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SUVs Ford Explorer Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair
6267 messages, Last post on Mar 13, 2010 at 10:04 PM
You are in the Ford Explorer Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
| I also have a 1997 "EXPLODER" XLT and have had the same deisel sound. I took it to the dealer and they could not find the problem at first. They then told me it was the timing belt cassette, which they replaced, and it did not fix the problem. I took it back and they said it was the timing belt tensioners, which they replaced and it still makes the noise on occasion. I have never owned an american made car so I purchased the extended warranty(best thing I ever purchased). This vehichle has been in the shop at least 15 times and I am taking it back today for the brakes, which were supposed to be fixed a few weeks ago. This vehichle is a piece of junk not to mention I have taken it to three dealerships and the service has been terrible. They try to make it sound like its my fault they have a crappy product. This will be my last FORD and probably my last american made car. I have a 1993 Toyota Camry, 177,500 miles, no problems. | |
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I own a 97 explorer xlt. Dealer has replaced the cassette, etc. but still have the noise. My question for this group is, " has anyone experienced engine damage yet as a result of this or is it merely an annoying noise?" If more serious problems have resulted, at how many miles has that happened? At 45K, no significant problem other that the ANNOYING RATTLE/PINGING noise. Anyone with similar experience? Have gone to three different dealer and all scratch their heads and do nothing. |
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The diesel sound started on my vehicle around 45,000 miles. I don't know of any further damage it may have caused, the service departments at Ford would not tell you if it had. This does not sound like an isolated incident. Ford has to know they have a serious problem but they won't address it. Hopefully I can get rid of the vehicle before any other damage occurs. I have written a letter to the corporate office about these service issues and have not received any reply. "Live and Learn, I Have Learned, Never Buy Another Ford" |
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| You know what - I was considering buying an Explorer but after reading these posts - no way. I don't think I have read such negativity on any vehicle in the Edmunds forum. Unbelievable engine and drivetrain problems for vehicles that are 2-3 yrs old. Considering how many of these vehicles Ford has made they should be the standard for all other SUV's - they obviously are not. Now if Nissan or Toyota would take the Xterra concept and pricing and expand it to the size of an Explorer - I would buy today! .Thanx to all who input their problems - it does make a difference - hope someone at Ford reads this - see ya! | |
| I have a 2000 Explorer and the engine developed the diesel sound at 3000! miles. I took it back to the dealer and they said they couldn't find the reason why it's doing it, but they are throwing a new engine in it. Hopefully, I'll have more luck with the new engine. I also told the dealer that the doors were not painted on the bottom and I found out that this was "normal" at Explorers. Well, if that is normal at Ford then it tells me something about Ford. The bottom line is: This is my last Ford. | |
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I had the same problem. It would not turn over after driving in traffic and trying to restart within an hour or so. I took it to the dealer the first time and he said it was loose cables! Obviously it wasn't that. Next time it happened we took it in (after being stranded miles from home) and the dealer actually replicated the problem. I told him it was probably the fuel pump (after reading of the problem here, thanks) and he ignored me. They replaced the EEC valve after replicating the problem, and obviously that was not it, because it happened again and left us stranded even farther from our house. This is all on a 1996 XLT with only 36,000 miles. Other problems: Broken passenger door latch Broken Odometer Broken hood handle Broken CD player Broken heat sensor ($$$) They obviously have no clue on this problem and can't even fix it after seeing the problem for themselves. Not like they tried that hard or even cared about customer service. Needless to say, this is the last Ford I will ever buy. |
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I have a 97 AWD XLT with 34k miles. I noticed that the driver front tire is wearing on the outsides. I have had the vehicle back to the dealer two time with no solution to my problem. The dealer blames the wear on low tire pressure. The tires are kept at 32psi. I do not want to purchase new tires until problem is corrected. Any suggestion? |
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Can anyone help me with a suggestion on what might be causing a gas mileage problem. I have a '94 Explorer with 70000 miles. It has always gotten excellent gas mileage (14-16 town, and 20-23 hwy), but recently changed drastically. We are now getting 10 to 13 on the highway. We have been to several mechanics, including the best Ford authorized guy in town, and have done all suggested repairs. These included the Catalytic Converter and many other things -- all to no avail. I've spent $1,500 trying to fix this, with no luck. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and might have a suggestion.
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| I have posted all kinds of annoyances with my '99 XLT and it continues. I had the dieseling noise also but the dealership was successful in fixing it for now anyway. They replaced the cam tensioners, lousy $12 parts. In an effort to fix various squeals and squeaks they have replaced hub seals 3 times, rear shocks, ground the rotors twice, replaced brake pads, taken apart doors and the like. Seems they fix one and it moves somewhere else. Ford is well aware of all these problems but they aren't going to do anything but try and patch them up knowing full well they will continue to lure customers and sell new vehicles. If they came out tomorrow with low financing or big rebates most of us would probably buy another if we were in the market. The higher quality SUV's like Toyota don't need to do this but also charge a premium. The extra $3-5,000 sticker and higher finance charges will keep most of us at bay for now. The worst thing we can do is quit taking them back for repairs under warranty. Pick out every little thing and make them fix it. I know they have billed Ford in excess of $1,000 for my vehicle and I'm just starting. That's the only recourse we have. It helps to stay on the good side of the dealer's shop foreman, they are not to blame.The one I go to has been just as frustrated as me but is working with me to fix everything. So before jumping up and down and screaming at him, remember he can be your best friend in the battle. No, I'm not a shop foreman or know any other than the one I deal with who goes out of his way,partly I'm sure because I treat him like a person and not an idiot. | |
| I just bought a 98 Explorer XLT. Test drove the beast twice, without incident. Took it home, and the next day when I go to start it, it sounded like someone came in the night and replaced my V6 SOHC engine with a diesel. I wish I had of read these posts before buying. Anyway, I did buy it off a dealership on a lease return, and so far they are claiming that they will have it repaired. However, it looks like it will be difficult to pin down the exact problem from all the posts I've read. If anyone knows for sure what it is please forward me the information. Likewise when I take it in tomorrow, if they can actually rectify this problem, I will post the answere for everyone else. | |
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