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Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair

6386 messages,  Last post on May 27, 2013 at 6:07 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer

    

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Messages Page 90 of 639

#886 of 6386 blown-up SOHC by focustech

Aug 12, 2001 (5:44 pm)

Unfortunately, being a Ford technician, my family takes full advantage of me. My brother just bought a 1997 explorer SOHC with 135,000 on it, drove it a week........heard a clatter and the truck died on the highway. He towed it to me from downstate, and I discovered that 3 cylinders were lacking compression, like none......zero. The truck had already had both tensioners done before by the look of things. What I found when I dropped the lower oil pan (2-pc.) made me vomit. The front cassette must have broke and the chain SNAPPED, destroying the front cover in the process. The cassette that was now plugging the oil pump screen had siezed the cam in the driver's side head, wham bam, thankyou maam!! He's out $6500 that he paid for the truck..........Has anyone had this happen to them?? The "owner notification program" only covers this to 100k. This should have been a mandatory recall! This was the first one that I have seen blown up like this in the 6 years that I have been with Ford. Any used engines out there??

#887 of 6386 Pathfinder '01 vs Explorer '02 by bdritter

Aug 13, 2001 (12:20 pm)

I currently own a '98 Ford Explorer XLT - I'm looking to purchase either a '01 Pathfinder LE or a '02 Explorer E.B. - the Pathfinder will be a little cheap (approx $800) and the options equivalent. Anyone out there been faced with a similar decision -- any opinions would be appreciated

#888 of 6386 problem starting by tonkadave

Aug 13, 2001 (7:33 pm)

I have a 95 explorer with a similar stalling problem. Mine will only occur in very hot weather and I too have to drive two footed to get moving. Once the car cools off it starts and runs fine. I wonder if its the Idle Air problem Focustech spoke of, or the TFI Ignition Module problem that the center for Auto Safety has allerted the media about? http://autosafety.org/ActionAlerts/TFI-Intro.htm
Heres a link to the news article about it? Anyone have any ideas as to my problem. There are no "Codes" that the mechanic can find.

#889 of 6386 focustech by mazman1

Aug 14, 2001 (5:54 am)

Interesting post.
In NY State, there are several laws which may also apply in your state that may allow your brother to get at least part of his money back from the seller... since he bought it a week before it died. I'd speak with an attorney.
 
I am not sure I understand that if the cam had seized, how could you check compression of the cylinders?
 
I have a 2000 Explorer that makes the dieseling sound only when I start up. After a few minutes, it quiets down. The vehicle was checked by my Ford dealer and they said it was not a problem and they did not need to do the cam tensioner upgrade yet... since it is a big job... but I guess you know that. Do you agree with their diagnosis?
 
Thanks

#890 of 6386 ***Hey Mazman1*** by epp1

Aug 14, 2001 (7:13 am)

Just took my '99 XLT 4WD SOHC for "dieseling" and other things - see below. They told me there was a mandatory recall/work order for the tensioner and did the work that same day. Runs fine now. Also repaired my stereo (lights were fading or going out entirely), rear wiper assembly (frozen), air flow/mass sensor (it died leaving the vehicle inoperable) - I've also had various other warranty work done to suspension and engine components to eliminate a variation of humming, pinging, knocks, etc. Funny (or maybe not so), but there seems to be a pre-described "fix" for every one in the tech manuals...

#891 of 6386 re: overheating by macman246

Aug 14, 2001 (1:08 pm)

ecko331: My '93 Explorer had an overheating problem a few years back. The temperature gauge would go up to the upper limit of "normal" and stay there. The dealer tried to say it was within the "normal" range, but I argued that it wasn't behaving like it used to.
 
Turns out the fan clutch was failing. They replaced it and I only paid $50 because I bought the ESP insurance, and I only had 1 week left on the contract. It would have been a $400+ job.

#892 of 6386 phew! by swschrad

Aug 14, 2001 (8:00 pm)

got my Gravestones replaced today. they put on General Ameri-660 AS tires. first few days on brand new tires are always a lie, as solid steel disks would feel like they were running in tracks instead of slipping. you never really know how much traction wear takes off until you put on new tires.
 
but what's the scoop from the field? they look acceptable on the web site, and they passed the newly serious Ford lab tests.

#893 of 6386 Explorers are worthless!! by moseley1

Aug 14, 2001 (8:00 pm)

I have owned 2 Explorers this year. The first one was a 1998 sport 4x4. I bought it on Thursday and flipped it over on it top the next morning. I slipped on an icy road. I was not hurt but shook up. I bought another one the next month it was a 1997 sport 4x4. I had it for 7 months and an idiot pulled out in front of me and totaled my truck. The insurance company said that they could only give me $12000 for my truck. I paid $13340 for it 7 months ago! I did some research of my own and found out that the market for Explorers are down and you can not sell one for much at all. I loved my Explorer, but I will not buy another for a few years. This problem with roll overs and fire stone tires has hurt the value of an Explorer.

#894 of 6386 details of the 00m12 progarm by bioman3

Aug 15, 2001 (4:20 am)

Can anybody give us the specifics as to what parts are replaced when Fords performs the 00M12 recall on the SOHC engine?? I know they replace the o-rings on the lower intake manifold, but how many and/or which tensoniers do they replace? Had it done in March '01, truck is running fine, but I'd like to know the specific parts replaced. I'd ask the Ford people, but I don't trust them without confirmation from outside sources.
 
Thanks
 
Bioman3

#895 of 6386 Depreciation by ryster

Aug 15, 2001 (10:00 am)

There are several factors causing the recent plunge of Ford Explorer resale values. The recent redesign automatically accelerates depreciation as the previous generation is considered "old technology". The Firestone tire issue has cast doubts in the minds of consumers as to the overall safety of the Explorer. As a result, people are reluctant to buy, the lots fill up with the trucks, and people wanting out take a hit when they go to sell/trade. Incentives on new models cause the used ones to drop even more. When it becomes cheaper to buy a new one than to get a used one, the used ones are revalued to bring them back into line. My loaded '00 XLS 4x4, which I bought new 9 months ago, is only valued at $17.5. Sticker was $29.5K. It will take at least 8-12 more months, in my case, to be out of a negative equity situation and that is with the 0.9% financing. Significant depreciation. But, cars and trucks are not known as good investments.
 
Overall, Explorers are good vehicles. I enjoy mine (except for the clunking coming from the driver's side somewhere; will have the dealer look at it soon). They are just as safe as any other SUV when driven properly (they do not necessarily roll over by themselves, which is how the media is portraying them currently). The trucks are reliable and relatively simple to fix when something goes wrong. As soon as the new model starts selling better and incentives simmer down, and the Firestone stigma leaves people's minds, the market will level off. In the meantime, we are just going to have to ride it out and see what happens.

Messages Page 90 of 639

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