Getting Started

[Rusty Chevalier]

Had my '02 ST for a bit over a month now and it's time to do the "I don't think the previous owner kept up with maintenance" work that we all do when we pick up a used vehicle. The ST has 138,000 on it so my thoughts are plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter, pcv valve, seafoam, serpentine belt and a transition to synthetic oil as well as changing the other fluids. Of course the body mounts are bad and I just received a set of Prothanes to remidy that as well. This is going to be my everyday driver and is the vehicle I have been waiting for for years, so any thoughts on what these vehicles like and what has worked for you long time owners.

 

[swshawaii]

:welcome: and congrats. A transmission fluid and filter change should also be a priority.

Also check the projects section for throttle body, IAC, and other great maintenance tips. :supercool:

 

[Travis Stevens]

Be careful changing to synthetic oil if the trac has only ever used regular oil in the past... the regular oil could have made deposits in your head gaskets that could be removed with the synthetic oil and your headgasket will fail... happened to me

 

[Rusty Chevalier]

Thanks for the heads up on that Travis. Likewise, I will add the tranny to the list... it just slipped my mind.

 

[Norm Reeves]

Go here....good oil info...

 

[Shawn White]

Travis, did the head gaskets fail? or did the valve cover gaskets stark leaking? The head gaskets should only interact with engine oil on the flow path from the crankcase back to the crankcase.



When you get the trans drained and filled to replace the filter, see about getting a drain plug added to the trans pan. This why you can drain what's in the pan easier in the future. Most shops have told me not to flush beyond 100,000 miles (this is subject to opinion though), they just recommend to drain the pan more often to help keep the fluid clean. I plan on adding a trans drain plug to drain what's in the pan every 3rd time I change the engine oil, assuming a 5,000 mile oil service interval.



-Shawn

 

[Gavin Allan]

Don't forget to pull the transmission pan and change the filter too.

 

[Travis Stevens]

it removed deposits that were in the headgasket in several places and completely destroyed it

 

[Rusty Chevalier]

Here is my progress so far....



Added a factory tonneau and tow hooks from the local salvage

New serpentine belt

Replaced the fuel filter

Cleaned the MAF

Did the Sea Foam treatment

Plug & wires (HUGE pain in the arse; I wear lg/xl gloves)

Volant cool air intake



I'm going to tackle the pcv valve and the IAC project tomorrow which leaves the tranny for the weekend. I've been dreading and putting off the body mounts but those really need to be done soon.

 

[Robert Howell]

I thought the plugs were quite easy on the Gen 1 4.0, did you go through the wheel well or attempt it from up top?

First time I did one was up top... PITA. Since then I remove the front tires and find it quite easy.

 

[Johnny O]

Head gaskets can fail on any vehicle especially if the coolant wasn't changed enough. Some engines are more suceptible than others to blown gaskets. If yours is a 4x4 the transfer case lube is easy enough to change youself, I have a Member Project on it here. The only way to do the front axle is to take it to the Valvoline Quicky Lube and have them do it with their suction machine. There is no drain plug and you cannot get the diff cover off because of the crossmember.