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Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair

6385 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2013 at 7:47 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer

    

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Messages Page 113 of 639

#1118 of 6385 Sigh by jrc346

Dec 25, 2001 (9:36 pm)

As someone who has been Ford loyal for a number of years I am getting very frustrated over my 2000 Ford Explorer with 23,000 Miles. I have the 4.0l SOHC V6 engine and that has been a problem since 10,000 miles and now I think I may be having problems with the Transmition. I have had the Explorer in to the Dealer 3 times for the ratteling in the Engine. They have replaced the timing chain tensioners one time which didn't solve the problem. I took it in again and they thought that the timing cassette was bad but they weren't sure because they couldn't really pinpoint where the noise was comming from. They also said that they couldn't do anything to the engine because there was a TSB out on this noise and FORD was looking into a solution to the problem. They also assured me that the noise wouldn't cause any damage to the Engine. Now I have a new problem. I'll be going down any road or expressway and all of the sudden the car will jolt or sort of bump. It almost feels like I was hit from behind. Sometimes more aggressivly that others. The vehicle is a lease and the lease is up in July. However I don't want this ratteling, jolting Explorer anymore. On the plus side it has held together very well and I love the way it drives and handles in rough weather, but I no longer feel safe in it with this new jolting thing. I also have a 1996 Explorer and that has been a great and reliable vehicle. When I got the 2000 I was hoping for the same reliable transportation and instead was given a true FORD DUD.

#1119 of 6385 jrc346 by njdevilsrn

Dec 26, 2001 (9:09 am)

I feel your pain dude. The worst mistake I made concerning cars was to trade in my '97 XLT. The '99 that replaced it was a piece of trash. It was in the dealer for about 25 days of the 14 months I owned it. I don't know about the projected reliability of the new Explorers, but Ford's quality really seems to be hit or miss the past few years. My brother in law has a 2002 Expedition XLT (leather and all), and the thing has a creaking floorboard under the front seat passenger's feet. Maybe Ford needs to make some cutbacks in production and pay a little more attention to quality.

#1120 of 6385 jrc346 by ryster

Dec 26, 2001 (10:43 am)

Hi!
 
My Explorer will jolt/bump sometimes as well. I have a '00 Explorer XLS with 4.0L OHV engine and the 5-speed automatic. It has only done it a handful of times in the 13 months I have owned the truck so I haven't bothered the dealer about it. My truck has spent 20+ days at the dealer in the last 13 months, so I feel your pain. I keep threatening to trade mine but I can't find anything I like significantly better to replace it with.
 
If your lease is up in July, I would stick with it and just give it back to Ford at the end. Terminating a lease early can be rough unless there are some huge incentives to absorb the costs. Besides, winter time is here and the Explorer would really come in handy in any nasty weather

#1121 of 6385 2000 troubles by jrc346

Dec 26, 2001 (5:20 pm)

Whats funny about the Bumping feeling is that it only happends a handful of times like ryster said. It did however just start doing this thing yesturday and I'm not sure is it's going to do it more often or if it's going to get worse. Thats what I'm worried about. All I seem to think while driving it is that it will buck/bump/something terrible and have the transmition fail. Before my 2000 Explorer I had a 1998 Expedition that was an excellent vehicle. To this day I kick myself for trading that in. I will just hope that it goes away and I wont try to worry about it. I also hope that having Bill Ford in the drivers seat will healp FORD quality. Everyone have a Happy New Year!

#1122 of 6385 What is it about 1996/1997 Ford Explorers by dohc32v

Dec 26, 2001 (7:10 pm)

If I have read one post, I have read 20 extolling the virtues of these two model years. For some reason people seem to think these two years were the best years for Ford Explorers, I'm wondering why. I have to admit also, I haven't seen a lot of posts complaining about Explorer faults relative to these two model years. Anyone have an opinon about this?

#1123 of 6385 dohc32v by zman3

Dec 26, 2001 (7:35 pm)

I can't speak to the 96 and 97 models but I have a 95 with 73,000 miles on it. Other than routine maintenance, the only money I have had to put into it was for a new thermostat. I did have quite a few visits to the dealer under warranty, but fortunately I must have found all the bugs in time.
 
Seems like a lot of the gripes come from the ohc engine, which was not available in 95 when I bought mine.

#1124 of 6385 Jolt/Bumping Problem by gregb882

Dec 26, 2001 (8:31 pm)

I had a Pontiac 6000 years ago that would occasionally act just like some of you are describing - I mean it would jolt so hard that I thought the tranny fell out. Turned out to be a bad ignition wire. The dealer replaced the offending wire and it never happened again. Just a thought.

#1125 of 6385 smily1 & mazman1 by broph

Dec 27, 2001 (8:04 am)

Thanks for all the info. Now just have to decide what to use.

#1126 of 6385 dohc32v by jphdxl

Dec 27, 2001 (12:16 pm)

I've been lurking around this board for a few months now silently nodding each time I read about a problem I've had with mine. Then I read your post re: '96 / '97 being realtively good years. I can't speak for all 1997's, but my 1997 EB V8 with 50k miles in now on engine #3 (1st went due to broken piston, 2nd to misaligned drive shaft), radiator #2, and radio #3, just to name a few. If this is a good year, I'd hate to have one from a bad year!
Jason

#1127 of 6385 jphdxl by tidester

Dec 27, 2001 (2:59 pm)

Welcome to the Town Hall!
 
Sorry to hear about your misfortune.
 
tidester
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Messages Page 113 of 639

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