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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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Messages Page 96 of 639

#951 of 6385 Tuneup-dealer or independant? by lmacmil

Sep 10, 2001 (5:24 pm)

My 1996 6 cyl. Explorer is probably ready for a tuneup at 53K miles. Fuel and air filters were changed at 31K but it's never had new plugs or wires. Is value added for the extra price the Ford dealer will charge (I'm guessing double)? Or will he do the same thing as the independent shop and just charge more because of his higher labor rate and use of Motorcraft parts? I usually shy away from the dealers for routine maintenance because they usually recommend a lot of stuff that you don't see in the owner's manual maintenance schedule.

#952 of 6385 lmacmil by mazman1

Sep 11, 2001 (5:00 am)

The dealer will install Ford Motorcraft plugs ($10 each) and wires ($60), and charge you premium prices... both for parts and labor. You can buy Bosch Platinum plugs ($2 each) and wires ($40) at Autozone (or any auto parts store) that are totally compatible with your vehicle (maybe better) and have any competent mechanic install them, or else do it yourself (its easy)..
 
The only other things to change is the Tranny fluid and filter and the gas filter.
 
You may also want to treat your vehicle to a bottle of Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner to clean the fuel linjectors. Buy the large bottle.. costs about $10.

#953 of 6385 RE: Cuatomer Sevice Bomboo2 by bioman3

Sep 11, 2001 (5:51 am)

I can't guarantee you will get satisfaction, but you should get a response if you write a letter to Ford's Customer Assistance Center. Check the first page of the "Model Warranty Guide" for addresses, etc. I had a problem, wrote them and they did respond.

#954 of 6385 answer to post 911-MAZMAN by isoman

Sep 11, 2001 (11:19 am)

The air works fine and the serpentine belt is fine and tight. The gauge is usually at the 1/4 mark but went up to the 1/2 mark. I took the truck out again today and rain it up some hills without a trailer,etc and the gauge went up to 1/2 but came back to 1/4 after coming back down the other side of the hills. I brought it back home shut it off and let it sit after again running the heat gauge up to 1/2 and keeping it there and it cooled with no hissing sound. I do not know where in the engine the hissing sound came from. I just happen to be walking past the truck with the hood down when it happen, it was loud enough to scare me. Sounded like a relief valve letting loose on a steam line.I had some fluid added to the transmission just prior to having the problem and it is about 1/4 inch or a little less up out of the hatched marks on the dip stick. Could this be causing a problem?

#955 of 6385 isoman by mazman1

Sep 11, 2001 (12:39 pm)

Is the tranny fluid at or below the "add" line? If so, they may not have topped it off when it was serviced. Have you gotten an answer from the dealer?

#957 of 6385 Automatic Transmission - '96 Explorer XLT 4.0 by fbattle

Sep 14, 2001 (8:10 pm)

Twice now--once two weeks ago and once again today--the "O/D Off" light has started flashing when the vehicle was started and has kept flashing until the vehicle was shut off. Both times, the vehicle seemed to be operating normally. And both times, the light stopped flashing the next time the vehicle was started. I took it to the dealer. They they changed the fluid (which was due according to the service schedule). They didn't find any problems.
 
Has anyone else had this problem?

#958 of 6385 the f.o.r.d technician... by ace10

Sep 14, 2001 (8:29 pm)

probably didn't notice the pieces of the torque converter nhousing.
 
ace

#959 of 6385 Truck at dealer by ryster

Sep 20, 2001 (7:01 am)

Well, my truck is at the dealer today to have my mysterious door clunk/pop noise repaired.
 
Seeing as how they were recently "Blue Oval Certified" I hope they will take the time to thoroughly investigate the problem.
 
If I can't get it fixed there, I guess I will try a different dealer (I fully expect to get the "Could not reproduce problem" response).
 
Will just have to see what they say.

#960 of 6385 Hey Ryster... by njdevilsrn

Sep 24, 2001 (8:41 pm)

How'd you make out?
 
My Exploder is spending the night at the dealer as well, it took almost 3 weeks to get the parts they need to repair/replace the driver's seat recliner assembly. PS...after all that and my leaving it overnight so it is there when they open, the service writer said they "should be able to get to it". NOW ISN'T THAT $30000 WORTH OF CUSTOMER SERVICE?
 
For what it's worth, whenever they give me the standard "could not verify concern" or "could not duplicate problem" response, I immediately request the Service Advisor or Service Manager go on a road test with me. That has helped on several occasions with vehicles from different dealers/manufacturers and usually gets them to fix it.

Messages Page 96 of 639

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