I have a 4WD 2006 Ford Explorer with the 4L six cylinder that has 192,000 miles. Last year I had a rebuilt automatic transmission installed. Also in the past three years, I had all the ball joints replaced. Now there are a few codes/repairs that need to be addressed and I don't know whether it's worth making the repairs or just selling the car and getting something else? Any insight or advise is appreciated. The repairs needed are: a new blower motor for the fan, and possibly some suspension work on the front passenger wheel. (I hear a squeak when I slowly go up a rocky driveway that has a steep grade) Regarding the code I get intermittently, it is "P0401 - Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected". Also occasionally, when I drive through muddy terrain or slushy, snow covered roads, the ABS and traction lights come on when I'm not braking or slipping. (my mechanic has previously cleaned caked mud from the tone ring, so could this be a non-issue?) Apart from these issues the SUV has run good. Is it reasonable to make these repairs, or should I "punt" and get something else?
-Bill in PA
Those should be relatively easy fixes. Unless the ABS module itself was bad, I’d keep fixing & cleaning the minor things & continue driving the vehicle, since you already put in a new transmission in it.
https://www.engine-codes.com/p0401_ford.html
PS. How much are you getting for the truck as-is?
I'd hope to get $3,000-$4,000 if I sold it...
I would get rid of that car especially if you get more than 3 grand for it. This is why: https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2006/
One of the worst vehicles ever made according to their owners was the 05 Explorer, and the 06 redesign was not much help, according to carcomplaints.
Odds are you will have more issues overtime. The V6 is not that good anyways.
I appreciate both of the positions above... On one hand the SUV has served me well, generally runs good and I like it; and if I put +- $1,000 into it, I might get a few more years out of it... Or, what if I make these repairs and then other things come down the pike and I get dragged into a stream of minor issues that continue to drain my wallet... Frankly, I can buy both arguments, which is the crux of my dilemma/question. My main utility for the vehicle is to tow my boat with it... Since it seems there's not a lot of value in the vehicle, would there be any logic in keeping this running, and using it as a tow vehicle, and then buying a more dependable car with a bit better gas mileage to use as a daily driver? Or is this just locking in the downsides of both approaches above?
If it is fine now you might as well keep it until more problems or a major problem starts to come up and then you should get rid of it.
You do have some issues there, but honestly as was mentioned they aren't THAT serious and are pretty much DIY fixes.
That said, it isn't getting any younger and odds are more little things will go out with more miles. If you wanted to keep it as a tow vehicle I would say why not? They aren't worth a lot of money and it is always nice to have a spare set of wheels around. But if it is your daily driver, I think it MAY be time to at least consider retiring it to a weekender and getting something more reliable for the daily grind.
Not saying it has no life left in it. In fact I'm sure it does. The question is how much and for what amount of expense to you? It isn't the best year for the Explorer, but then again of you are only using it as a tow vehicle and not racking up miles it could still go a long time. Tough call. I would probably punt it myself, but I would not rule out keeping it as a secondary vehicle.
