hi guys,
I am happy to report I got my wife into a Ford product. We had a jeep liberty for her, and she really liked it and it was a GREAT vehicle for us. No problems with it at all, I can't bash it in any way, except it was a little small. We have a 19 month old son, and will probably try to expand our family again next year sometime, so I have been looking for explorers and mountaineers in the 2006-2008 range for a little more size. found this one below a couple weeks ago, got a good deal on it and brought her home. It is a 2006 mountaineer with the 4.0 and has about 83,000 miles on it. I was gonna wait till next year to replace the liberty, but we found this one and my wife liked it, and salesman shot a better deal than I expected so....here a some pics
<a href="http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN3286.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/DSCN3286.jpg" border="0" alt="DSCN3286"></a>
<a href="http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN3287.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/DSCN3287.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN3288.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/DSCN3288.jpg" border="0" alt="DSCN3288"></a>
<a href="http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN3289.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af106/kevinjames37/DSCN3289.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I already did a brake job on it. They had a little time left in them (5000 miles or so) but I had time so I figured what the heck. went with wagner thermo quiet pads all around and changed the front rotors to duralast. I left the factory rotors on the back. Now I know the brakes should be good for the as long as we own it.

 

Nice! Keep an ear out for timing chain rattle. Then 4.0 is notorious for the tensioner on the chains wearing out and all goes to heck in a hand basket at that point when they break. Some will go to 200k and not have issues. Others don't make 100k. Doesn't seam to be any year better than the next.

Looks like a sweet ride though. I miss my Explorer...was the perfect size at the time.

 

thanks MCDavis. I had no idea about the timing chain problem. I thought the 4.0 was a good solid engine that ford had ran for a lot of years and had good sucess with. I will keep an ear listening for that though.

 

Don't be paranoid over it. There are millions of that engine out there. Id say that less than 3% probably see that issue. Just wanted you to know. enjoy it...great vehicle!!!

 

thanks, I won't be paranoid. Like you said just something to listen for. thanks for letting me know about it.

 

My ranger had a rattle to it when I owned it... but it was normal and went away after it was running for a few... keep the oil changed and use a motorcraft filter and all should be fine. I never had any issues out of my 4.0. I think those were throttle by wire but if by chance it has a cable grab the pedal and pull up on it, if its lose the cable is stretched, there is a zip tie trick that will give you more power, make it feel like a whole new vehicle... Mine was throttle by cable and had this issue at 72k, was a dog doing this mod made it feel like a whole new truck.

 

interesting, thanks for the tip.