mwhyes
Member
Greetings from DC!
Picked up a blue 2003 XLT 4x4 from a family in the suburbs. DD is a 6 speed Infiniti G37 coupe, which is great car, but is very useless for any task, and only good for summer. Been a Nissan guy my whole life (Xterra, Maxima, Infiniti G), part prices are hit or miss, but overall pretty simple cars to work on. Ford part prices are a nice relief.
Thing drove great, they were the first owners and honest folks who followed routine maintenance schedule. Settled ~$5k...115k needing new tires, 100k service, a few windows wouldn't roll, and needed a heavy duty detailing. Otherwise, tight steering, responsive engine, etc.
Since taking ownership, I got the detail and new tires, painted the faded side panels, added a touch screen head unit and backup camera, replaced passenger rear window regulator, oil change to fully synth 5w-20 (sale at Costco), and brake pads. I also opened up the air cleaner to find some pretty nasty gunk on the air filter, so I replaced and cleaned up the MAF and throttle body. Additionally, I wasn't a fan of the hole under the grill so I painted a lower grille from a EB edition and plugged it in. Will need a CB for our road trips to Maine (logging trails can be sketchy). Otherwise, intention is to keep the mods clean, as it will be primarily a road trip, weekend work machine. Welcome mod suggestions are welcome.
Will be gradually knocking out the 100k+ maintenance schedule. Big things coming: 1) Spark plugs 2) fuel pump from hard starting. After priming the fuel pump by turning the key on/off a few times, it starts right up. Based on forums, seems to be due to the fuel pump. I also notice a little bit of squeaking when running cold, which i attribute to aging belts/pullies. Based on my homework, the spark plug and fuel pump jobs make me a little nervous due to the potential for major issues (stripping the head upon removing the plugs on the 2v?) and working with the fuel tank overall. Any reassurance are welcomed.
Anyway- just saying hello. Just soakin in info right now.
Picked up a blue 2003 XLT 4x4 from a family in the suburbs. DD is a 6 speed Infiniti G37 coupe, which is great car, but is very useless for any task, and only good for summer. Been a Nissan guy my whole life (Xterra, Maxima, Infiniti G), part prices are hit or miss, but overall pretty simple cars to work on. Ford part prices are a nice relief.
Thing drove great, they were the first owners and honest folks who followed routine maintenance schedule. Settled ~$5k...115k needing new tires, 100k service, a few windows wouldn't roll, and needed a heavy duty detailing. Otherwise, tight steering, responsive engine, etc.
Since taking ownership, I got the detail and new tires, painted the faded side panels, added a touch screen head unit and backup camera, replaced passenger rear window regulator, oil change to fully synth 5w-20 (sale at Costco), and brake pads. I also opened up the air cleaner to find some pretty nasty gunk on the air filter, so I replaced and cleaned up the MAF and throttle body. Additionally, I wasn't a fan of the hole under the grill so I painted a lower grille from a EB edition and plugged it in. Will need a CB for our road trips to Maine (logging trails can be sketchy). Otherwise, intention is to keep the mods clean, as it will be primarily a road trip, weekend work machine. Welcome mod suggestions are welcome.
Will be gradually knocking out the 100k+ maintenance schedule. Big things coming: 1) Spark plugs 2) fuel pump from hard starting. After priming the fuel pump by turning the key on/off a few times, it starts right up. Based on forums, seems to be due to the fuel pump. I also notice a little bit of squeaking when running cold, which i attribute to aging belts/pullies. Based on my homework, the spark plug and fuel pump jobs make me a little nervous due to the potential for major issues (stripping the head upon removing the plugs on the 2v?) and working with the fuel tank overall. Any reassurance are welcomed.
Anyway- just saying hello. Just soakin in info right now.
