with this particular model and year, or with
>> >> this
>> >> motor and transmission that would make him decide against buying this
>> > truck?
>> >
>> > There were problems with the 4.0 V6 SOHC engine with the timing chain
>> > tensioners (3 timing chains). From what I read they became loose and
> the
>> > timing chains rattled and in some cases the tensioners actually broke
> and
>> > clogged oil passages etc. From the information I was able to gather
>> > the
>> > problem years were from '91 to '01. I suggest you do a google search
> for
>> > :
>> > explorer SOHC timing chain and read what others wrote.
>> >
>> > I am also looking for a used Explorer in that year range and I'm
> narrowing
>> > it down to the V6 4.0 OHC (or OHV, forget which they call it) or the
>> > V8.
>> >
>> > Around here they are selling for less than it seems like they should
>> > be.
>> > One poster on rec.automakers.ford.explorer seems to think the market is
>> > flooded with used Explorers making it a buyers market. This is
> plausable
>> > because it continues to be the best selling SUV.
>> >
>> >>
>> Where are you? I'm selling a '98 Mountaineer AWD 5.0.
>>
>>
> Sorry, I just bought a '97 with the V6 EFI. Got kinda scared when I read
> what others are getting for gas mileage with the 5.0.
>
I really didn't find it much worse than the mileage in my '96 or '98
Explorers with the V6's. I also have an '04 with the V8. This sucker is
bad on gas.