Advice needed fast, thanks.

[DeanMoriarty]

I think I settled on a daily driver to buy, but I have a few issues and could really use you guy's advice.
It's a 2001 Explorer sport 2 door, 135k miles, 4x4, Automatic, Power everything, 4.0 engine.
No rust at all, one owner and it's been garaged since she bought it. With the exception of a 5" scratch on the hood, exterior and interior are in great shape. Engine looks clean.
Maintenance seems to have been kept up with great, she has a 2 inch thick folder of records. Tranny and coolant were flushed and changed in October, along with new front brakes and rotors. Nothing has been replaced besides maintenance items and some ball joints that I could see. I checked everything I know to check and here's the things I noticed;
Front right shock is bad.
When putting the transmission in park, the vehicles rolls a few inches before it "catches." How bad is this? It didn't seem to slip at all while I was driving it and it goes in and out of gear smooth.
When letting off the brake from a stop, there's a mild groaning noise from the rear, I've noticed my ranger does this sometimes too, something to do with the rear brakes maybe? She claims it's "always" done it.
She was asking $3,800... I talked her down to $3,200.
We don't seal the deal until tomorrow, so I can still back out if I want.
What do you all think? Anything I should know about this model or be worried about?

 

[mwood1985]

explorer

the shock is nothing it can be fixed for 30 bucks at advance autozone ect. id say go for it the 3200 dollar pricetag seems to be a steal. oh and i drive an 01 ranger 4x4 mine does the park gear thing too its just the slack in the driveline rolling back onto the parking pawl its nothing to worry about. all ive head is the seatbelt latch sometimes need to be replaced they had a defect that causes a few in circulation to come loose easily. it seems like a great deal for 3200 go for it man

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Cool cool. Thanks for the response. The seat belt latch has already been replaced.
Any idea about the groaning noise when letting off the brake?

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

$3200 seems a little high for something with 130,000+ miles on it. The model year is really irrelevant given that the only significant change from 1991 to 2001 was that the front suspension got worse. But if it's really in great shape I guess it might be worth it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Sounds like a deal to me.

My guess for the groaning is something in the brakes... IIRC those Exploders have rear disk-drum brakes, could be that the drum part is improperly adjusted or wore out or somethin. It's sort of a weird setup as far as I'm concerned... the disk brake is for normal stopping but after you pull the disk off, there's a miniature drum assembly that is for the parking/e-brake.

I believe that the parking gear in the transmission can be adjusted. Not sure how, but I know it can be done with the old A4LD trannys. Adjusting it might cut out some of the rolling, the rest is more or less normal drivetrain slack.

Despite having all the records, I'd still go over it with a fine toothed comb. When I bought my 88 BII off a guy on here years ago he gave me about a 2" thick packet of stuff on the truck plus a Chiltons manual. I still went over the truck closely just to verify for myself that everything was in working order. Not that I didn't trust the guy, but you never know what might have been missed. And besides, when my arse is in the drivers seat, I want to know everything about what's around and under me. I didn't find anything other than what the guy told me, aside from a few wiring fixes that left me shaking my head. Nothing I couldn't fix easy. My choptop and the 89 BII I sold were far bigger wiring nightmares.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

I was hoping you would chime in blue, you're the one that suggested I get an Explorer last year when I was looking... I've finally gotten around to it, lol.
I went over the papers with her today when I looked at the truck, everything seemed on the up and up.
I checked out the blue book value on a couple sites and the price seems in line for the condition it's in. I think she was asking too much to begin with.
I'm excited, I really like the 2 door look. The kids might hate it, but hey, that's their problem ; )

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I was hoping you would chime in blue, you're the one that suggested I get an Explorer last year when I was looking... I've finally gotten around to it, lol.
I went over the papers with her today when I looked at the truck, everything seemed on the up and up.
I checked out the blue book value on a couple sites and the price seems in line for the condition it's in. I think she was asking too much to begin with.
I'm excited, I really like the 2 door look. The kids might hate it, but hey, that's their problem ; )

You kinda lucked out that I wanted some advice on a router and came here to post up, I've been neglecting the forums lately cuz life kinda got in the way a bit among other things.

Good luck with your new toy, hope it treats you better than that other thing that I suggested you not get, lol. Don't feel too bad, my uncle was suckered into buying one of those POS suv's a year or so ago, said it was well maintained an all that, well.... it just recently cost him about $800 to fix a problem with the electronic 4x4.... If he would have had an Explorer or a BII, I could have fixed it for less... but you know that sort of story, lol.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Yeah... I come and go here, usually when I'm having automotive problems, lol. I know I can usually get good advice here though.
That other "thing" Ugh. I swear it was possessed, makes me shudder to think of it. I finally sold the "thing" earlier this year. As a direct result though, I will never buy another Chevy truck, so I guess that's something.
I hope this vehicle works out good too... I'm a little worried about the high miles, but hopefully since it's been well maintained it'll last a few years. Most of the ones I see on Craigslist in my price range have 170xxx or more miles on them.

 

[Shran]

Doesn't sound too bad to me. The "groaning" noise is just the brakes, 90% of the cars with auto trannys I have driven do it. There's just enough brake pressure at that point to keep the car from moving freely but the pads are still touching the rotors.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It should last you awhile, at least to 170k miles since you've seen ones with that mileage, lol. But likely more if it's taken care of.

I have some automotive problems right now but that's another story, lol.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Ugh... Stupid automotive problems. I've got a slave cylinder out in my Ranger. But that as well, is another story.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ugh... Stupid automotive problems. I've got a slave cylinder out in my Ranger. But that as well, is another story.

Well, part of my current automotive problems is a direct result of a few moments of pure stupidity on my part.... :banghead: