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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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Messages Page 435 of 639

#4340 of 6385 Re: 2004 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems - PLEASE HELP!! [electricdesign] by skylerlee

Sep 10, 2005 (1:57 am)

Replying to: electricdesign (Sep 09, 2005 4:32 am)
Thanks to all you who responded to my 1994 Explorere transmisson problem.
One of you got real lucky with your Eddie Bauer model, but the trans would be the same as on my vehicle, wouldn't it? The vehicle is now sitting on the lot, not useable. The service manager just said something went wrong in the transmisson, but has no idea what. Cost for a look at it was $121. But he said it wasn't worth having his mechanie take it apart to see what is wrong. Does this seem odd to only me? (Very possibly it's only me because I have no clue as to what would usually be done.) Service manage said I could let it sit there while I decide what I want to do.
 
Ed, you gave me the most thorough reply. Do you concure that an attorney can't/ won't help. Should I expect to get any trade in value or just donate it to a charity as I've done with other vehicles. This is real bummer because my daughter is at college and needs a car for her studies this semester, so I've been looking at getting another vehicle for her. Now I'm looking at needing two vehicles!! I know that in light of what those poor Katrina victims have been through this is nothing, but the budget still only stretches so far.
Any further suggestions/comments/ideat are most welcome.
 
Thanks......Sky

#4341 of 6385 Re: liftgate [ajmtbm] by alman08

Sep 10, 2005 (9:55 am)

Replying to: ajmtbm (Sep 09, 2005 5:27 pm)
where was it popped off?

#4342 of 6385 1994 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems - PLEASE HELP!! [skylerlee] by electricdesign

Sep 10, 2005 (10:23 am)

Replying to: skylerlee (Sep 10, 2005 1:57 am)
Yes, nvbanker was the lucky one, but just about everyone else I know of has been unlucky, including me. My 1991 was an Eddie Bauer and my 1993 was an XLT, but it doesn't make any difference from 1991 to 1994, they all had exactly the same engine and the automatic transmissions were the same, the A4LD. There were MANY production changes during those 4 years and each year got a little better. 1992 changed the intermediate band from the double wrap band to the single wrap band. Then following years changed the clutch drums to heaver ones, planetary carriers to stronger ones, pump changes, many changes to the thrust washers and many other changes too numerous to mention. The 1994 was probably the best one of the bunch.
The problem is that they are a very sensitive transmission. Everything has to be perfect, or the whole thing will destroy itself. Once something starts to tear up inside the transmission, it creates metal particles that then circulate with the transmission fluid to every other part of the transmission, torque converter and oil cooler. The metal particles then proceed to chew up other good parts in the transmission, with the result that when the transmission is taken apart, many "Hard" parts have to be replaced, along with the normal "soft" parts. This usually gets to be VERY expensive. And the probability of comebacks and future problems is high. The problem of metal particles is a bad problem for all automatic transmissions in general, but ESPECIALLY for the A4LD. When these transmissions are rebuilt, them must ALWAYS have a new or rebuilt Torque Converter (you can NOT clean out a used Converter), and they must AWAYS have the Cooler and Cooler Lines flushed completely clean. NO shortcuts there.
I don't think an attorny would help much, since you got a 60,000 miles or so out of each one. I think your best bet is to cut your losses and don't throw good money after bad. I can't believe that you paid $121 just for them to look at it, unless that will apply to any more work that they do. You could call around a see it any good used transmissions are available for a good price. I would,nt take anything less than a 1994.
Other than that, shop for a better vehicle, do a LOT of research in the User Forums before you decide on what vehicle you want next time. People buy cars by their preferences, but try to place reliablity high on the list.
Good Luck,
E.D.

#4343 of 6385 Re: Transmission noise when accelerating [jsomma] by nvbanker

Sep 10, 2005 (10:43 am)

Replying to: jsomma (Sep 09, 2005 1:07 pm)
I've seen this before - it's been a tailpipe that has fallen out of a bracket. Check for that.

#4344 of 6385 Re: 1994 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems - PLEASE HELP!! [electricdesign] by nvbanker

Sep 10, 2005 (10:47 am)

Replying to: electricdesign (Sep 10, 2005 10:23 am)
I don't disagree with anything electricdesign has said - he's right. However, I have to add that I have owned 5 Explorers/Mountaineers, and own an 04 now (which, by the way, did have to have a trans rebuild because of the bad fluid load at the factory). They've all been excellent, reliable trucks, and I would buy another one in a heartbeat. IN fact, I'm anxious to see the new 06 when it hits the dirt here.

#4345 of 6385 Re: 2004 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems - PLEASE HELP!! [skylerlee] by chuck1

Sep 10, 2005 (11:08 am)

Replying to: skylerlee (Sep 10, 2005 1:57 am)
Should I expect to get any trade in value or just donate it to a charity.
 
If you want to ask what they will give you on a trade for a late model Explorer. (if that's what you want.) The tax laws have now changed-you can only declare what the vehicle brings at auction now. It may be slightly more than dollars for a trade in-but I would want the "hard dollars" put on towards the down payment on another car, verses the soft dollars on a tax return. But I guess each individual situation differs.

#4346 of 6385 Re: cigarette lighter [jmmoore] by user777

Sep 10, 2005 (12:25 pm)

Replying to: jmmoore (Sep 09, 2005 4:24 pm)
it's possible there is a fuse in-line with the +12v. can you trace the wires from the power outlet back? i think if there were an accessory in-line fuse, it would be in a location accessible, maybe 6" (12" most) from the outlet. the other idea is to exhaustively check all your fuses with a ohm meter for continuity. maybe the fuse block labeling is bad and the real fuse serving that run to the outlet is different than documented. good luck.

#4347 of 6385 Re: ABS SENSOR by gonzalez2

Sep 10, 2005 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: bioman (Aug 22, 2005 5:53 am)
MY FORD EXPLORER HAVE THE ABS LIGHT ON ,I THING IS THE SENSOR , BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO REPLACE IT .

#4348 of 6385 Re: liftgate [alman08] by ajmtbm

Sep 10, 2005 (6:23 pm)

Replying to: alman08 (Sep 10, 2005 9:55 am)
just to the right of the ford logo it looks like whatever was holding the plastic to the rear loosened. perhaps just a clip came loose? it is still on for the most part, just looks odd. called the dealer and he said he would fix it free since it has been less than a year since it was replaced, and it is a known problem area.

#4349 of 6385 Re: Torque Converter Issues [kmac5] by dominic2

Sep 10, 2005 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: kmac5 (Sep 08, 2005 9:55 am)
Hey KMAC, fortunately I was able to convince the dealer that I was a loyal customer and we agreed to split the costs 3 ways ($500 out of my pocket). Took a bit of effort on my part but there is money out there to help (I know I have seen it discussed here before - AWA or something). I think you may be out of luck though with a car that is 9 years old but you never know until you ask, right?

Messages Page 435 of 639

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