looking at buying 96 explorer

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Jul 30, 2008 | 08:17 PM

wildman f150

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looking at buying 96 explorer

Just wondered if there are any horror stories out there on one of these riggs ?Its a 96 loaded witha v6 eng. auto tranny new tires and wheels it has 206000 miles on it slick as a button there asking $2700 for it any help would be apprecitated..

Jul 30, 2008 | 09:50 PM

steve(ill)

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bought one a year ago for $4000. that had 150k miles on it. Already had the lower ball joints done before me. I had to put both front wheel bearing units on about 160-170k miles. Alternator went out at 160K. Other wise, nice truck. Like it.

Jul 31, 2008 | 07:37 AM

ErnieX

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TRANSMISSIONS - do a forum search and read the stories.

EE

Jul 31, 2008 | 12:14 PM

whimsey

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From: "Garden State"

The wife had a 1996 2 door. It was a fantastic vehicle. Only ordinary maintenance needed. That vehicle cost her little to run or maintain. Over it's life it got regular oil and all filter changes and 2 tranny fluid changes, plus 2 sets of brakes and one set of shocks, not really needed and a tune up. Sadly she sold it with 155,000 miles on it in 2002 for a new 2002 4 door Explorer which was a large piece of pooh!

Whimsey

Jul 31, 2008 | 02:07 PM

danr1

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From: Sand Lake, MI

We have one, wifes ride and she drives the wheels off it. We used it on a vacation out west. 6500 miles in two weeks draging a camper.

Normal stuff, tune ups, odd sensor now and then and the upper ball joint and wheel bearings on the passinger side. Sounds like its about time for the drivers side wheel bearing.

Has been and continues to be a great car, over 250k on it now. Tows our boat all over the place. Just as tough as the 91 we had before it.

Hers is "loaded", Auto, leather, power everything, rear heat/air/stereo controls, control trac 4wheel drive system (best 4w system they ever made in my book). All of it works just fine to this day.

Oh and never had a bit of trouble with the transmission, but reading some of the problems others have had, I'd check that over real good.

Check for signs of burnt fluid, look and see if the pans been off recently. let it sit at an idle in gear a while, see if it overheats and starts to drip or just plain pukes fluid out the front seal in a solid stream.
When you drive it pay attention to its shifts, does it "slam" any gears. Does it slip in and out of torque converter clutch lock up, drop in and out of OD? If no signs of any of that its probably a good tranny.

Aug 2, 2008 | 08:54 PM

marragtop

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Joined: May 2002

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From: Baltimore

At 206k, if the trans hasn't been replaced yet, assume it will need to be (2k). Make sure the 4x4 works properly. $2700 sounds a bit high for a 96 with 206k.

Aug 4, 2008 | 09:26 AM

Bear River

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Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Salt Lake City, Utah

If you just replace the tranny fluid every 30,000 miles, the trannies last forever. The alleged weak trannies are really more a fluid weakness. If the fluid gets overly saturated with friction material, or if the various additives break down, the fluid does not work properly and starts damaging the tranny.