ford explorer 2003 model

A friend had one for a while. He thought it was the biggest piece of junk he has ever owned ....

Hi i have the 2000 V6 4'0 Ltr AWD/4WD version can not speak more highly of it i have had it about 6 years now and she has done quite a few k's mostly done by myself gets used off road quite a lot i have spent bugger all on it i did replace the Timing Chains and Tensioners they are known to have issues but having Mechanics in the family kept that cost right down apart from that i put a Castor/Camber kit in and that's it haven't spent a cracker on it a mate of mine has the one you are looking at but it doesn't get used off road at all (wives car) not a huge difference in power personally i thing mine is a bit quicker of the mark the fuel consumption on mine is pretty good i can get in the country towing a camper trailer close to 500k's 74 ltr Tank the V8 is a pig on fuel
Hope this helps Steve

Don,t know how true this is, but i have heard them being reffered to as Ford Exploders.

That was due to the timing chain tensioners on the V6 4.0 ltr they fixed that problem many years ago in the 2nd gens as with all motors that use timing chains they need to be replaced sooner or later my vehicle has done 230 tho Kls now not a rattle in site

The earlier ones with the leaf rear springs were noted to be Ford "Exploders" .

The timing chain problem is still with the 4.0 V6. probably long oil change intervals and the fact the timing chain is at the BACK of the engine ( ie EXPENSIVE LABOUR), originating from when the V6 was the Essex many millennia ago.
The other thing I have heard about the earlier models is that the radiator was prone to jump out of its mountings on corrugations.

Funny though, the Disco 3 has the same V6 and has been 4x4 of year for a few years and the Disco has a very similar hydro formed chassis to the coiled Explorer.
I spoke to a coil Explorer owner a while ago and he was very happy.

So listen for funny timing chain noises but otherwise the biggest selling SUV in the world cannot be all that bad. Just do not expect Land Cruiser performance off the bitumin.
Regards Philip A

thankyou everybody for taking the time to answer my query , I shall pass all of this on to my Son , both the good & the not so good comments , and like any adult , He will make his own mind up , just trying to help him as have never known anyone who has one , and I told him not to listen to the salesman , He doesn't eat if he doesn't sell , thanks again Steve

Hi Steve,

One more to add to the list: I'd heard that the early ones had a solenoid to engage it into 4WD and that this often seized up (perhaps by not being used often enough?) and it wasn't cheap to replace. Either way (just like buying any 4WD second hand) check that the 4WD system actually engages and disengages properly.