I just joined the forum because i'm looking at getting a 2000 mountaineer 5.0 AWD. I'm not a stranger to fords because i had a thunderbird and now have a 96 mystic cobra.

I have a few questions for the gurus on this site. Are there any problems that these cars are prone to have that i should look for?

With the all wheel drive does it actually use all 4 wheels all the time or do the front wheels just kick in when they are needed?

I know the 5.0 motors are stout but what is the average life expectancy that most people are seeing out of them?


Thanks in advance

 

I recently traded in my 2000 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD. I didn't buy it new, but never really had problems with it and trusted it more than I trust my 2004. The transmission was solid, the engine was solid (had about 95k miles when I traded it in) and never really gave me any problems. In the three years I owned it I changed out the spark plugs, plug wires, oxygen sensors, and fuel filter just out of prevention. One coil and the MAF failed on me so those got replaced. The rear axle seals leaked so I changed them and found that the rear bearings were bad. The leaking seals caused the parking brake shoes to come apart so those got replaced. While I was in the mood I flushed the entire brake system and put in high temp fluid.

I never really had any interior rattles or mechanical problems that left me stranded. The only problem I did have with it was rust underneath the running boards just forward of the rear wheels. It appeared as small bubbles in the rear door jambs where two pieces of body panel met, but by the time I got to the source of the bubbles, I had cut out about a 6 inch by 8 inch piece of rust on each side. It appears that 2 of the four drains for the sunroof are located inside that panel and expected to drain through a hole in the steel. Of course if those holes get plugged with sand or debris, the water just sits there and snacks on the steel.

-Rod

 

Not trying to hijack but what about your 2004 do you not trust?

 

thanks for the info. so does anyone else know any common problems with these cars

 

The transmission doesn't seem robust or consistent. The 4.6L engine makes rattle noises at startup that don't seem "normal." But, the ride is MUCH better than my 2000 was, the 3rd row seat is welcomed, and the rear DVD player makes it a much nicer vehicle for family travels than my 2000. I haven't had it in the snow yet, but trust it will get around at least as well as my 2000 did.

-Rod