Looking for a cheap but reliable truck to use hauling kayaks and such, we came across a 2000 Ford Ranger with 159,000 on it for $3300 and looked at it last night. The V6 engine is quiet and smooth and overall it looks good. There are a couple issues, though. Fluids look good. Covers for the buttons the the steering wheel are missing, but interior stuff seems to all work other than AC. Are these likely expensive repairs and justify a different price or mean it's best to move on to a different vehicle?

• Air Conditioning doesn't blow any cold air and hasn't been used for at least two years. Worst case to replace entire AC system?
• Owner describes a very slow oil leak of just a few drips occasionally. Looking underneath, there's some black oil all around the oil pan, the items around it. Didn't see the source, but looks other than oil pan.
• Windshield has 18" crack across bottom near wipers
• Bushings around leaf springs look dried out and mostly gone

 

Welcome to the forum

2000 4.0l with be the last year for the 4.0l OHV, good reliable engine, replaced with the 4.0l SOHC engine in 2001 which had timing chain tensioner issues
If automatic then its a 5R55E, its an automatic, should last 250k but depends on how it was maintained
If manual its a M5OD-R1, very reliable, uses ATF

There are no real "red flags" on 2000 Rangers, but a USED VEHICLE is a used vehicle, lol

Google: Ford ranger replace cruise buttons
These button always cracked/broke, not hard to replace, watch the videos

AC can be expensive to repair but can also not be expensive so................If you get it, take it to an AC shop and they can Vacuum test it for leaks, if you have to buy compressor or condenser it can get expensive

Call glass shop to get local price in windshield