Services needed for a recently purchased used vehicle

[terx101]

Hi everyone,

I've just purchased a used 2004 Ford E-350 v10 van with a Quigley 4x4 system that I am planning to use to take my family for road trips and camping.

The vehicle has ~73K miles, and the service history is spotty, so I'd like to take it in and have all prudent services performed to ensure the vehicle is in optimal condition.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which services I should have performed? Is a Ford dealership the best place to have services done?

I drove the vehicle home 4 hours from the place of purchase and the only thing I noticed is that there is some wandering in the steering on the highway, but maybe it was just gusts of wind.

Any guidance would be extremely appreciated, can't wait to start driving this thing!!

 

[mp_tx]

I avoid stealerships at all cost. Ask friends for a good repair shop in your area. V10 Ford is nothing exotic.

 

[terx101]

Thanks for the response! I'm in the Seattle area if anyone knows any good places to get the work done out here. Haven't made many friends since we moved out here, and the ones we have aren't into cars or off road activities.

 

[texasboy893]

I would get all your ball joints checked (upper, lower, tie rod ends). V10's are heavy and eat front ends. Get your driveline fluids flushed. I'm not familiar with the Quigley 4x4 system but if it has vacuum actuated hubs you may want to have the hubs re sealed and vacuum lines checked/replaced. Serpentine belt replaced (it can be bad even if it's not cracked). Have the brakes checked obviously. The spark plugs are probably the originals so changing them and getting a fuel induction service would probably help fuel mileage a little. That's all I can think of right now.

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[terx101]

texasboy893,

Thanks for the great info, what would you consider as a part of driveline fluids? Is that just transmission, or more?

 

[legendaryandrew]

Also do differentials, and tcase

 

[legendaryandrew]

Call Olympic 4x4, they're a local specialist, I don't have personal experience, but I've not heard bad. I'm local to you....buuut I do my own work lol.

 

[rayra]

I'd suggest looking the 50k mi recommended service list and doing it all.
And I would baseline ALL fluids, change everything.
Consider changing cooling system hoses and s-belt too.
It's all preventative maintenance. Do as much as you can reasonably afford.

Also look up any recalls or service bulletins.

Most of this work can be done yourself and I suggest you do so, to learn your vehicle, it's true condition and how you can fix things yourself when it breaks off the road.

 

[rayra]

Rockauto.com is a great place to shop parts, you'll be stunned at the dealer markup

 

[Buliwyf]

So I'd service:
-steering component check, including play in the shaft.
-replace caliper with Raybestos loaded
-replace rotors with wagner
-stiffest shocks that can fit, Bilstein will be fine
-rear springs if needed
-Best tires you can afford, and avoid mud and off road tires if you can.
-drain, change tranmission filter, refill (do NOT machine flush)
-axle lube

 

[texasboy893]

Driveline fluids would be trans, t-case and both differentials.

Buliwyf why do you say not to machine flush?

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[rayra]

machine flush is a superficial process. I suction / siphon is stuck down your trans dipstick tube.
If you are going to be changing your trans fluid - especially as part of an inspection and setting a new baseline of maintenance - you are far better off dropping the pan, changing the filter and getting a good look at the paste or debris in the bottom of the pan. Which a machine flush does none of.

Same thing with the rest of changing your driveline fluids. It isn't just about 'changing fluids', it's about inspecting for smell, look, metal debris. All those things provide info on the state and past treatment of the vehicle. When I was shopping for my used Suburban I absolutely hated that it apparently had a fresh trans fluid change. All that diagnostic info gone, as well as problems potentially masked.

This isn't just 'monkey pull lever get banana'. It can be reduced to that, but some of us are talking about broader inspection and preventative maintenance goals. I speak to some of this in my 'Hey Vortec Guys' topic, if you want to read more on the ideas. It's mostly about preventatively servicing or fixing things at a time and place and cost or your own choosing, instead of breaking down on the side of the road or getting potentially gouged at a dealership or small mechanic.
But just changing your fluids will go a long way towards those goals, even if you don't do the rest.

 

[east_tn_81]

If you are going to drop the transmission pan might as well install a drain plug. I would also change the fuel filter. Clean the throttle body. Your intake probably runs into the fender pull it out and clean the debris out of the fender. Fill it up with gas and enjoy it.

 

[dtimms]

As a former V10 owner, I would check the spark plugs. Service says 100k but I would do them at 90k. You are getting close to that so if you really want a once over I would think about getting them replaced. I blew one out in my 2001 and it was a bummer. Not an expensive fix but sucked being stranded. I usually re-torqued mine every 20k after that. I think they didn't update the threads till they went 3v? Not trying to scare you at all. That V10 was an awesome motor for me. Sounds like you got an awesome rig!!

 

[texasboy893]

Rayra, I work at a shop that sells a machine flush several times a day. We recommend it every 30k and then usually dropping the pan and doing the filter every 100k miles. But the machine we use is hooked in line using the cooler lines and then we run a cleaner through it for 15 minutes and then actually flush it with new fluid and add a conditioner. I've actually seen it fix shifting issues. I'm not trying to sell anything, notice I didn't tell you the name of the shop. Just trying to explain why I recommend the power flush.

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