Looking at a 02 EB Explorer
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,162
Likes: 1
From: Vilonia Arkansas
Looking at a 02 EB Explorer
I'm looking at a 2002 EB Explorer.4.0 4X4 with a 102,000 miles for my wife what do I need to be careful of or look for ? The price seems good at $6700.00 .
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,450
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
Run a carfax report on it. IF the seller isn't willing to do that, then they may be hiding something. If you have the VIN, I can run it for you. Also, go to cars.com and autotrader.com to see what similiar vehicles are going for in your area.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
The tranny is a common problem, just make sure you replace the fluid often. The problem can be fixed, but I wouldn't worry about it till it goes. For that year, there is nothing in particular to look for, the tranny on those can start to fail at any time. I've meet people with as little as 40,000 miles before the 5R55 transmission started slipping.
If it were me, that in an of itself would not be a deterent if the vehicle is otherwise in good condition. Newer Explorers have the same transmission, and I doubt you want to get an older one.
If it were me, that in an of itself would not be a deterent if the vehicle is otherwise in good condition. Newer Explorers have the same transmission, and I doubt you want to get an older one.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 303
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From: "Garden State"
Check to see if the timing chain tensioner cassettes have been replaced. They were a common failure on the earlier 4.0 V6's. My wife had a bought new 2002 and at about 37,000 miles the tensioners failed. It makes a "pinging" sound when the engine is not warmed up and running at around 2,000 to 2,500 rpm under load. I was doing used oil analysis on the Explorer and saw that the iron wear numbers had shot up tremendously. This is a symptom of the failing timing chain cassettes. There are two cassettes that can fail, front and rear. The rear one costed well over $2,000 to replace because of the labor required. In 2005 Ford would have replaced the cassettes with the exact same models that failed! Not worth risking it. Traded the 2002 V6 in for a 2005 V8 EB with the Ford employee discount offered at that time. Got a real good trade in because the 2002 looked great and had all the service records and got a great price on the 2005 V8 
. Actually the V8 only gets 1 mpg less than the V6.
Whimsey
. Actually the V8 only gets 1 mpg less than the V6.Whimsey
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 695
Likes: 4
Listen for rear end noise when doing highway speeds and very light throttle. These had bad ring and pinions installed from the factory. Also listen for wheel bearing noise. Very prone to go bad. Not hard to replace if you have the tools, but part to replace all four will cost you around $600. I bought my wife an 02 mountaineer with 59k miles and had to have the trans rebuilt 6k miles later. I have replace one front wheel bearing and one rear and am about to do the other rear and it had 76K miles now.
