My 2000 5.4l Eddie Bauer 4x4

[ExplorerTom]

So after about a month of looking on autotrader and Craigslist, I finally found one that was worthy of me parting with my money.

As you can see, it's a black 2000 Eddie Bauer with the 5.4L. As far as I can tell, it has about every option except the rear parking sensors.



The interior is rather disgusting but 15 years and 174k miles and the drivers seat is not ripped. That is rare:


It's got some paint traded on the left wheel flare:


The bumper chrome looks bad vim not big into chrome so I'm not sure what I'll do here:


I haven't looked too closely at the motor for leaks. It was dusty though:


It rides well. Do all EBs come with air suspension?

The left rear tire was at 20 psi. I inflated it to 34. I guess I'll see if it leaks.

I'm not thrilled with the wheels. They are ugly and caked in years of brake dust. I'll probably look into getting new wheels and selling these things. The tires are nearly new Big O Big Foot AT tires.

The brakes are nearly worn out. I'll be putting new pads on soon for sure- possibly rotors.

I've started going over the interior with a Magic Eraser. The center console is not black anymore. The seats are coming along. I had to cut it short because it started raining/sleeting/snowing. Tomorrow will be full of cleaning the interior and adding some leather conditioner to the seats.

 

[markfrei]

Nice looking gem in the 'rough' for a Colorado truck.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Other than the basic maintenance that it needs, I've got a couple projects lined up for it already:

• The rear wiper doesn't work. I haven't looked into it at all. Searched the forums some and found some possible solutions.
• It needs to be waxed. Badly.
• The interior needs to be scrubbed. Ideally I'd like to remove the seats and center console and pressure wash the carpet. Maybe this summer.
• The driver heated seat doesn't apper to work. Haven't checked the passenger side yet. I'll also be installing heating pads to the outside 2nd row seats as well.
• The CD changer is going to get pulled out. I'd much rather have the storage space in the console than a CD changer.
• The head unit is still the OEM. I'd like to replace it with a double DIN with a video screen.
• Backup camera.
• The previous owner had a satellite receiver mounted to the windshield. The antenna is still on the roof and the wires are still in place. I'll remove those.
• I'll probably tint the windows darker.
• New wheels. Since the tires are good (although tires in this size are not cheap) I might pick a wheel that still works with these tires.
• New brake pads for sure. Maybe something from Hawk. I have a full set of EBC greens on my Mariner and they are dusty. They stope great but are super dusty. The Hawk LTS on my Explorer seem to be clean yet stop very well.
• LED lights- running boards, interior......
• ambient lighting in the interior. Maybe. Have it in my Limited Escape and it's a nice feature. Kind of adds a touch of class. My friend's Audi A6 has it as well.
• replace the lift struts on the hood and rear lift gate.
• I've got some all-weather mats I'll throw up front. I might go with Weathertech or Husky. I've had these in several other cars and really like them.
• the rear receiver bar below the bumper is rusty. I've seen it on just about every other 1st gen. And in this climate, rust typically isn't an issue. I'll clean it up and spray it black.
• steering wheel cover. There's no hope for the steering wheel. The cover material is wrinkled and grimey. It's gross.

I'm sure the list will change over time, but this is a good start.

 

[tedennis]

Looks good man. I just picked one up today. Eddie bauer like yours but red and about 240k On it. It blew #7 plug out of the head. I only paid $1200 for it though.

Ive successfully repaired this on a few trucks so hopefully will work for mine now.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Changed the spark plugs, one coil, and all of the coil boots today.

I'm pretty sure these plugs were the original. They were all worn to about 0.068". The new plugs were gapped to 0.054". I'm pretty sure I've got a valve cover leak on both sides near the firewall. Those plug wells had some oil down around the nut.

Here's the old plugs:


The new plugs are threaded higher. I guess this is to address the plug blowout issue.


The #6 coil had a crack in it so I put in a new Motorcraft coil. Seems to run nice and smooth now.

 

[Canadian Expy]

looking good have fun!

 

[Yudaman]

I'd also recommend using Plastidip on the gold.



The gold hasta go!

 

[ExplorerTom]

^ the black on black doesn't look too bad but the gold doesn't bother me too much. It's low on the list of things to do.

It's been raining here in CO for about a week and a half. Suppose to snow tonight as well. To confuse the weather gods I went and applied a coat of RainX to the windshield. That's a sure way to make it stop raining. But then I waxed the hood- which as we all know is a sure way for it to rain. So watch the news to hear about the strange weather phenomenon in CO- that was me.

Possibly the first time this truck has been waxed:

 

[AbbadonTD]

I see that you are having fun with your CL Colorado Truck. I never understood how vehicles held up until I moved here. I just bought mine and it looks brand new.

When did you find time this week to wax? Sheets of rain here in Denver.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Yeah, it was just before this latest rain storm now assaulting the metro area now. I don't think I've ever been cold, wearing a jacket and waxing a vehicle before.

Just glad I got my yard mowed on Thursday.

 

[cman1120]

So you're the bastard that made it snow yesterday!! Hahaha just kidding, in all seriousness that is a nice find you got yourself from CL there. It's one of the better looking 1st gens around the Denver area I have seen.

 

[ExplorerTom]

I need to add some updated pics of how clean I got the interior. It's not gross anymore.

 

[ExplorerTom]

The interior is rather disgusting but 15 years and 174k miles and the drivers seat is not ripped. That is rare:
.

This picture is long overdue. The first thing I focused on after I bought it was the interior.

While I'm not a fan of chrome, my chrome on the front bumper was in bad shape. I had some chrome polish from when my Explorer had chrome (and now it doesn't!). Cleaned up pretty well I think:


I'm also getting a horrible grinding noise from the brakes. When I bought it they said that the brakes were a "1" out of either 5 or 10. I pulled off the right front wheel and took a look. The leading edge of the inner pad is worn way down. It's not into the backing plate but it's really close. I think the grinding noise I'm hearing is the backing plate grinding on the rotor lip that's on the outer edge. Yeah, it's that close.

 

[cman1120]

Wow that's pretty much in dire need of replacement like you were saying.

 

[black 4x4]

Congrats on the cool truck. I picked mine up today and man your driver seat looks great. (mine is all torn up)
Unlike you I'm too lazy so I'll pay someone to do the dirty work for me. lol

 

[Texpedition45]

This picture is long overdue. The first thing I focused on after I bought it was the interior.





While I'm not a fan of chrome, my chrome on the front bumper was in bad shape. I had some chrome polish from when my Explorer had chrome (and now it doesn't!). Cleaned up pretty well I think:


I'm also getting a horrible grinding noise from the brakes. When I bought it they said that the brakes were a "1" out of either 5 or 10. I pulled off the right front wheel and took a look. The leading edge of the inner pad is worn way down. It's not into the backing plate but it's really close. I think the grinding noise I'm hearing is the backing plate grinding on the rotor lip that's on the outer edge. Yeah, it's that close.

Wow, that looks amazing. What did you use to clean the interior? I have the exact same truck down to the mileage (173xxx at purchase, 174600 now).

Congrats on the purchase!

 

[ExplorerTom]

I used a Magic Eraser and water. You can find them in the cleaning supply aisle at your grocery store. Then I hit everything with some leather conditioner.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Wow! Did the brakes tonight. I know I said a couple days ago that the front pads were worn almost down to the backing plate but not quite. Well, I should have looked at the rear.


The fronts were not nearly as bad.


So I obviously also replaced the rear rotors as well.

I put in some Hawk LTS pads. I have these on my Explorer and like them a lot. Now it stops great and doesn't make horrible sounds- even without using the brakes.

 

[cman1120]

Yikes Tom those brakes were nasty. Glad you got em changed, been thinking about getting some Hawks when it comes time to do my brakes- more than a few people on here seem to like em.

 

[AbbadonTD]

Hawk makes some awesome pads. I put them on my old F150. Great for down these mountains at 7% grade with a trailer...

I dodged the EB edition - who needs leather in Colorado?