Preventive Maintenance for a 2001 with 156K miles

[Stan Faullin]

My 2001 Sport Trac is still going strong. Purchased new in Oct 2001. This board has been great in identifying the little quirks that have popped up. Like the broken spring on the drivers door handle, the vacuum leak, the broken thermostat housing, the rear door inner handle damage. I've had a bunch of minor things, but nothing major so far.



The AC is still original - I've never even had to add freon! The transmission is also doing well. Those are the two pieces that scare me, as they would be expensive to replace.



I am going to keep my Sport Trac at least another year or two. I am doing shocks (Monroe Sensa-Trac) and tires (BF Goodrich Long Trail TA Touring) this week. Also a new steering wheel ($95 from ebay!) and console cover (for the 2nd time).



I am also thinking about preventive steps like:



Drive Belt Replacement

Radiator Hose Replacement

Spark Plugs



All three of these are still original. Is it a good idea to replace them? Or just leave well enough along?



Any other things that I should be considering? I drive 250 miles from city to city at least once per month, and would hate to get stranded in between.

 

[Matthew Pickwell]

I may sound like a baby, but on the spark plugs, make sure you have plenty of adapters and swivels, or just pay someone.

 

[Ed Fenwick]

Hay Stan,

I would do the plugs, the longer that you wait, the harder it will be to get them out. I paid someone to do mine @ 100K. Others may say otherwise, but to me the drive belt will let you know when to change it. Squeeze the hoses, if they are soft, replace them.

Enjoy Ed

 

[Kevin Lang]

Definitely do the plugs. I changed mine at 100,000 miles, and the OEM (junk) cords were one with the plugs; I actually ripped the wires in 2 trying to pull them off. The plugs themselves were almost fused to the engine.



If you jack up the ST and take out the wheel well liners and tires, it'll be effortless. I did it with a junky but trusty 3/8" standard socket set (no swivels--too rich for my blood lol), a rubber lined spark plug socket, and--Important!--a non rubber lined spark plug socket that I had around for the lawnmower.



Maybe you should consider changing the rear differential fluid. I'm at 122,000 miles now and haven't done that deed yet, but it's supposed to be done @ 100k iirc.

 

[TrainTrac]

If you're replacing the belt, also go ahead and replace the idler pulley. It's a common fail item.



I'd also recommend the following, if they've never been done:



-Tranny fluid/filter

-Rear fluid

-Coolant flush/replacement

-PCV Elbow

-PCV Valve

-Plug Wires



The plugs are a bit of a pain, but I didn't think they were as bad as others have said. I was able to change them without removing the tires. Just removed the wheel well liners and turned the steering wheel as necessary. Took me all of maybe an hour to do all six plugs and wires.

 

[Coleman Brumley]

If you're changing the belt, replace both the tensioner and the idler pullies.



I bought my trac with 134K on it and did all of those things, plus new greasable ball joints, new rack and pinion, new ball joints, and replaced the intake manifold gaskets. I also cleaned the MAF and IAC and did the Seafoam treatment. Runs like a champ now.

 

[Gavin Allan]

Don't forget the transfer case fluid.

 

[Chris Rice]

I have an 02 that I bought with roughly 90K miles, now has just under 170K on it and still runs great, but this is a good list to see, and get some things done. I just had my arm rest done by flipyourlid seller on ebay and it came back sweet! I love it, was about $30 or so to send him my lid and he did it all, or like $15 and he sends you all the stuff to do it yourself...something like that. Anyway I would tell anyone to have him do it if it needs done.

I plan on keeping my trac forever. I'm about to where I need a full size truck, then the trac will become my play/hunting truck.