How many miles on your ST?

[gavin T]

New here thought I'd add to this thread first.

256,585 miles on our '04 with no major work done to the engine or transmission components.

We've owned the car since new, changed the oil every 3-5k miles and the engine is smooth. This weekend I will be doing the first major repair as I'm replacing all the suspension components (e.g. upper and lower control arms, etc). It's been a Georgia car all its life so no rust issues, I expect the repair to go smoothly and restore the ride characteristics.

The only problem we had with it is we had a battery explode due to a faulty alternator. That was probably my own fault. It did screw up the looks of the paint in the engine bay.

Honestly, everyone talks about Toyotas being so reliable, this particular Ford would put them to shame.

do the first gen ST have the ford 2v engine? the 3v v8 in the 2nd gen and 6R60 trans are problematic.. its all this new electronic BS they put in cars just to charge more and make it harder for at home repairs.

 

[Evox]

do the first gen ST have the ford 2v engine? the 3v v8 in the 2nd gen and 6R60 trans are problematic.. its all this new electronic BS they put in cars just to charge more and make it harder for at home repairs.

I agree. I rather prefer the older more analog cars and trucks. Today, everyone is making disposable cars and trucks. There are more plastic components that get old and brittle. Designed to go together, but not be taken apart and repaired. New car and trucks infotainment screens and techno gizmos will make them look dated and ridiculous in 10 years. Drive them until their wheels fall off, and buy a new one.

I like simple things. Things that last. First Gen ST are a bargain right now.

 

[Todd Z]

Black is almost at 90K and blue is almost 125k...

 

[Evox]

Black is almost at 90K and blue is almost 125k...

Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles consistently and the 4.0 can last a long, long time. I'm over 250k miles on my '04 4x2 on the original chains, guides, and tensioners.

While I have no symptoms of the infamous guide and tensioner problems that a lot of Ford designed engines seem to suffer from (including L322 Range Rovers, Jaguars, and Austin Martins). I'm debating on pulling the engine and replacing both cassettes along with the rear main seal, valve cover gaskets, both upper and lower oil pan gaskets all at the same time.

 

[gavin T]

Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles consistently and the 4.0 can last a long, long time. I'm over 250k miles on my '04 4x2 on the original chains, guides, and tensioners.

While I have no symptoms of the infamous guide and tensioner problems that a lot of Ford designed engines seem to suffer from (including L322 Range Rovers, Jaguars, and Austin Martins). I'm debating on pulling the engine and replacing both cassettes along with the rear main seal, valve cover gaskets, both upper and lower oil pan gaskets all at the same time.

those 1st gen ST seem to be tanks... no electric BS and regular maintence keeps them kicking!

 

[Evox]

those 1st gen ST seem to be tanks... no electric BS and regular maintence keeps them kicking!

They're simple. That's their advantage. Plus at this point parts are cheap. My ST has been one of the cheapest and easiest vehicles to maintain that I've owned over the last 35 years of driving.

Follow the recommended service schedule and they last.

 

[Thedude7979]

The post about hitting 100k got me thinking. How many miles do other ST owners have, and any problems?



I'll roll to 162k tomorrow on my 01 4wd ST, and have been fortunate thus far. I've bought it 3 years ago exactly (Feb. 2004) with 50k.



Only problems/repairs/maintenance:



- Oil changes every 5k miles - (every 3k since hitting 150k).

- Air filter about every 50k

- 60k - New tires and front brake pads and rotors - Mich. XCX/APT tires

- 100k - New ball joints, serpentine, and flushed all fluid systems

- 145k - New front brake pads

- 150k - Thermostat finally went bad. Replaced myself.

- 160k - New tires - BFG AT KO R15-31-10.5

- Oil pressure guage is flatlined for the first few minutes every time it starts, but then springs up. Been doing that since 130k though.

- 4wd switch has been faulty since I bought it. had the 4wd motor replaced upder the extended warranty, but i found later the problem to be in the switch itself. If I rebuild it once a year, it will work after i turn it back and forth a few times. Never worked right in neutral, rolling, anything.



Mostly highway driving at first. A bit more stop and go this past year.



Still running strong though all things considered.



It's definately lost some of the pick-up. Don't believe RPM's will exceed 3500 even if I floored it, but it still gets me there every single day.



Due for some maintenance though if I want to get to 200k. I am still on the original spark plugs. Yeah the Michelins lasted a full 100k miles.



At this point, I want a new truck with more power, but I am torn, because my favorite feature far and beyond is the rear window that drops down. It's the most versile feature on the truck, and in my mind makes it more versatile than ANY other truck period. Too bad not one truck out there, including the 07, has it. Ikeep this may just keep this one and buy the V6 Fusion in few months.



Anyway, this post got away from me and is way too long. But back to the point, How many miles do you all have?

 

[Thedude7979]

215,136, GEN one 2000 12 Wheel Dr.

 

[Evox]

215,136, GEN one 2000 12 Wheel Dr.

Man, mine is only a 2 wheel drive. That extra 10 wheels must be a nightmare. ;>)

Seriously though, as far as southern trucks go, what's the point? My frame and body have no rust or corrosion. My suspension is new, I just overhauled everything. All my body mounts are new. If my engine or transmission goes, I can replace them on the cheap. There are no fancy electronics to go, everything is simple and cheap to replace. Heck, if my 4.0 with 250k miles on the clock decides to go tits up, I might just replace it with 5.0 and new transmission.

In the rust belt, I get it. States with winter salt on the roads eat up suspensions, frames, and bodies. But in the south, that's not an issue.

 

[Thedude7979]

2001 ....... 2 wheel dr.....needs suspension ohaul...

 

[Evox]

2001 ....... 2 wheel dr.....needs suspension ohaul...

Just did that.

Lower control arm bushings, ball joints, inner and outer tierods, upper control arm bushings and ball joints, new camber bolt, shocks, sway bar bushings, sway bar links front and back, and shocks. It took me most of a Saturday, stopped to watch a game, and most of Sunday. But I also replaced the body bushings B and C were completely gone. The truck drives and rides like new. Well worth it.