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SUVs Ford Explorer Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair
6241 messages, Last post on Nov 24, 2009 at 9:06 AM
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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. | |
| See post #15 of 24. Well I took my Explorer in for my brakes again on 5-2-00. They were making a woofing sound when I turned to the left. This did not happen until they turned my rotars about a month ago. They did not charge me for this repair and they assured me that I would not be back for this problem. Well today is 5-11-00 and it is making the same noise. Has anyone had this problem before and if so what was it? I keep thinking that I just got a bad vehicle but when I read the other comments about the same problems, I think the problem lies with Ford. Like I have stated before, I have written a letter to Ford but received no response. Does anyone know what I should do next besides push it off a cliff? | |
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I have a 97 Explorer XLT with 6 cylinders with 45K miles on it. My engine also made what we're all describing as dieseling/pinging sounds. Mine started at about 37K and is now in the shop with a blown cylinder. There is no doubt Ford has been having problems with these engines. Got in touch with the Regional/zone manager as a blown cylinder for an engine with 45000 is rather uncommon and indicative of a defective engine. Evidently Ford agreed since they're picking up tab
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| was your engine the SOHC V-6 or the push rod motor? What did they say caused the blown cylinder? Thanks in advance. | |
| We own a 99 explorer purchased new. It now has approximately 17k miles. Although, on the whole we have been pleased with it, we had a problem with the brakes that was not handled very well. With only a few thousand miles I started picking up a little vibration when braking. This progressed to the point where it was very noticeable and annoying. Being somewhat of a decent mechanic I knew that the rotors were probably the problem. When we took it to the dealer it was discovered that, indeed, the rotors were warped and needed to be turned. The aggravating part of this is that the brakes are only warranted for 12,000 miles and we had to pay for the repair. We were charged $106.00 for something that I could have done for $15.00 had I known what course of action would be taken by the dealer. Even more maddening was that the service manager blaimed us for the problem i.e. we are very heavy footed on the brakes. He also said that when we go to the mountains ( we ski a lot) that we have to drive differently. What a total crock! The vehicle is driven with kid gloves wherever it is driven. We do not hammer the brakes. In fact,it has not been subjected to even one panic stop. By their own admission the brakes showed very little sign of wear, still were warped badly. This is a definite contradiction. How does one abuse the the brakes so badly that they warp,but show very little sign of wear. | |
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I just read in an auto column in the newspaper Explorers rotors can be warped if the wheels are put on with an air wrench and the torque setting of the wrench is too high.If you had your tires rotated at a gas station or tire place where they either don't know or care then that might be it.I once had my tires rotated at a tire place and when I went to change a flat I discovered a cross threaded nut and had to break the stud to remove the tire.I went back to the tire place and they apologized and replaced 2 studs that had been ruined. |
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| i read a post a while back about how someone said that their explorer seems to loose traction while driving over a bridge on the grates. Some one responded saying that that doesn't happen and how it is the person driving the vehicle that is making it happen. I must admit, I tended to agree with this person's rebuttle until the same thing happened to me on my brand new explorer last night. The ground was somewhat wet and at 40 mph, I should not be fishtailing........... I was told that these firestone tires that come on these truck are horrible and i should get rid of them. I'm gonna call the dealership this week to see about changing them in reguards to affecting any kind of warrenties. | |
| I continue to monitor this site even though I was able to get out of my last woeful explorer hoping to help some of those still driving them (there are a lot). My take on the firestones is they had excellent tread life, but were loud, rough, and produced noticeable road roar which only got worse as they got more miles on them. I suppose they are a hard compound tire, which might explain the tendency to loose traction on the grates mentioned previously, but also accounts for the extended life. I guess Ford chooses them for a mixture of possible uses (on or off road) and cheap price. I even had a few firestone dealers inspect them due to the noise. They told me that the noise was normal for this firestone tire and they were wearing in an excellent pattern. If you can afford new tires already, think about the Michelin LTX or HT. Great for on road situations, and much, much quieter. Good luck. | |
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I recently purchased a 98 Ford Exp XLT with 26000 miles. It has developed a noise that sounds like squeaky bed springs. I don't experience this sound all of the time, but it doesn't seem right. Has anyone else had this problem? I would like to know what to tell the dealer. |
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