So my dad buys an Exploder

[jonathon]

It's actually a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer with a 5.0 and AWD. The thing has got balls and runs like a top. Probably the fanciest vehicle he's ever owned.

The only issues it has are it needs an oil pressure sender(typical thing for Fords), shocks on all 4 corners, and an exhaust leak fixed on the drivers side. The manifolds on these things may as well be headers. I don't think the leak is at the head, rather at the donut. Since it was dark I didn't poke around too much, but it looks like the exhaust manifold exits in front of the engine on the drivers side.

I actually like it Not sure about the awd but it doesn't seem like it'll be too hard to work on.

Anything to be aware of in advance? I know most of you guys are GM nuts, but I'm sure we've all heard things

 

[original balzer]

those dont have 4 low do they?

 

[odin]

I have worked on a few of those...
IMHO they are total garbage.
Dont be fooled, they Suck to work on. I'll bet the PO sold it because of the exhaust leak.
The front suspension is junk. Wheel bearings, ball joints, radius arm bushings are all regular failures.

 

[broncoman6524]

The manifold may actually be cracked. Typical on these, especially the pass side, the A/c drain drains right onto the manifold.

We replace a set this past week at work...I felt bad for the mechanic.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

They have front hub problems. I forget if this applies to the AWD Mercuries or not but the early IFS RBV's have a manual hub from AVM that bolts on in place of the weird factory units. I sold my Ranger about the time the info was percolating in on www.TheRangerStation.com .

 

[BUDDY]

I have worked on a few of those...
IMHO they are total garbage.
Dont be fooled, they Suck to work on. I'll bet the PO sold it because of the exhaust leak.
The front suspension is junk. Wheel bearings, ball joints, radius arm bushings are all regular failures.

X eleventybillion!!

This is almost word for word what I was going to say about them. Really pay attention to the inside edges of the front tires. If they are new tires it might be a few months, but mark my words, those upper ball joints are shot, or are shortly to be shot, which will wear those tires out quickly.

Matter of fact, working on these things convinced me to NEVER EVER buy a ford!!

My .02.

YMMV,

Buddy

 

[jonathon]

Well I guess we'll see how long it lasts. He just went out and did it without saying anything, but looking online I don't see a whole lot of big problems, at least nothing worse than an s-10 of the same era.

Found some good write ups on ball joints and unit bearing replacement, looks pretty simple. Everything is nice and tight, looks like someone had balljoints done recently(newish boots).

Tires are Toyo M-55's and are brand new, didn't see that till this morning.

 

[DR]

I had a 94 with the 6 cylinder that I loved... The lifters in them like to make noise not too far past a hundred gs... ANd the hubs are junk. They are all plastic and blow pretty easy. But, easily upgradable. Other than that I loved it. Had it for years. Only gave it up because I decided to be car number 4 in a 14 car pile up. Gotta love Az dust storms!