Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Depending on the location and other factors, the overhead can be as high as 100% of the mechanic's salary.
tidester, host
I'm thinking that's what it is now, they said it wouldn't necessarily trigger a CEL and I'm noticing more and more lack of power. Darn thing was like driving a Geo metro today, had to go through the hills, thought I was gonna have to get out an push.
I'm becoming less and less amused with this Explorer, the transmission is stumbling, no power, smells terrible, the doors leak, oy!! What's next?? Reminds me of the 94 Navajo (2 door Explorer) I used to own. I still like the truck, but the Chevy in our yard looks more appealing at this point.
So, I'll keep it until the extended warranty is up and move on, least it will be paid for by then.
I'm starting to think about just going back to a horse and cart, least then I can get *under the hood* myself and fix it.
Can't trade the thing until its paid off and the extended warranty is up, so I gotta stick it out until 80k at least.....hehehe, what's that? A year?? *thinks* has 46k on it now, I put on 35k/yr....so yup, a year. Oh who knows, if it gets better I may hang on to it. This has got to be just the 50k bump that all cars go through right??
First snow will be there in, oh, two weeks - better find the winter tires and double check the 4WD as you track down the emissions leak :-)
I guess you decided against Texas, eh?
Steve, Host
I'm frustrated with the Explorer, probably makes it worse that our Chevy is down at the moment. I think my Explorer is still reeling from the dent in the fender......still have no idea where it came from.
Its a long story why I'm still here, but Alaska is where I'll stay and I'm less one best friend of 15 years, but still have my husband of 10 years.
As for snow, yeah right, it was 70 today.
The Explorer is AWD and as far as I can tell it works, but who knows. Snow tires?? who needs those??]
BTW, in the last 2 years I personally have only owned 4 cars, one was repoed (during bk), one croked, on I sold because I thought I was leaving, and the last one I still have. *sticks tongue out at Steve* so there!!
Let's see, I've had 4 cars since '82. Guess we're tied :-)
I still bet you get some measurable amount of the white stuff by Sept. 15.
Steve, Host
Last year we didn't have snow until the end of October and the beginning of October was in the 60's.
an easy task) an new filter ($21.00 at Ford, $6.99
at AutoZone) I blew through the old one and got
some resitence. The rough Idle is almost gone.
I am certain it will get back normal after driving it some.
Steve, Host
http://www.ipia.ie/oilbrief/hydrogen.htm http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/exhaust.html
Most of the forum posts seemed to be rehash of what we've already speculated on here.
The Envoy, while nice looking seemes to have (had?) some pretty serious programming and electrical issues, though those may be worked out by now, I am not sure. The Highlander is a nice ride, though it seems a little small. The 4Runner is also a nice looking vehicle, and bound to be built well, though I see it is not on your list. I really don't know anything about the Mitsu. Sorry :-/ If it were my decision I would pick the Explorer hands down, but I am biased based on my good experiences with Explorers. If it were me, I would drive each and see which offers the most things that are important to me at the best value. Goodluck!
I just move to Mount Prospect (Chicago Northwest suburb), IL. I have a 1999 Explorer XLT (35,000 miles). I have been taking good care of it. The Explorer recently developed some clinking noise that come and goes; so far it has been more annoyance than driving issue. I want to avoid "overprice and lousy" dealer service if possible (I had my share of similar experiences that IDNTNVU went through). Can anyone suggest a trust worthy and competent "non-dealer" service shop that specialized on Explorer in the area? Thanks a bunch!
Reads: A bolt that attaches the seat recliner
mechanism to the driver seat back frame on your
vehicle may fracture. If this condition were to occur, you may experience looseness or noise in the seat. In extreme cases the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat or second row cushion. This could potentially cause you to lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals, possibly resulting in a crash.
This was sent to me the first week in Sept. 2003.
care people use when they change the oil??
washijl@auburn.edu
Thanks.
aiuto
aiuto@att.net
Try searching for "oil fortifier" or "oil fortifier used by ford" for what these are supposed to do.
Some of the `oil fortifier' websites will specify that they are oil treatments only, and assist the oil in adherence to the metal, due to metallic surfaces lack of porosity.
Sorry to make light of the situation especially so many people died but wasn't this issue dealt with and settled a couple of years ago. I hate to keep beating a dead horse but I rather deal with problems with the Explorer.
would like to know what criteria they are using to target recipients, but it's probably the NHTSA complaints log or something like that.
I personally had the Firestone Radial ATX on my Navajo (2-door Explorer) and B-4000 (Ford Ranger), I never had a problem with them. Well, except for wintertime, they were too hard of a rubber for winter, no traction. I think it just boiled down to tire pressure, we had ours inflated to the max on the tire. We don't go by the door since we are always towing or hauling something.
Bridgestone/Firestone Announces Noninjury Class Settlement Details
"The next step, according to McDonald, is to get the message about the settlement out to affected consumers nationwide. McDonald said Bridgestone/Firestone would present its notification plan, which includes direct mail and print ad components, to the court the week of Aug. 25."
Steve, Host
the Wilderness ATs were a different story, Ford wanted all of them out of the way, at their own expense if necessary. guy across the aisle from me at work didn't get his spare changed out, I had him go back and get it done. I made sure all 5 of my => KILLER TIRES! tm <= were gone before I drove out, and mentioned it when I drove in.
If you had Aiken, SC tires, most of them were supposedly acceptable, except for the hard sliding rubber and the funky tread that didn't do the job in snow. mine were Canadian, and I was quite disgusted with the performance, whether or not I had to take all the tools and sharp instruments out of the garage to be sure the => KILLER TIRES! tm <= didn't run on a murdering rampage at the drop of a stone from the tread.
Ford really stepped up on this, and having had a set of the shredding TPC 500s as OEM on my 76 Buick and being blown off by Firestone on that recall until I put my TV news badge on and said it was time to head back to work.. when there was steel wool coming out of the tread edges already... I surely appreciated that.
I did OK on FR480s on my Ranger (OEM and one replacement set,) but I've had it with Firestone, and will crawl over broken glass through gang gunfire to get to my Ford dealer when next I need to trade, to see what he's got.
Not an easy thing for Ford to do, with the Firestone family related by marriage so deeply in the Ford family. Of course, it's really Bridgestone now. I am amazed that the tires were so bad, but not surprised that Bridgestone disavowed them. Mitsubishi has done that for years, and in fact, most of the Japanese companies don't issue recalls, they issue denials generally.
truck was even lowered in 96 or 97 by a third of an inch in center of gravity with the elimination of the Twin I-Beam suspension, and was nicely stable. the 2002 and up versions were lowered another half inch in CG by pocketing suspension through the frame... and with making the track just over two inches wider, it's a pretty square-shouldered object on the road.
all of which suggests that while Ford continues niggling a penny out of this and a nickel out of that, like virtually every other manufacturer, they overall gave a rip about whether you got out of the truck at the destination or whether the rescue squad could take its time cutting you out, because time didn't matter any more.
I've had to fix a couple tangential little items on both my Fords, but less than anything else I've had, and I'm inclined to stay with 'em at this point.
just my experience with 4 sets of wilderness tires. first set on 1991 explorer, swapped them out for another set at 70k, tire dealer said most people wouldn't change them out with that much tread on them. i pointed out to him they were over 5 years old and we were headed into winter. second set on 94 explorer 35k, traded truck in. third set 1997 explorer 49k traded truck in, plenty of tread left. 2000 expedition 20k, turned them in with the recall. bought my own tires, so i had to bring them back to the dealer to get reimbursed. they looked brand new inside and out.
btw, got some pirelli scorpion a/t's. those suckers were like driving on duct tape! kind of noisy though. firestones never felt all that great wet or dry.