NO RESERVE...EDDIE BAUER...NEEDS WORK

1997 Ford Explorer Description

Hello and thank you for looking at my auction. My name is Joe and I sell vehicles differently than most dealers. Buying your next car or truck through one of my NO RESERVE auctions is the best way to take the games out of your next automotive purchase. I personally road test each vehicle before it is offered for sale so I can give you my first hand opinion of how it runs and drives. Please keep in mind that I am not a mechanic. Each vehicle is represented accurately and honestly to the best of my knowledge and ability. Please take the time to read this entire description as well as our Terms & Conditions carefully BEFORE asking questions or placing a bid as most answers can be found in at least one of those places. An administrative fee of $149 will be added to the final bid of each auction.

Up for a NO RESERVE auction is a 1997 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer. The Ford Explorer is a rugged and reliable SUV based off of the Ford Ranger. This Explorer will need a bit of TLC so please be sure to read the ENTIRE description. I would rate the exterior of this Explorer to be in AVERAGE CONDITION for its age and mileage. As you can see, this is a good looking truck for its age. The green finish shows a few faded spots and blemishes from age but looks good, overall. The paint shines nicely and looks as smooth as glass. Again, please expect a few flaws and imperfections on the exterior commensurate with age and mileage. The body lines are nice and straight. The hood, doors and tail gate all open and close easily. The outer door handle to the RF door appears to be detached inside the door (this is rather common) so the RF door does not open from the outside. You can probably fix this for free (or close to it) by simply removing the door card and re-attaching the rod. All of the glass and lenses are intact. The factory chrome wheels show well for their age and are wrapped in a matching set of rubber. The tread on the tires is average but there is visible cracking from age on the sidewalls so you may need to replace them for inspection, depending on your individual state's laws. What is most noteworthy about the body of this truck is the lack of rust. The door bottoms and rockers look amazing for an Explorer of this age.

I would also rate the interior of this Explorer Eddie Bauer to be in AVERAGE CONDITION for its age. The door cards show some wear, as you'd expect for a 20 year old truck. In like fashion, the carpets show a few marks but aren't excessively worn. The dash and headliner are clean. The leather seats also show some wear from age but are acceptable. The center arm rest is noticeably worn, which is kind ofa thing with these trucks. The cargo area is spacious and clean. A full set of factory floor mats are included. The power windows, locks, seats, mirrors and sunroof all work properly. The factory radio has been replaced with an aftermarket CD player. It's not the cleanest install I've ever seen, but everything appears to be working properly. The climate control system is fully automatic and appears to be working properly. The heater does a good job but the air conditioner will need charged or serviced for next season as it does not blow cold air. Again, please take your time to check out each of the photos carefully before you bid.

Mechanically, this Explorer appears to be in fair condition for its age...but will need some work. The 4.0L V6 starts easily and runs smoothly. I didn't notice any leaks and the engine does not smoke. There are a few noises in the front suspension and the truck pulls to the right so I'd guess it's due for ball joints. The tires are worn evenly so I don't suspect anything horrible or that it has been going on too terribly long. The truck steers and stops fine. The engine keeps perfect temperature and good oil pressure at all times. She makes good power and feels strong. There is a check engine light on. The codes are for a vehicle speed sensor and "bank 1 system too lean". The truck seems to run just fine, though. The automatic transmission engages smoothly and shifts normally. I've driven this Explorer for two solid days and it has gotten me around just fine. On two occasions, it acted a little wierd shifting into overdrive...but I've not checked fluid level / quality. It may also have something to do with the bad speed sensor. The speedometer (and odometer) do not work, probably also a product of the bad speed sensor. The last bad thing I can say about this truck is that the 4WD system does not seem to lock in. When you turn the knob, the light comes on in the dash but it appears to remain in 2WD. I've also not looked into this...it is what it is. I've had her out on the highway and she keeps up with traffic. The only bad thing is the aforementioned pull to the right and a light to moderate vibration in steering (again, probably from the aforementioned ball joint or whatever is going on up front). I would not describe this as a nice truck. It could be...if you're handy. If you just need something to beat around in, this truck would do just fine. If you are going to rack up a lot of miles or rely on this completely, I'd plan to put some money into it...or just look for a better one. If you want a cheap way into a decent SUV and you can pick at the little issues here and there, this truck is probably a good idea. If you need a vehicle to take you all over the place and you're not handy, this truck is probably not for you. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding.