2002 Seeking Pre-Delivery Advice

[NCWanderer]

We are buying a 2002 Tbird convertible with 7,500 miles on it. It has new tires, but everything else is original and in like new condition. We take delivery on July 14. I'd like to know what you all think I should do right away to ensure the running of the car and the safety of occupants.
Here is my plan: Flush the brake lines and replace fluid, flush coolant and replace with new coolant (coolant suggestions appreciated), change oil, filter and air cleaner and new wiper blades. Should I have the tranny fluid/filter changed????? Anything else that should get done?????
Thanks

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[biddle]

I'd like to know what you all think I should do right away to ensure the running of the car and the safety of occupants.

Have a reputable mechanic put it on a rack and check it out prior to purchase, especially the suspension, gaskets, COPS. I assume it is not cheap since these sell for ~25k at auction with under 10k miles. Electronics, FEM etc all need tested as well as the fuel pump! Don't drop 25 grand on a car without having it inspected and a good drive and test of the convertible top.

It has new tires, but everything else is original and in like new condition.

It's not new. It could have rolled off the production line almost 24 years ago!

We take delivery on July 14.

Have you seen and drove the car or is this an online purchase? I would not buy a car this old without driving it and having it looked over really good. Low miles does not always mean low problems.

 

[NCWanderer]

The car was kept in an air conditioned and heated garage since it was new. It only saw sunshine when it was being driven. I test drove the car for 50 miles, a combination of highway and country roads. Seemed to track straight, didn't pull left or right when applying the brakes, no matter how hard I applied them. I will be bringing it in for an alignment check w/i a month. Acceleration from dead stop was about what I expected....no real hesitation or stumbling. Certainly no rocket, but it was smooth. My comment that other than tires the rest was OEM and like new meant that the glass was all perfect, body and paint was perfect, top cloth was perfect, all interior leather and plastic was also perfect. I do understand that it is 23 years old so it is not "new". That's why I was asking about important maintenance items that should get done ASAP just because of age. I will plead ignorance to the acronyms COPS & FEM..... No idea what you are referring to. Perhaps I know those under another name....

MY OBD scanner revealed no codes, my alternator and volt meters should no abnormalities, all electronics worked, no odd clicking of relays or switches. Impossible to test every circuit of the car, so some things need to go on faith. The power windows go up and down correctly, so I'm not going to open the door panels and examine the contacts..... Carfax and other sources confirmed the mileage was true and that there were no accidents, just routine maintenance and one recall that was handled at around 800 miles. I looked at the front and rear suspension as well as I could. No apparent dry rot of rubber, no oil leaks, no squeaks when the car was moved up and down. I MAY have a mechanic put it up on a lift..... The car is located 100 miles from me and my trusted local mechanic does not want to go examine the car. So, I may take it to the Ford dealer near the seller and let them do a once over before I hand over the money.

 

[Dude1967]

Sounds like you found a gem. You should not have any problems, but if you do there are alot of members here and a ton of info to be found here.

 

[biddle]

The car was kept in an air conditioned and heated garage since it was new. It only saw sunshine when it was being driven

I'm inside in the air conditioning for decades, but it does not appear to keep me from aging. Lol

I will plead ignorance to the acronyms COPS & FEM.....

Click on the word FEM or COPS.

Carfax and other sources confirmed the mileage was true and that there were no accidents

Carfax has been exposed on Dateline NBC more than once. Never rely on a Carfax to rule out accidents. Again click the word CarFax to watch the segment

,The car is located 100 miles from me and my trusted local mechanic does not want to go examine the car.

You can find a shop there locally by using Google maps and reading Google reviews.

 

[edward301]

I would plan on replacing the suspension components, the fuel pump, and possibly the AC compressor. I keep my three T Birds in
an air conditioned and heated garage, and two of them have 13k miles. These items age whether you use them or not.

If the hydraulic cooling fan reservoir was always kept full of fluid and not leaking around the fan you are probably fine.

 

[biddle]

Case in point-

Post in thread 'E Code - do I need a new transmission?'

Jul 15, 2025

I just bought an 02 with only 12k miles. It sat for nearly 18 years. I had to replace the fuel pump, power steering hose and repaired the FEM. I now have an “e” code on the gear indicator and limp mode after driving it for 25-30 miles. You suggest I try the throttle position sensor first?

• 7eric

 

[Treebeard]

We are buying a 2002 Tbird convertible with 7,500 miles on it. It has new tires, but everything else is original and in like new condition. We take delivery on July 14. I'd like to know what you all think I should do right away to ensure the running of the car and the safety of occupants.
Here is my plan: Flush the brake lines and replace fluid, flush coolant and replace with new coolant (coolant suggestions appreciated), change oil, filter and air cleaner and new wiper blades. Should I have the tranny fluid/filter changed????? Anything else that should get done?????
Thanks

Check the date code of the spare tire. Check rear defroster works on cloth top and hard top - I used a thermal camera adapter I have for smartphones.

 

[7eric]

I just purchased an 02 with 12K miles at an estate auction. The heirs installed a new fuel pump but I had to replace the filler tube. It leaked the first time I added fuel. I had towed to my mechanic and we ended up getting the FEM repaired. It has what is believed to be a throttle sensor problem right now as well. That and tires would be all that I expect it will need. Car even came with OEM car cover.

 

[T-BirdTom]

When I picked up my 2005 (34K Miles) last October, I drove it 450 miles home with no issues. Once home I then made a list of all the things I'd have done over the car's 20 years if I'd owned it all that time. The list included things like putting silicone on all and any rubber gaskets/parts I could access. Change out the "black dust" brake pads for newer ceramic pads. Flush out the ancient brake fluid (looked a bit like coffee without cream!) and replace. Checked antifreeze. Checked and added a bit of fluid to the Power Steering reservoir and added 1/2 oz of moly additive. Engine oil was fresh when I bought the car, so I only added a bottle of LiquiMoly to the oil to help protect the variable cam adjusters on cold starts.
I checked the struts on all four corners and none seem to be leaking and the car rides better than the rest of my 'fleet.' The rubber boots on the suspension joints were dried out and I made up some dust covers out of an old inner tube and some zip ties.
I checked level and added about 4oz of moly for transmissions. Added 3Oz of moly to the rear axle. It calculated to 4 oz, but only 3 would fit. I noted the "fill plug" has a ceramic magnet crimped into it. I cleaned the magnet and reinstalled with Teflon tape.
I adjusted and aimed the headlights. Both were aimed too high, so I'm sure oncoming drivers will thank me.
I silicone sprayed the ignition switch, door and trunk locks, gear selector, turn indicator stalk, door, hood and trunk hinges and the convertible latching mechanism along with its hinges. Also, the hood release mechanism and its interior latch.
I water proofed the convertible top. It's a silicone based water-proofing I picked up at a boat dealership. It's also nice to use on a rag to go over plastic interior pieces, gauge clusters, radio and control to both clean them and keep dust off. (Note: that same stuff on a rag helps to keep dust off my computer monitors!) "Northwoods" is the product name and its made in Sheboygan, WI.
Lastly, I ordered touchup paint from automotivetouchup.com to help with the few paint chips the car obtained in its first 34k miles. I've used their sprays and brush type touchups many times in the past and they always get the color right. I ordered their "bronze" for the 2005 in brush format and it comes as a bottle of base coat and one of clear coat.

I hope this checklist helps! Best wishes to you with your new RIDE!!
Tom