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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2006 and newer

841 messages,  Last post on Nov 24, 2009 at 10:05 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Explorer, SUV


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#733 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [nvbanker] by baggs32
Jul 24, 2007 (5:02 am)
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Replying to: nvbanker (Jul 23, 2007 9:17 pm)

Really, the only difference between the AWD system in the Mountaineer, and the 4WD system in the Explorer, is the lack of a low range on the Mountaineer.
 
There's a low, high, and auto setting in the Explorer just to make that clear. IIRC the AWD system in the Mountaineer is, like you said, the auto setting in the Explorer. We've had no problem in the snow, mud, loose gravel, etc with the auto setting but I do like the high setting on ice. It's not necessary for the ice, but nice to have. I plan to try the low setting when we drive on the beach this summer but haven't had any use for it yet. Therefore I'd say the AWD is probably all you'll ever need.
#734 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [nbx] by panzer
Jul 24, 2007 (2:19 pm)
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Replying to: nbx (Jul 23, 2007 7:19 pm)

The AWD with high range only is fine for most people. Low range is not at all useful for any paved road, including snowy ones. The car doesnt have enough ground clearance to go where low range would be useful. When it's snowy and icy on the road, I usually lock it in 4WD to avoid the clunk when the front axle decides to hook up. Otherwise it stays in AWD and is forgotten. The 2006-7 Explorer-Mountaineer works well in the snow, but that's as much a function of the tires as the car. Mine came with Michelin Cross Terrains, which have proven a good all-season compromise in other SUV's I've owned. I live in Colorado. We see a little snow from time to time. The V6 will also serve most people just fine, but the gas mileage is only 1 or maybe 2 mpg better. If you really are planning on towing, get the V8, in an Explorer if you have to. It would be better to have a V8 Explorer than a V6 Mountaineer, dollars to dollars. Not only that, but the V8 sounds and feels like a real motor, the V6 sounds like a V6. BTW, the V8 gets a 3.55 rear end and that's all it needs. Mash the accelerator on an on-ramp and you'll see what I mean. Sure wish I could turn off the stability control. Makes life miserable in the sand. The Explorer-Mountaineer is really a poor excuse for a Jeep, but works well on the road and is quiet and comfortable. Some Jeeps are poor excuses for Jeeps though.
#735 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [panzer] by nvbanker
Jul 24, 2007 (6:13 pm)
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Replying to: panzer (Jul 24, 2007 2:19 pm)

I agree with everything you said, Panzer. You explained it better and in more detail than I bothered to do. On the Jeep comment, you're right, the Explorer isn't made for rock crawling at all. Anything tougher than gravel or a graded road is inappropriate for it. Jeeps do much better at this - but will give you spine compression on the paved road. Depends on what your needs, or wants are.
#736 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [nbx] by nbx
Jul 24, 2007 (8:04 pm)
Reply

Replying to: nbx (Jul 23, 2007 7:19 pm)

Can you reply to your own post? Ha!
 
Thanks for the insight.
 
Just today Ford agreed to spring for the third rearend in our 2003 Explorer XLT, 4wd 4.6L, 3.73 with TT package, safety canopy. Hate to part with such nice vehicle due to all around performance. Modest to poor gas mileage is main negative. Like the 2007 Mountaineer AWD/Explorer 4wd due to new seats, brakes, rear handling, better NVH control. But, may just wear out the 4.6L in the 03 Explorer.
 
By the way traded 97 Ford T/B 4.6L on new red 2007 Camry LE V-6 for daughter who will be teaching at UGA in Athens next fall. Tried out Camry SE in V-6 that was great but bought the LE model. The T/B had 190,000 on 4.6L--not using hardly any oil and would have run on many more thousands. Belt and plugs and plug wires and factory recall on intake only replacement. Even alternator still the original. A/C still cold on vehicle built in August 1996. OEM Ford battery lasted 9 yrs. Tranny getting weak but still the original. Old T/B with Sport option, factory spoiler, rear l/s axle, 225/60/16 tires still fun to drive.
 
New V-6 in Camry with new six speed auto sweet,fast. Excellent EPA numbers for V-6 with 268 hp.
 
..again thanks for the replies..
#737 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [nbx] by pnewby
Jul 25, 2007 (7:05 am)
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Replying to: nbx (Jul 24, 2007 8:04 pm)

I'll agree with the rock crawling comment, except that the biggest limiting factor for any brand is the wheel base. All things being equal, the wheel base is the biggest difference. Shorter wheel base = better rock crawling ability. As for the 4WD low, I did use it in snow once, and it will pull you through drifts that 4WD high will not, but that is not something most of us see very often. In the snow, if you have enough traction, ground clearance is not quite as critical. Kinda the snow plow syndrome I guess.
#738 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [panzer] by baggs32
Jul 25, 2007 (9:54 am)
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Replying to: panzer (Jul 24, 2007 2:19 pm)

Sure wish I could turn off the stability control. Makes life miserable in the sand.
 
You can but you have to stay below 25 mph.
 
From the manual of my '06 V6 XLT.
 
AdvanceTrac with RSC button and icon functionality
The AdvanceTrac with RSC system automatically turns on each time
the engine is started, even if it was turned off when the engine was last
shut down. The “sliding car” icon which is located with the warning
lights in the instrument cluster will illuminate during bulb check at initial
start-up and then go off. This tells you that the system is normal and
active. All functions of the AdvanceTrac with RSC (RSC, ESC, Engine
Traction Control, and Brake Traction Control) will be activated at start
up. When the system is left active, the “sliding car” icon will flash only
when any of the components of the system are affecting the vehicles
performance, otherwise the light will remain off. Consequently, the
“sliding car” icon will not be illuminated during most of your normal
driving.
The AdvanceTrac with RSC button,
located on the center stack of the
instrument panel, allows the driver
to control certain features of the
AdvanceTrac with RSC system
below 25 mph (40 km/h). If the
vehicle is below 25 mph (40 km/h), momentarily pressing the
AdvanceTrac with RSC button will disable RSC, ESC and Engine
Traction Control and steadily illuminate the “sliding car” icon. Pressing
and holding the AdvanceTrac with RSC button for more than five
seconds will further disable the brake portion of the Traction Control
feature and the “sliding car” icon will flash momentarily and then
illuminate steady.
If the vehicle is above 25 mph (40 km/h), momentarily pressing the
AdvanceTrac with RSC button will steadily illuminate the “sliding car”
icon, however, the AdvanceTrac with RSC system will remain enabled
until the vehicle speed drops below 25 mph. If the vehicle speed
decreases below 25 mph (40 km/h), the system will become deactivated,
but if the vehicle speed subsequently increases to above 25 mph (40
km/h), the system will again become active. In general, the system will
be active at all times the vehicle speed is above 25 mph (40 km/h).
In R (Reverse), ABS and the Traction Control feature will continue to
function, however ESC and RSC are disabled.
All these conditions are normal during AdvanceTrac with RSC
operation. Refer to the following table.
#739 of 841
Mountaineer AWD V8 in sand by sacmtnr
Jul 26, 2007 (8:32 am)
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I will be going to Florida in a few weeks and plan on doing a fair amount of driving on the beach there. Sand varies from packed to very soft. I gather from the information above that I should probably disable the traction control system to achieve better performance. Does anyone have any further advise to help make sure my beach driving is enjoyable and hopefully tow free? I do have tow straps, a platform for the jack, and a shovel just in case but would rather they never came out of the back of the truck. Thanks
#740 of 841
Re: Mountaineer AWD V8 in sand [sacmtnr] by steve_ HOST
Jul 26, 2007 (8:55 am)
Reply

Replying to: sacmtnr (Jul 26, 2007 8:32 am)

Air down - seems like 15 to 20 psi is the usual recommended tire pressure, although it depends. People were getting stuck in normally hard Daytona Beach a couple of weeks ago. (link)
 
I'd ask about local conditions once I got there, and either take a compressor or figure out where the closest service station with air is so you can air back up when you get back on the tarmac.
#742 of 841
Re: 2007 Mountaineer AWD [baggs32] by panzer
Jul 26, 2007 (12:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 25, 2007 9:54 am)

Nice to know you can do it, kinda. 25MPH comes up pretty quick when I drive on sand. Speed is your friend.

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