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Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair
6385 messages, Last post on May 05, 2013 at 7:47 AM
You are in the Ford Explorer Forum.What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer
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#1300 of 6385 Yet another Explorer rant by geoffdgti
Mar 03, 2002 (3:10 pm)
I own a '98 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD with 89,000 miles on it. Previously, I owned a 1992 Mazda Navajo 2dr variant of the Explorer. I put 100K bumper to bumper warranties on both cars and I'm still incredulous at how much breaks on Explorers. I'm now faced with replacing the Mountaineer simply because I don't want to own it when Ford stops paying for the long string of repairs. It got so bad last summer that I went out and bought a VW GTI as my daily driver.
The '92 ate cylinder heads and air conditioning compressors like candy. In the time I owned it, it had almost $10,000 in warranty repairs done to it. The '98 has been a little better. I've had no drive train issues but every component in the front end has been replaced at least once. The accessories are also unreliable. I'm on my 3rd rear windshield wiper motor. The power door locks stick all the time when it's cold. So far, I've "only" had about $3,000 in warranty claims.
On the positive side, I had excellent luck with the Firestone Death Radials that were on both trucks. I got well over 50,000 miles on both sets before replacing them. I don't live in Saudi Arabia so I didn't see the 130F temps that caused all the problems.
Anybody who has an Explorer they're planning to keep that's still under the original warranty really should consider buying a Ford extended warranty. There's a dealer in Iowa who sells Ford OEM warranties at a pretty good discount so you don't have to get the royal screwing from the "business manager" at your friendly local Ford Dealer. I used them and was totally happy.
#1302 of 6385 Built Ford "Tough" by njdevilsrn
Mar 05, 2002 (9:37 am)
Well, the saga of the 2000 Explorer begins (just over 20000 miles). I had it at the dealer half the day Friday, and all day yesterday for them to look at my slipping transmission. After I was refused a loaner because the car was driveable (according to Ford "Customer Assistance" - tell me how a car is driveable on a lift in a garage? -but that is another story...) and bummed a ride to work, I was told late yesterday afternoon that the truck needs a new transmission. So, they gave me the thing back because it is only slipping, and said I could drive it until the new, oh wait, I mean RECONDITIONED transmission comes in. See, Ford does not put new transmissions into vehicles when they fail on warranty. Isn't that nice?I have lost complete faith in Ford Motor Company and how they treat their customers. All the "Customer Assistance" people would do was thank me for my loyalty (I've owned a '97, '99, and the 2000 Explorer), but then they just blow a lot of smoke at you. When this truck is done, so am I with Ford Motor Company.
#1303 of 6385 njdevilsrn by mazman1
Mar 05, 2002 (11:38 am)
Why not write a letter to Willian Clay Ford? It cant hurt.#1304 of 6385 njdevilsrn by ryster
Mar 06, 2002 (6:53 pm)
Sorry to hear you are having a rough time. Most automakers use reconditioned parts for major repairs. I had a '95 Grand Am that needed a new instrument cluster under warranty. When the seemingly "new" cluster was installed with the incorrect mileage calibrated on the odometer, the dealer apologized and said GM uses reconditioned parts for warranty repairs and the cluster was incorrectly calibrated before it was overnighted to the dealer. The 2nd replacement cluster was also broken. The third one worked fine.It sounds like Ford has the same practice of using reconditioned parts. It would not really bother me as long as the truck works properly after it is fixed. Besides, the truck will still be under warranty even after the repair. If it breaks again, Ford will just have to fix it again.
As for the loaner, my dealer worked to get me a loaner when my truck needed repair. The problem I had was not directly related to driveability and the truck was fully driveable even with the structural problem. The dealer provided me with a loaner for the 17 straight days it was in the shop. They didn't give me a loaner for the 4 separate day-long appointments prior to the 17 day stint (nor did I expect to get a loaner for those appointments). Your dealer should be willing to provide you with a loaner during the time it is at the dealer getting the transmission replaced. Such a fix usually takes a few days and the truck certainly isn't driveable without a transmission. Has your dealer mentioned whether you will be provided with a loaner during the "transplant"? If they are reluctant to provide a loaner, another call to Ford Customer Service should be made (Ford CS told me to contact them if my dealer ever refuses to provide a loaner for extended warranty related service visits).
Another option is to try a new dealer. Your warranty is valid at any Ford dealer. I swore I was going to give up on Ford while my truck and dealer were having issues, but I didn't give up and now my truck is serving me well. Sometimes it just takes some time to get issues properly resolved. It would be nice if everything worked out on the first try but that is rarely the case these days. Hang in there and hopefully things will work out.
#1305 of 6385 97 Explorer speedometer incorrect by opera_house_wk
Mar 07, 2002 (2:07 pm)
I just got this vehicle and the speedometer is 10 mph faster than it actually is through out the range (13
25mph). I compared the speed with my GPS system. I was always amazed that my 92 Explorer was accurate (1mph)throughout the range. Odometer is correct. Its like someone removed the needle and put it on wrong. Anyone else have this problem? Some day I'll pull the dash and see if I can correct it. Could this be an indication the dash was pulled at one time?
#1306 of 6385 Thanks for the encouragement by njdevilsrn
Mar 07, 2002 (3:56 pm)
I'm still driving my truck around as is, because the transmission they promised would be in "no later than Wednesday" has not arrived as of the end of Thursday's business day. Thus, even if they get it tomorrow I will have to drive it like this until early next week. Oh well.All of this has made me ponder an extended warranty. I think I'm gonna go with the 6 year, 75000 mile "Base Care" Ford ESP. It covers the powertrain, most aspects of the suspension and steering, most of the AC system, and a lot of electrical components. I shopped around the web and the dealer I bought the car from (not the one I service through because it is over 40 minutes from home) looks like the best deal. They seem to be pushing the "Premium Care" which mimics the factory warranty, but my truck does not have a lot of bells and whistles that are left over. Plus that plan costs over $300 more. Anybody else have a Ford ESP?
#1307 of 6385 re;reconditioned Ford parts by bri66
Mar 07, 2002 (10:55 pm)
Sorry to hear about your transmission. Hope Ford's reconditioned transmissions are better than their reconditioned motors (3). Thank God for extended warranty's. Anyone buying a $30,000+ vehicle without it is taking a huge risk. I would still be driving my leaking anti-freeze guzzler 2000 Explorer XLS 4.0ohv if it weren't for the warranty. Good Luck.#1308 of 6385 To njdevilsm ~ re Dealer Treatment by dohc32v
Mar 08, 2002 (9:32 am)
>>>>>"I shopped around the web and the dealer I bought the car from (not the one I service through because it is over 40 minutes from home) looks like the best deal."<<<<<< I never cease to be amazed at some peoples naivety. Of course the Ford Dealer you are working with about your vehicle problems isn't going to be your best friend. Of course he knows you drove 40 minutes past his Dealership, probably to save a couple hundred bucks, to buy a vehicle from his competitor. Now not only did you shun him on a vehicle sale, but you are getting ready to screw him again on an extended warrenty sale. Then you are going to go back to this Dealer, close to your home, for your warranty work? You must appreciate being mistreated and appreciate mistreating others. Open your eyes and think about what you are doing. Just a friendly tip from someone who knows the business.#1309 of 6385 dohc by njdevilsrn
Mar 08, 2002 (10:23 am)
Just because you prefer to be rude I will explain my situation. The Ford dealer I bought my truck from used to be about 20 minutes from my house. I have since moved, and it is now about a 40 minute commute. The dealer I get my truck serviced at is a Lincoln Mercury dealer. A) Any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer can work on any Ford or Lincoln/Mercury product. B) This L/M dealer is literally 1.1 miles from my home. C) It is kind of hard to buy a Ford Explorer from a Lincoln/Mercury dealer.To POST a message, please
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