gersfeld
Member
- Joined
- March 13, 2015
- Messages
- 17
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Pennsylvania
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 97 Ford Aerostar XLT AWDE
We bought a 92 Rear wheel"mini" way back. I loved it but hated that it was too small for my tall husband and I and 3 kids, though it was better than my Sunbird!
After that we bought a 94 AWD extended gorgeous vehicle, loaded with everything! The only issues I had up until I totaled it was trans trouble.
We then bought a new left over 97 i n January of 1998. We had that until 6 months ago and after two accidents(not mine) it just got too difficult to find parts to fix it. We saved the ranger engine with about 80,000 original miles though and a solid rebuilt trans. We also saved the nice aluminum wheels and we STUPIDLY scrapped the rest which was in like new shape!!! I could scream and pull my hair out now but we needed the money. I even threw out the repair manual!
I was just going to settle for my husbands beater Honda but barely had room in the trunk for groceries and Pet food, not to mention my big dogs.
Then I saw an ad for another 97 Extended AWD in Kansas(I'm in Pa. ) It has some nice trim,was supposed to be rust free and had 132,000 miles on it(plus we had a good an engine and trans for a spare).
I paID 2944.00 PLUS SHIPPING AND WHEN WE GOT IT THE ROOF WAS RUSTING...SIGH. The DEALER LIED. what ELSE IS NEW.oops caps lock.
It runs like a dream although the fuse to the instrument panel was blown and now that we replaced it the check engine light went on(Here we go!)
Its nice and clean inside though it needs a new front headliner and the back one is dried and dusty too.Seats are nice,but 3rd row seat is missing it's seat belt socket. How it passed inspection I have no idea!
I had a heckuva time finding a new rear wiper switch that worked. I found ONE in a junk yard with only 4 of them.(Aerostars). If the other two junk yards in our area one has none and the other has two, nearly stripped clean.
I must be insane for getting another one!!! When we bought the 97 new we had trouble from the get go...you name it, it happened.Every summer I drove it with the AC running it stalled intermittently, usually at an intersection. Even with a new engine it retained that problem. Ford NEVER did figure out why that happened.
After 1,500 miles it needed a new trans, and in the course of looking for the stalling problem they found it had been running on 5 cylinders. One rod was bent. Then after about 70,000 miles the trans needed a rebuild, so the place that did it has a solid rep and we never had trouble after that.
after it reached approximately 150,000 miles we had some AC/Heat issues. Replaced the radiator, recharged the Compressor, replaced BOTH heater cores, but ever after the front heat refused to run and the rear AC made the heat come out on the floor . Oh AND, the stalling problem began intermittently, even when not using the AC. Oddly it always seemed to happen most often when turning left and going uphill a,d toward the end it didn't even wait till I stopped at an intersection. it stalled a few times while going 55! front suspension was crap. Tie rod ends replaced a few times, and also shortly before we said good buy it needed an entire front axle.
What finally did her in was the brakes. We could not figure out why we could not find the problem. It shuddered horribly and refused to stop quickly. We replaced the ABS module and I forget what other things we tried. We finally gave up after 14 years and off to the crusher she went.
The new one is nice,but I don't like the bed folding feature of the 3rd row seat. I liked the front fold best....so were looking for a mocha seat that folds forward. We also need some interior trim around the front side windows and around the window switches. There's no rust anywhere but the roof and we spent the last bit we had on the shipping so, my husband IS GOIng TO HAVE TO USE A SPAY CAN AND SAND AND REPAIR THE RuST HIMSELF....damn caps Lock AGAIN!
So I am crazy. Maybe I should sell?! Sunday I am going to drive nearly 100 miles to buy some stuff from a guy parting his out, but after THAT maybe I should sell!
I'll post pics too.
After that we bought a 94 AWD extended gorgeous vehicle, loaded with everything! The only issues I had up until I totaled it was trans trouble.
We then bought a new left over 97 i n January of 1998. We had that until 6 months ago and after two accidents(not mine) it just got too difficult to find parts to fix it. We saved the ranger engine with about 80,000 original miles though and a solid rebuilt trans. We also saved the nice aluminum wheels and we STUPIDLY scrapped the rest which was in like new shape!!! I could scream and pull my hair out now but we needed the money. I even threw out the repair manual!
I was just going to settle for my husbands beater Honda but barely had room in the trunk for groceries and Pet food, not to mention my big dogs.
Then I saw an ad for another 97 Extended AWD in Kansas(I'm in Pa. ) It has some nice trim,was supposed to be rust free and had 132,000 miles on it(plus we had a good an engine and trans for a spare).
I paID 2944.00 PLUS SHIPPING AND WHEN WE GOT IT THE ROOF WAS RUSTING...SIGH. The DEALER LIED. what ELSE IS NEW.oops caps lock.
It runs like a dream although the fuse to the instrument panel was blown and now that we replaced it the check engine light went on(Here we go!)
Its nice and clean inside though it needs a new front headliner and the back one is dried and dusty too.Seats are nice,but 3rd row seat is missing it's seat belt socket. How it passed inspection I have no idea!
I had a heckuva time finding a new rear wiper switch that worked. I found ONE in a junk yard with only 4 of them.(Aerostars). If the other two junk yards in our area one has none and the other has two, nearly stripped clean.
I must be insane for getting another one!!! When we bought the 97 new we had trouble from the get go...you name it, it happened.Every summer I drove it with the AC running it stalled intermittently, usually at an intersection. Even with a new engine it retained that problem. Ford NEVER did figure out why that happened.
After 1,500 miles it needed a new trans, and in the course of looking for the stalling problem they found it had been running on 5 cylinders. One rod was bent. Then after about 70,000 miles the trans needed a rebuild, so the place that did it has a solid rep and we never had trouble after that.
after it reached approximately 150,000 miles we had some AC/Heat issues. Replaced the radiator, recharged the Compressor, replaced BOTH heater cores, but ever after the front heat refused to run and the rear AC made the heat come out on the floor . Oh AND, the stalling problem began intermittently, even when not using the AC. Oddly it always seemed to happen most often when turning left and going uphill a,d toward the end it didn't even wait till I stopped at an intersection. it stalled a few times while going 55! front suspension was crap. Tie rod ends replaced a few times, and also shortly before we said good buy it needed an entire front axle.
What finally did her in was the brakes. We could not figure out why we could not find the problem. It shuddered horribly and refused to stop quickly. We replaced the ABS module and I forget what other things we tried. We finally gave up after 14 years and off to the crusher she went.
The new one is nice,but I don't like the bed folding feature of the 3rd row seat. I liked the front fold best....so were looking for a mocha seat that folds forward. We also need some interior trim around the front side windows and around the window switches. There's no rust anywhere but the roof and we spent the last bit we had on the shipping so, my husband IS GOIng TO HAVE TO USE A SPAY CAN AND SAND AND REPAIR THE RuST HIMSELF....damn caps Lock AGAIN!
So I am crazy. Maybe I should sell?! Sunday I am going to drive nearly 100 miles to buy some stuff from a guy parting his out, but after THAT maybe I should sell!
I'll post pics too.