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fixed my Escort

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Fixing the heat in my Escort kinda turned into a bigger project than I'd planned, and a LOT more expensive.

But I think I got all the issues licked in one go:



Brand new '09 XLT, 4.0, 4x4, 5-speed. Pretty much fully loaded- buckets, Sirius, rear slider.

Had four Nokian Nordman 2 snow tires installed before I picked it up, and lemme tell ya- I needed 'em coming home with it. Got to be top three for worst driving I've ever encountered...and I'm pretty used to snow and ice.

Sorry the pic's crappy...I'll try to get some better ones tomorrow.
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
That is loaded.

Did you use your slider yet?

Yeah...it's actually more loaded than I wanted, but since it's an '09 I was stuck with what's out there, and this one had everything I wanted, and nothing I can't stand.

No, haven't used the slider yet- it's 3* outside, and windy as heck. I did use (and enjoy) the heat, though- it was a cold, cold ride to trade in the Escort. (Scary, too, since I took the winter tires off before I traded it.)
 
495
19
You must be a non-smoker. I enjoy sliders in the winter because I can crack them about 2 inches. Ventilates the smoke in the truck without being too cold.

Very handy to have.
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
You must be a non-smoker. I enjoy sliders in the winter because I can crack them about 2 inches. Ventilates the smoke in the truck without being too cold.

Very handy to have.

You're right- I don't smoke. I have used the rear slider in the winter plenty- though- when the glass is fogging up real bad and the heat's blasting, it can be nice to get a little fresh air, too.
 
Congratulations, Ian!!! Damn, I'm proud for you!
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
So, what will happen to the other Ranger?

They're sitting side by side in the driveway.

The '97 will probably stay right where it is a while, though- it took me 6 hours to get it the 10 miles home last night...involving one not-quite-out-of-control-but definitely-not-in-control u-turn on an icy 10% grade, and later a Chevy and a chain...
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Ooooo Supercab.Sweet Ranger Ian.It's a shame you can't get a Flareside or a Longbed anymore.

Have a Flareside. Never want another. Bed's too durn small.

I'd like a longbed, though...but only if I could get it with the extended cab. So far as I know, Ford never built that combination, and for a daily driver, I need the cab space more than the bed space. (It's got a trailer hitch, anyway, and short or long bed, sooner or later I'll wind up needing more space than there is...)
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Post more pics when you get a chance.

I think it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow- I'll try to remember to bring the camera to work and snap a few on my lunch break. I'm rather looking forward to seeing the thing in daylight myself...
 

Fordzilla80

Ranger Lariat
6,372
262
Narnia
Have a Flareside. Never want another. Bed's too durn small.

I'd like a longbed, though...but only if I could get it with the extended cab. So far as I know, Ford never built that combination, and for a daily driver, I need the cab space more than the bed space. (It's got a trailer hitch, anyway, and short or long bed, sooner or later I'll wind up needing more space than there is...)

Ahhh,I thought you liked the Flareside.I only said that to be nice.I never really liked the Flareside.lol.I'm not too sure if I would like the longbed Supercab,because then it might just be better to gain an extra foot of bed space and go with an F150 or higher.But I sure do love the Single Cab Longbed.I love Rangers,but I hate what Ford is doing to them.They add packages,and then they drop them.The Ranger has always had a longbed option for as long as I can remember.I can understand if you could only get the longbed in XL form,but you can't even have that.I mean,what good is a truck if you can't haul long loads and enjoy your favorite in back of truck past times?
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Ahhh,I thought you liked the Flareside.I only said that to be nice.I never really liked the Flareside.lol.
Nope- I happened into that truck, and put up with the flareside. Matter of fact, the guy I got it from (original owner) didn't want the flareside, either...it was a leftover and he got a screaming deal on it.

Fordtruckman80 said:
I love Rangers,but I hate what Ford is doing to them.
One of the reasons I did this now is that I like the '09 Rangers better than the '10s. I wanted - and got - a carpeted floor (for sound insulation) and bucket seats. They don't build 'em like that anymore. Also, I didn't care about the four-door cab (or, at least, I didn't care as much as Ford's wants in price), and they dropped the two-door extended cab for '10. The savings on that alone are solidly into the four figures. Add in the rebates 'cause it's a "leftover", and I got into a new Ranger thousands cheaper than I could have if I waited until the next time the Escort broke.
 

Fordzilla80

Ranger Lariat
6,372
262
Narnia
Nope- I happened into that truck, and put up with the flareside. Matter of fact, the guy I got it from (original owner) didn't want the flareside, either...it was a leftover and he got a screaming deal on it.


One of the reasons I did this now is that I like the '09 Rangers better than the '10s. I wanted - and got - a carpeted floor (for sound insulation) and bucket seats. They don't build 'em like that anymore. Also, I didn't care about the four-door cab (or, at least, I didn't care as much as Ford's wants in price), and they dropped the two-door extended cab for '10. The savings on that alone are solidly into the four figures. Add in the rebates 'cause it's a "leftover", and I got into a new Ranger thousands cheaper than I could have if I waited until the next time the Escort broke.

Sounds like a good deal man.I got my limits set on 98-03's,that way I know I can get something that has all the options I want.

Does anybody know when Ford officially dropped the Longbed?I only noticed it a few months back when I tried to build a Ranger online and saw that it wasn't an option....
 

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