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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2005 and earlier

3348 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2011 at 3:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, SUV

Messages Page 67 of 335

#660 of 3348 Response to twoof1 and jrc346 by wilsonze1

Feb 16, 2002 (9:02 pm)

There is no doubt that the folks writing and responding favor Ford products as I have for many years considering I still have my first 1984 SVO, 2000 Saleen supercharged convertible and 2001 Explorer Sport.
I traded my Cadillac Escalade for the Mountaineer because like the enthusiast on the Lincoln Navigator chat section I like the looks inside and out, size, power, new suspension and since I have two children the side impact bags. I have had four Explorers previously starting with the first year where the crank moon roof was called back because it flew out. I seem to purchase a car a year or sometimes one every other year.
 
If you read the reviews on this site it even noted that the Mountaineer had a vibration at 60 to 70 and the explorer did not. I am sure there are some that work better than others but the fact is these new transmissions are not as smooth as the previous ones and flutter shift or kind of clunk shift sporadically.
The government web site has many complaints and I have several folks in the Ford organization agreeing that it does not shift smoothly all the time.
 
So I am glad others have been fortunate not to experience these same conditions that I have in both my 2002 Mountaineers. Since advertising and slick marketing will sell anything my only intent is to spell out the facts as they are happening to me. I did not do this in the past but think more of this is needed since this is one of the jobs I have. Wouldn't it be nice to log into a site that tracked actual problems by car, manufacture and distributor? This is a true audit finding and in normal business such findings led to corrective measures or failure. I commend Edmonds for allowing the sharing of facts even when they are not supportive of the product.

#661 of 3348 wilsonze1 by jrc346

Feb 17, 2002 (9:05 pm)

As someone who is a semi-Ford loyalist, it really irks me when I have problems on a relatively new vehicle. My 2000 Explorer for instance. It has been in the shop 2 times for those great timming chain tensioners at under 20,000 miles. It makes me ask myself. What is Ford trying to do to itself? I get so tired of cheepening, cost cutting, and poor engineering with todays big three it makes my head spin. However I still want to support American made companies so I've been with Ford. In my prior post to you I wasn't trying to defend FoMoCo. I was just hoping that maybe quality would be better by the time my lease comes up this summer. After reading your post and others I'm not so sure I will be returning to Ford. Everywhere I turn it seems there are problems with vehicles no matter what the company. So who knows? I don't Again I wish you the best of luck with your troublesome Mountaineer((s)?).

#662 of 3348 2002 Ford Explorer not starting by hotwheels17

Feb 19, 2002 (2:15 pm)

I wanted to give an update on my last problem. Was having trouble getting it to start so I took it to my local Ford dealer and they said the "idle air control sensor" is the problem. Still have not gotten it fixed. I purchased my Explorer out of town for this very reason. I live in small town USA. I would like to know more about the safety ratings on pre- Nov models. Does anyone have a link I can check out about it. This is my first Ford and my reason for purchasing was because of the high safety rating. The sticker in the door says it was mfd in Oct. Thanks!

#663 of 3348 Status on Transmission by wilsonze1

Feb 19, 2002 (7:30 pm)

I had to call the dealer today for they did not call me to tell me if my new transmission had finally arrived and it had. It is two weeks and two days but progress has been made. They also determined that the radio reception issues were due to the last time the transmission was taken apart since both are on the same circuit. As for this being the third time the independent suspension was squeaking they put silicone on the bushing again so as asked for new bushings since I do not want to be back for a fourth disappointment. As for the vibration in the drive train at 60 to 70 miles an hour they forgot to do anything about it.
The VP is working with Ford to take this excellent crafted metal display for a new Navigator for it does not have the same transmission and does have suggested changes for the better. I know more money but at least this problem will be somebody else's
 
The dealer mentioned swapping for an Aviator but it is my guess it has the same model transmission since Ford uses this in the Explorer, Mountaineer, New 4 wheel drive Jag. and since the Aviator is basically same car as the Mountaineer and Explorer except for the 4.6 engine is the 32 valve model and boy that is worth $10 grand more.

#664 of 3348 wilsonze1 by gregb5

Feb 20, 2002 (5:29 am)

I might have missed an earlier post, but what exactly is squeaking in your suspension?
I had a squeaking in the front of mine also. The dealer pulled the front sway bar and lubed the center bushings with a Teflon lube. It seemed to work for a while but I think I've heard it coming back in the last week.
Thanks for your reply.

#665 of 3348 Trailblazer I-6 vrs Explorer V-8 by kenttrudiw

Feb 20, 2002 (12:23 pm)

I just got back from trip from Denver to Grand Junction CO & back. Love my X v-8 in the mountains of Colorado. At the bottom of a long steep pull up to Isenhower tunnel a Trailblazer flew by me (around 80-85) I did not think much of it until later. Their were slower moving cars, so I got in the fast lane and gave it a little gas. I cruised up the pass at 75-80 with out much effort (never had a car that would go up at that speed with out being floored!) Almost at the top and in the fast lane was that Trailblazer! I had caught up with him, then I had a little fun and stayed close to him, he could not shake me! We ran out of mountain real fast, I slowed down & he took back off so I never saw him again!
So much for 270HP, I will still take my V-8 and torque!

#666 of 3348 bushings... by kheintzelman

Feb 20, 2002 (4:08 pm)

My dealer recently replaced these bushings in my 2002 V8 XLT with tow package, because my truck developed a "creaking sound" when the suspension went over dips and dumps. Since replacing the bushings, the noise has not returned.

#667 of 3348 Response to Gregb5 by wilsonze1

Feb 20, 2002 (7:50 pm)

My trouble has occured three times front and back and because they have only used silicon on the bushings. As you noted the problem comes back. In addition several bushings needed tighting and something in one of the back seats was also incorrectly secured. I was supposed to get my care back today but it was not ready again and it looks like they did not replace the bushings. In my first explorer the bushings had to be replaced and the actual rubber compound was the problem. I have yet to hear of these types of issues with Toyota or Lexus which are the brands I am looking to purchase unless they give me a break on a 2003 Navagator.

#668 of 3348 Hi, folks, I need some help for by marsha7

Feb 20, 2002 (7:56 pm)

some friends of mine with a 2002 Explorer XLT with V6 engine bought in November...since they bought the vehicle, a stinking smell comes in thru the windows and vents, smelling exactly like the rotten egg smell that emits from catalytic converters...they noticed it when driving the vehicle new off the lot, but assumed that it was once of those "new car smells" that usually burns off in the first 500 or 1000 miles...well, the vehicle now has 3600 miles, and they brought it to the selling dealer for some routine service, and to check for the source of the ever-present, continuing smell...it happens morning, noon, or night, when vehicle is warm or cold...the dealer has told them that the smell is not uncommon on Explorers, and can often take 5K or 10K miles before it burns off...at their current driving rate, that means it could take most of their first year of ownership before it stops stinking...the husband has respiratory problems and the strong stench does not help his lungs...when they transport clients, it is quite annoying, and when they are dressed up in suits, they exit the car stinking like rotten eggs...the dealer does not seem sympathetic at all...has anyone else encountered this problem, what IS the problem, was there a solution for it, was the solution done by the dealer or a private mechanic???...they have already been told that the catalytic converter is fine, and that this stink is normal...altho they adore their Explorer, they are somewhat miffed at paying over $25K for a vehicle that may absolutely stink for the first year of use...are there any TSB's on this that the Ford machanic may not be aware of???any and all help is appreciated...
 
Bob

#669 of 3348 A followup that I forgot to ask by marsha7

Feb 20, 2002 (8:01 pm)

since the dealer says there is something that must "burn off" in 5K or 10K miles, is there something that the factory sprays on the engine or the exhaust system that can be rubbed off, scraped off, dissolved off, or something that can be manually removed to "speed up" this burning off process that the dealer refers to??? Thanks again...
 
Bob

Messages Page 67 of 335

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