Out of curiosity, @Sheldon Scott, has that Explorer lived up to your expectations? The 2002 was the first year for the "3rd. Generation" models, which had the glued-on plastic strip across the rear upper hatch glass. Many of those plastic strips cracked, as mine did about a year after we got it, a 2004. Frank
Yes, Frank, we have been well pleased with the Explorer. We've had it 15 years and have less than 80,000 miles on it. I don't expect to ever buy another vehicle but if we do it will be another Explorer.
My ex has a 1999 Explorer he's also very happy with. He's considering buying another from a southern state so he can swap out his rusty parts for ones that are in better shape. I've driven several Explorers over the years, and it's definitely a vehicle I'd consider buying. @Von Jones I think I saw some at Walmart before. I just did a quick check, and they have an amazing variety. I haven't found the pressure monitor ones yet, but I didn't put that in, because I wanted the most variety in the search results. I'm amazed, I had no idea they had such a variety. I'd like a few of these, such as the paw prints, thin blue line, American flag, etc.
@Sheldon Scott I am a member of an Explorer Forum, http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php, and it has proved to be of great value in my continuing learning of these new-fangled foibles. I bought our '04 in 2010 with 92K on it. Before just recently, the only trouble was a solenoid in the transmission, it's plunger guide, bronze, crumbled away. Since then, I've determined that all the real complaints knocking this or that, blaming Ford, etc., come from guys with poor driving habits. I replaced the solenoid module at 102K, it's still working fine at 154K, except now for a few new, imponderable trouble codes I have not solved. If I had my druthers, I would have preferred the V-8 (4.6L) to the V-6 (4.0L) which I have. The V-6 is German-built, and has thus built-in German Engineering "dead-ends". Certain relatively normally routine repairs require pulling the engine out of the vehicle! The V-8 is good-old U.S. thinking, built in Michigan. No big-time complaints. Smooth-running, solid vehicle, 4,400 LBS. and gets acceptable fuel economy. Frank
I mentioned the tire monitor valve caps to my mom yesterday, and she was very interested. I thought for sure her vehicle would have notified her of low pressure, but apparently it doesn't. Not only that, but my sister is also having issues with her tire pressure, so I ordered them each a set. My mom's all excited to get them, and we're not telling my sister, so it'll be a surprise for her. It's funny how such a little thing can make life easier.