A Wild Explorer Appears

"Aremmes" (aremmes) 07/30/2019 at 15:00 • Filed to: Unsolicited Explorer, U152, Ford, SUV

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Apparently my wife has decided to get into the habit of taking in unwanted vehicles into our garage-less, driveway-less household instead of the more typical stray animals. Thus, we’re now the owners of a U152 Explorer.

The story behind this one is that the owner originally planned to drive it on his move to Mexico (hence the luggage rack), but his family convinced him to sell it on account of his poor eyesight and unfamiliarity with interstate driving. So, he signed a power of attorney for his daughter to sell it, packed up and moved. Then the daughter only tried to sell it via word of mouth (not CL or other advertising attempted) and allowed the power of attorney to expire. And then a neighbor got pissed off and threw a rock at the windshield, so she asked my wife to take it off her hands, and as of that evening it’s been sitting on our parking lot.

So, why would we want it? I dunno. It’s got the Cologne 4.0 V6, push-button 4x4, third-row seats, leather seats, power sunroof, and not much else. The outside looks decent, although the plastic trim on the tailgate glass is halfway detached; the tires and brakes look kind of newish; the engine seems to run decently; and there’s only superficial rust underneath. The old guy didn’t bother with ever cleaning the interior, though, so when it arrived it had all sorts of spilled shit from the bakery where he used to work, a few dollars in loose change, a bright spot on the carpet behind the second row where a bottle of bleach had spilled, and a coat of crud on all of the plastics and the second- and third-row seats. Besides the windshield, the right rear window won’t move and is held in place by a pair of wedged-in screwdrivers; the plastic trim around the driver’s window controls is cracked; the A/C blend door actuator is broken and clicking; the column shifter cable is loose and occasionally prevents the shifter from move into Park; at least one door h as a bad switch causing the “door ajar” light to remain lit; and there’s a moldy smell coming from the sunroof.

My wife wanted to take it to the car wash right away.

What hath God wrought...

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The local pick-a-part has a number of Explorers of this generation along with a Mountaineer and an Aviator, so I should be able to get replacement parts on the cheap. Still, I have mixed feelings about this thing: it can carry seven people with their luggage and tow 5,000 lbs, but has a miserable interior and sucks all ass to drive. I don’t know what to do with this.

Fuck.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:06

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we have one in Eddie Bauer trim that has been our family workhorse for the last few years. i like it but im also ready to get rid of it lol

OPPOsaurus WRX > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:11

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O BO Y, IF YOU HAVNT DONE THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES DO IT!!!!!!!

my old Explorer:

failed timing chain guide at someth ing like 100,001 miles.

NojustNo > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:12

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Sounds a bit neglected. worst case clean it and fix some of the most pressing things like the ac blend door, window and it’s worth a few grand.

I bought a 95 xlt for a few hundred bucks with similar miles and issues. Replaced the badly busted drivers seat put some tires on it. I got a few years out of it haul ing trash and as a spare car before the motor seized.

Arrivederci > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:12

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Donate it - help out a charity and get a small tax deduction at the same time.

Tripper > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:16

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Owner of 3 explorers and 2 rangers. Obviously I have a soft spot for the platform, although mine were older. I love the way explorers “drive”. You’re up high relative to the window and they drive like a truck. Yes terribly, slow, boaty, terrible around corners, and on gas.

Everything is so cheap and so easy to find. I’d still have my latest ranger if we had the space.

facw > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:16

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A friend of mine had one of those (possibly even in that color). The main thing I remember about it is that the front seats felt extremely cramped despite it being a big vehicle. Ford really kne w how to make things feel small.

Ash78, voting early and often > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:17

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Independent rear suspension? Must be one of those fancy NEW Explorers! ;)

Looks pretty standard except I don’t remember the second-gen coming with such small wheels (even by 90s standards) . Maybe a swap for the Mexico trip?

Aremmes > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 07/30/2019 at 15:19

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If the junkyard has any Eddie Bauers I'll take the seats.

Aremmes > Ash78, voting early and often 07/30/2019 at 15:25

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It’s a third-gen! And I think the wheels are standard for this trim level.

Aremmes > facw 07/30/2019 at 15:27

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It’s so bad I f eel more comfortable in the Miata.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:29

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its funny cause i actually need a driver’s seat for my truck. the one in there now is ripped and missing foam

Aremmes > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/30/2019 at 15:30

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I have no idea if it wa s ever done on this one. I'll just assume that it wasn't and see how long it takes before the rattles begin. Maybe it'll be cheaper to do a Modular V8 swap.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > facw 07/30/2019 at 15:31

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They still do. The soon to be dead Taurus feels incredibly small inside given its size.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Tripper 07/30/2019 at 15:31

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our gas mileage recently got better after replacing the thermostat. before at best we were averaging 13 mpg mixed and now we are at about 16.5 mpg mixed.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:33

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it never rattled, it just ate them one day.

Aremmes > NojustNo 07/30/2019 at 15:33

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If my wife takes a liking to it we’ll probably do the same, keep it for hauling and as a spare car.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:41

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Wait so is this thing legally titled under your/wife’s name now? Was unclear with the bit about the daughter’s power of attorney expiring.

If so, you could just do the bare minimum to get it cleaned up a bit and just flip it...or as someone else had mentioned, not worry about it and just donate it for some good karma and small tax benefit.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 15:43

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My wife drives an ‘02 Explore, after blowing the head gasket in her ‘99 Exploder about two years ago. We picked it up from a co-worker of mine for $1,500. So far, it’s been fairly reliable, with two rear wheel bearings being the biggest cost so far. The blend door repair is a pain in the ass, but there are Youtube videos for most repairs on this truck. As long as the frame isn’t rusted to hell, a free truck should a pretty good beater/tow vehicle.

Aremmes > Tripper 07/30/2019 at 15:53

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That’s the thing, I absolutely detest how it drives. It weebles and wobbles on even the slightest road imperfections, which completely goes against the myth that a big heavy car make roads seem smoother, and as you know we have no shortage of bad roads in Pennsylvania.

Aremmes > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 07/30/2019 at 15:56

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The driver’s seat in this Explorer is ripped too, and might be missing foam. I think Ford intended it that way.

Aremmes > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 07/30/2019 at 16:01

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The owner’s daughter got a new power of attorney. We will receive the new title on our names in the mail within a couple of weeks. Once it gets the new windshield and safety/emissions inspection I’ll have my wife drive it and decide if she likes it or not.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Aremmes 07/30/2019 at 16:57

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“ it can carry seven people with their luggage OR tow 5,000 lbs”

fixed that for ya. The tow rating is set with only 1 150 pound person in the driver seat and zero luggage. Every human you add you need to deduct towing capacity. If my in-laws had listened to this advice they wouldn’t have just had their Mountaineer transmission rebuilt.

If it’s that typical panel just under the rear window, find a friend who’s good with sheet metal and have someone build a panel for you. they break constantly and always will. That or finder a newer gen tailgate, I believe there is a way to mount it up and get rid of that panel.

Aremmes > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 07/30/2019 at 17:17

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OTOH, thanks for the tip on the newer-gen tailgate window. This one not only has the lower panel wanting to fly away, but the hinges are halfway rusted out. So strange when the rest of the car seems relatively rust-free.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Aremmes 07/31/2019 at 11:17

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Your transmission PAL lol.

The tailgates are just awful. I considered them at one point as a vehicle for me so I looked into it. I do believe you can mount a newer tailgate (probably from a junkyard). Still considering a Mountaineer because I’m a Mercury addict and I have a problem.