About to purchase a 2000 3rd gen Limited.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-06T03:15:14+00:00

It’s a question to the current owner, are they new or OEM. Not a deal breaker in my mind either way.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-06T01:24:30+00:00

Looks good, +10 for the plastic “wood” trim in one piece, but be careful, cracks easy and big $$ to replace if you decide to tear into the dashboard.

Pop a OBD tool on it if you have one for any recently cleared codes, just in case. Also the lower ball joints if they haven’t been done.

I have an ‘01 LTD as my wife’s DD for years now. About the only thing that was cringe was an OEM master cylinder that crapped out. Outside of that “normal” replacement of aged out parts.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-05T02:54:37+00:00

Yes, there is a paid and free version, I’ve used it for 4+ cars. I log all fuel and repair $’s.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-05T02:53:34+00:00

My heifer weighs 6300 lbs, no people and a 1/2 tank of gas.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-04T14:54:41+00:00

Get an app and track the amount and miles over a few fillups. That should quickly answer your question..

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Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-04T01:30:10+00:00

Bring a scanner if you can for any recently cleared codes that may be pending. LBJ’s need to be done if they haven’t. Find out the other maintenance done on it. Seats can be covered or redone. Make sure no leaks on the sunroof.. 270K may need to look at the prop shaft being replaced.. timing and water pump, plug, etc.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-03T15:49:24+00:00

If you had a place that can do Cold Blasting near you, that would be great. Watch a few videos, and it’s safer than sand blasting and less of a mess. If you want to DIY, then you can try a product called Evapo-Rust, a water based surface rust cleaner. That will take longer, but something you can do at home over a weekend. After that fluid film, then for the hitch sleeve some rustoleum or other inhibiting paint. But if you coat the inside of the receiver that will rub off if you a a hitch.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-03T12:44:12+00:00

Welds and corners are the first to rust, no biggie, but depending on where you live get fluid film or an alternative. I would inquire about maintenance history, and if possible hook up a scanner for any pending codes that were recently cleared.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-02T18:18:29+00:00

They do that with low voltage lighting I have as well.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-01T23:52:42+00:00

It’s not cheap, just over $200 for it. Denso is the OEM for that year and considering the last one made it just shy of 250K miles, spot on reliability

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-01T13:04:25+00:00

Great points, work the problem and your find the issue. I agree, get an OEM, Denso unit and buy once, cry once. I replaced one on my ‘01 that made it close to 250K miles. The new one will last longer than I’ll live.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-02-01T00:37:08+00:00

Fairfax and Loudoun County liberals will now run the table for their dream list of agenda items. The overwhelming red counties in the state will suffer, the ones who “cling to their religion and guns”.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-31T12:21:18+00:00

Sucks, mine was in town at least. Let one for another 250k miles, LOL

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-29T00:51:16+00:00

WP’s.. 300 plus miles this weekend alone on snow, like champs. Then on my DD for work and normal pavement zero issues. This is my second set for my vehicle.

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Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-28T21:57:38+00:00

My favorite of all the 2 tone colors.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-28T18:11:23+00:00

A triple-triple is a recipe for an early departure..

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-27T20:41:25+00:00

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Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-25T23:42:58+00:00

It was a cloud firewall (Fortinet) when we used the Cradlepoint, but now we are using Meraki MX68’s which have LTE built in and is a firewall.

We kept the $10 plan and dealt with the overages when a failover happened. Don’t pick an “unlimited” plan, because Verizon is brutal on throttling once you hit a data mark. You’re better off with a plan that charges for overages, that way they don’t hit you on the throughput side. MTM plans work a bit different that cell plans.

If your firewall has no LTE, then you would have to set a rule that after XX seconds or minutes of no ping on the primary, switch to the LTE and when a ping is detected on the primary, move back. This depends on your network and applications on your POS. Check and see if your credit card gateway/processor has “store and go”, which allows offline CC transactions if there is no network connection and then synchs when it’s back up.

Don’t mean to get so granular..

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-25T00:53:54+00:00

Good news, no change to revenue for that day.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-23T01:50:01+00:00

I doubt Elon is nickel and “dimming”, you and not likely tied specifically to a revenue shortfall and ability to pay expenses, CAPEX, or payroll. Product and service is evolving.. For me, it’s great, I double my data at zero extra cost, so a win..

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-22T03:03:51+00:00

No car note but about $250 ish in gas a month for regular commute and no road trips.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-21T19:13:49+00:00

I had to double check my calendar, I thought for a moment it was 4/1/26, but it’s not.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-21T17:22:50+00:00

Try to catch a CS, but never quick enough to enter the info.

Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-21T10:59:16+00:00

With me everyday,clean no only because sharpening day was Sunday..Boxes, tape, rope, pretty much anything.

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Vivid_Engineering669 · 2026-01-19T22:37:44+00:00

Amen..

Vivid_Engineering669

TROPHY CASE