2003 Excursion buy?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Geary OK
2003 Excursion buy?
I' about 500 miles from home and an 03 2wd with the 7.3 and 238K has come up for sale. I will be unable to make it home to look at it. My wife and son 17 can go. Am I fool for even considering this? I know some of the things to look for like oil in the valley, oil pan rust, coolant tank. ect. Any thoughts? I know you can go to the ford shop and have them pull records with the vin, don't remember the name?
Mud
Mud
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
I think you are referring to the Oasis report?
There is a lot of good info for things to look for in the tech folder at the top of the forum.
Some things to do are to pull the oil cap and flip it over on top of the fill hole. If it just vibrates off then you might be ok, if it shoots up and off of there, walk away. Check the turbo blades too, if they show signs of damage or wear, then it calls into question whether the motor is "dusted" or not. Find out what mods and maintenance have been done to the truck also. You also want to make sure the truck is starting cold. If it has been run just before they get there then it may be prudent to tell the buyer you will return once the truck has cooled all the way down.
FaceTime (or video calling) can be a wonderful thing if you can't get there in person also. At least then you can see for yourself, albeit from a small screen, what is going on with the truck.
As long as you feel comfortable with your wife and son checking it out then I don't see an issue without at least going to look at it. The miles are too awful high at all for one of these rigs, hell its just now getting broke in!
There is a lot of good info for things to look for in the tech folder at the top of the forum.
Some things to do are to pull the oil cap and flip it over on top of the fill hole. If it just vibrates off then you might be ok, if it shoots up and off of there, walk away. Check the turbo blades too, if they show signs of damage or wear, then it calls into question whether the motor is "dusted" or not. Find out what mods and maintenance have been done to the truck also. You also want to make sure the truck is starting cold. If it has been run just before they get there then it may be prudent to tell the buyer you will return once the truck has cooled all the way down.
FaceTime (or video calling) can be a wonderful thing if you can't get there in person also. At least then you can see for yourself, albeit from a small screen, what is going on with the truck.
As long as you feel comfortable with your wife and son checking it out then I don't see an issue without at least going to look at it. The miles are too awful high at all for one of these rigs, hell its just now getting broke in!
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Geary OK
Oasis, that's it. I've been wanting one for a while This one is about as clean as they come. I know about the cold start, my son went to by my 96 and did the oil cap flip also but I had forgot about it. All of mine have been manual is the auto a concern with this many miles?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
They can be, and are known as one of the weak links in these trucks. Sadly I can't tell you when it will finally give up on you, but if it seems to shift good, feels strong and has no weird noises you may just have to roll the dice.
I meant to ask, do you have access to any kind of scanner software your family could plug in when they go to check out the truck? That could give you a better overall idea of what is going on with the truck.
I meant to ask, do you have access to any kind of scanner software your family could plug in when they go to check out the truck? That could give you a better overall idea of what is going on with the truck.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
