How good is this Explorer?
 

Hey all,
My mom is looking at a very nice looking 2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Baure with the 4x4 4.0L V6 engine. It has 3.55 Gear ratio and third row seat. We have a family of 6 so we kinda need to get an SUV. I don't know how good this truck is. I don't want my dad to buy this truck and it be a piece of junk. My neighbor has a 1999 Ford Explorer 2wd V6 and it is a piece of junk but it looks like this 2007 is built way better. How good is the Explorer's 4x4 in it I mean as in if I met up with a good sized mud hole would I get through it or will it get stuck and I have to go get one of our F150's. I know it will be able to pull our boat which is a plus and it should be alright on the hills around here. What I mainly need to know is the truck going to fall apart fast just because it is not made right? I know the nickname for Explorer's being an Exploder but that I don't want till I get something out of it if you know what I mean. It looks greatly maintained and they are asking 16,000 but I know I can get them down because I know the delarship for we got our super duty from this delarship.
Thanks,
Trav

Ok so the 2007 Ford Explorer with the 4.0L turned out to almost have 90,000 miles way to much in my mind for a 2007 V6. So, We started our search again and are looking at a 2007 Ford Explorer 4x4 third row seat Eddie Baure again but now has the 4.6L V8 engine with a 6 speed automatic Transmission and 3.55 Gear Ratio. It is very clean and has only 56,000 miles on it. Is the 4.6L a pile of junk or what? The truck looks greatly maintained and the Carfax shows it has been. The Transmission has already been flushed recently and fluids changed too. Also what in the world is AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control?
Thanks for any help
Trav

the 4.6 is a good motor. Alot of history with it in F150's and crown vics. Dependable.

As far as advanced trac...i think it is fancy name for all wheel drive.

Stability control is if it senses a condition that might roll it like a sharp turn at high speed it will attempt to help correct the situation. Don't quote me but stuff like reduce engine power and modulate the brakes to help get it under control.

Just a safety feature.

With 56K I'd consider it.

Ok so we are looking at another Ford Explorer. This one again has the 4.0L V6 and is a 2010 with 6,000 miles. great looking truck. It has 3.55 gear ratio and we are just wondering if the 4.0L engine is a good engine if not we will probably go with the 4.6L. The 4.0L is closer and at a decent price. A beuty of a SUV. of course it is 4x4 also. Thanks,
Trav

193K on my 4.0. Just a thermostate/alternator is all.

200 Thou. out of mine
 

I got 200 thousand miles out of my 95 Limited 4.0, the only reason I didn't do the trans and keep on driving it is due to the overly complex and troublesome digital heating and a/c system in that top of the line model. The Eddie Bauer may have it too, if it does I don't recommend it, it cost me $1,000 to get a new heater plenum put in, and it was starting to act funky again. Those fancy headlights that come on when it gets dark......they're not too much fun when the module burns out.
The engine was bulletproof, the 4x4 system worked very well. Explorer is a very good vehicle, but over the long haul avoid the bells and whistles.
Incidentally: Explorer got the unfair "exploder" nickname due to made to application Firestone tires which were not up to the task, still a sore spot, ended a 75 year long supplier agreement between the companies, some of the Firestone family are inlaws to the Ford family, bound to add discomfort at family reunions.

Your '95 had the OHV 4.0. Your usual drivetrain troubles were auto trans and rear axle bearings. Those were not as widespread as later issues.

The early SOHC 4.0 has timing chain tensioner issues that will kill the engine somewhere between 100-150k if posts here are any indication. All engines are affected, and a TSB was issued. Repair of the rear tensioner requires engine removal. A top reason the Explorer was a top C4C candidate. The 5 speed automatic is also a problem. And, rear axle bearings were apparently sourced from some 3 world back-yard foundry supplier.

AFAIK, the later 4.0 SOHC motors have an improved tensioner system. Not sure the 5 speed autos are any better. Having said that, the 2010 is a safe bet. BUT I would buy a Ford ESP for it if available.

The "Exploder" moniker was well earned, not just for the tire issue.

Regarding the 4x4 and AdvanceTrac, it should also say "RSC" for roll stability control. These systems work pretty well. The old automatic 4x4 works pretty well also, but I think the newer systems are smoother.

"The "Exploder" moniker was well earned, not just for the tire issue."
Thanks for the enlightenment on the other issues, I know one individual with the OHC cassette failure, I was hoping it was an isolated case, obviously not.

Every bell and whistle on my 96 Limited is still functioning great at 135,000 miles, and the ONLY option it does NOT have is the 5.0 V-8..........Even the OEM Ford cellphone would work if it was still supported.
Depends totally on who owned it and how it was treated, I have seen 50,000 mile rigs beat to death and ready for the scrap heap, and 200K rigs that looks and drive like new.

Lots of well cared-for OHV units got well into the 200K mile zone.

There was a guy on here with a SOHC motored '98 identical to mine that showed 308--- miles. That was not a clean car, but he made it into one. Unknown what motor/trans work was ever done, but it was functioning when he bought it.

I tend to be a little sour as mine has had more than it's share of issues--most covered by my now-expired ESP.