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Comments
They even had one in stock that they put on as soon as it was painted.
could you put up a link for the performance chip? I went to autoanything and could not find it. I own an 03 Aviator that has the rough idle as well and the dealer is totally useless in fixing it, it has 36000 miles and if it stores no codes, they will do ZERO. I also have the fould smell when the AC is engaged but it's MUCH worse when you want fresh air in the cabin. They put some deoderizer in and it was useless. I read on a post to google "electronic evaporator dryer" and that does the trick.
Could you give me details of the performance chip you had for the 2003 Aviator. I could not find it from the web site or talking to a jet performance supplier.
Thanks
Az4ls
The shaking/trembling at high speeds has been the worst for me. The dealership has attempted to fix it for me 4 times already. They've replaced the tires, some sort of alignment bar, and even rotated all the tires again this last time for me. The problem is still there, especially at speeds of +75mph. The problem is so bad that the entire steering wheel shakes. I also have noticed pulling and shaking when braking from speeds over +25mph. My car is less than a year old, I bought it new and I just don't think these problems should be happening.
I also had the crack in my rear hatch, which the dealership replaced for me like it was nothing. I also had the whine in my rear-end, which apparently has a TSB for it. I believe they replaced the rear ring and pinion, which solved the problem.
I am very disappointed in the quality of the Aviator. Someone advised me to proceed with the Lemon Law through my state, but I'm not sure that will help. Has anyone gone that route? Any advice?
I had a 2000 Honda Civic before my new Aviator, which had 90,000 miles and still ran better than my car now!!!
What do you mean when you say there is a "TSB" on the rear end whine?
Recalls notify owners of problems.
You want all known problems to be fixed proactively with a recall. Most known problems only occur to a small percentage of vehicles so it doesn't make sense to fix 50,000 vehicles if the problem only occurs in 1,000.
That's why it's good to know of the TSB's that affect your vehicle. Often things that people accept as quirks or think they are imagining are well known and have factory engineered fixes. Of course they don't actively publicize the info; Pardon the pun, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Agreed.
a TSB is when the manufacturer knows of a problem common to your vehicle and will fix it--if you complain.
TSBs are simply additional maintenance instructions to the service department. Some are known problems with factory fixes but some are also just maintenance items and answers for customer questions. They're not all defects. And whether there is a TSB on a problem or not has nothing to do with getting it fixed under warranty. It just helps the service dept find and fix the problem easier and faster. They're just addendums to the factory service manual.
After calling them, they stated they no longer offer this chip and they have agreed to repurchase mine. Said had problems with this particular application and there would not be a replacement. So I probably will return mine and hope someone else comes out with a proven product before I trade in. Hope this helps. JC
I called Lincoln service before the third visit and they "opened a ticket" on the vehicle and assigned me someone to call with questions. After my third visit, I have tried to contact that person 4 times and they have not returned the phone calls. Getting a bit frustrating.
To those ends, we will be shutting down the general make/model discussions and work exclusively with specific issues. This requires us to populate the make/model subsections with relevant, interesting and timely topics. Rather than having the hosts simply create boilerplate topics for each make/model, we feel that you, the owner, the make/model enthusiast and the prospective buyer can best judge what those topics should be.
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Your help and continued participation in the Forums is greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Lincoln Aviator
tidester, host
As an Aviator passed me on the Interstate this morning, a thought suddenly struck me...aside from the 2006 redesign of the Expy, buying a used Aviator with the 300 HP V8 could save me heaps of $$$ and still I could have a strong V8, console shifter instead of column shifter, and adjustbale pedals and, maybe, AWD or 4WD if it was available...
What was the last year of the Aviator, 2004, 2005, or 2006, did it come with adj pedals and AWD/4WD, and is my thinking logical, or am I missing the boat???
Thanks...this could be the money saving idea of the century, and the century has just begun...
Also, are there any unique problems specific to the Aviator that one needs to be aware of???
Aviator has optional AWD, not 4x4. Don't know about adj pedals.
The thing runs and handles great.
It has far more than it's share of problems though as a search of the fora will show.
I almost bought one in 04. Got a Navigator instead which has been rock solid. Glad I got it.
The Av seemed to be just a luxury Expy with a super V8 engine...how can they screw up something that is 90% proven Expy and 10% new???
This is one time I will not diss the UAW, altho it is tempting...:):):):):)
Best friend bought an 03 Aviator, 2WD. It was just awful....nothing but trouble, and had all the common ailments. Well, one day, his salesman at the Lincoln store called and said, "Hey, Ford would like to get you out of that lemon, come on down". He went down, and chose an 05 Aviator with navigation, also 2wd. That one has been perfect in every way, he's never had an issue with it at all. So, IF you choose to go that way, get the 05 or 06, and you should be ok.
I have done nothing so far, as I am really trying to compare many products, and ideas keep coming to me, like my used Aviator idea, as I posted earlier...
For the record, I really like the size, look and layout of the Explorer, esp the 2006/2007 with the shifter on the console/floor. moreso than the previous Explorer...hence, I recently remembered that the Av had the floor shifter and good V8 when it came out, but with a $40K-plus MSRP...now that it is used, I had thought of taking advantage of its "drop like a rock" depreciation...I also think that the Av came with Xenon headlights when no Explorer does
I still have eyes for the Av, but other SUVs come to mind...Hyundai Santa Fe and Veracruz, Saab 9-7X (V8), 2007 Expy, Jeep GC, Chrysler Aspen (but may be too big), and some others that do not come to mind at this late hour...
If I could get a cream puff Av, it just might be the ticket and save money on a used one...
You mentioned a 2005 or 2006...I thought the final year of the Av was 05, not 06...am I wrong???
However, last night at the auction, as I was shopping cars for this mornings sales, it was brutally cold, and I jumped into a Lexus LX470 and used it to drive around and find what I wanted. I've never driven one of those SUVs before. Now, this was an 04 with 26,000 miles on it. Up until now, the Aviator or Navigator were the best I've ever driven as far as NVH. This one though, put them to shame. It is unbelievably smooth and quiet. I don't know what you want to spend - this one went for $35,000 today. I found myself wondering if I should sell the Explorer, and buy this Lexus....
Anyway, the Aviator had a real charm about it to me. It was super nimble, powerful, pretty and functional. I would not be afraid of an 04 or 05. Especially, if it still has some factory warranty on it. Just in case it had an issue, you could get it fixed free.
Of course, there is always a used LX470.......
marsha7, "Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans" #701, 28 Mar 2001 1:00 pm
marsha7, "Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis" #2288, 6 Aug 2004 8:10 am
marsha7, "Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)" #2, 13 Feb 2000 10:57 pm (Intrepid)
I suspect he holds the record for having kicked the tires of more makes and models than anyone else!
tidester, host
But, I have spent a little money in my life with Edmunds:
1998 Buick Regal (pre-Edmunds???)
2000 Dodge Intrepid ES
2000 Mercury Sable (the only one bought used)
2004 Crown Vic
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi
The car I seek is for me...the wife has her Hemi truck, so this vehicle should last her over 10 years, at about 11K miles per month, should not break 100K until a decade...
So, all the posting is for me...real SUV, crossover, cruising car (hence, the Caddy DTS site), diesel vs gas, yada, yada, yada...
If I had no limits on spending, I would probably have the following:
1995-2000 Mercedes 500SL roadster, jsut for those overcast days I want to cruise alone...or, a 320CDI just to get 35 mpg on a diesel engine...
2002-2004 Jaguar XJL or Vanden Plas (both have extended chassis for larger rear seats) for taking 2 couples out to dinner, or I want to cruise the highway...
2006-7 Caddy DTS for long road trips needing trunk space...
FINALLY, an SUV of SOME KIND, just because I WANT ONE!!!...when I bought the Crown Vic, I had mentioned an Explorer, but wife, the real marsha, was dead set against it...since she is the one who decides if the wedding cake has killed her s*x drive or not, I will comply...
THEN, we bought her truck, so SHE now sits up high, protected by all this metal, sitting in a tank, so NOW the thought of an SUV for me makes sense (shoulda bought the truck first, wouldn't have any arguments fro the git-go)...
So, I post on 8000 topics, always asking the same questions, and wonder what I will end up owning...
But, no, while I ask a million questions, I really have been spending my $$$ on new cars, oddly all American made vehicles when I was enamored by my previous 4 Hondas...
The fact that I am married tells you two things about me:
1. I now how to take orders...and
2. I have lost the will to live...:):):):):)
Did you ever wonder how I would survive if all my tire kicking had to be real instead of virtual on Edmunds???
The thought scares me...:):):)
I pulled some info on the 2005 Aviator, and it lists many specs, including exterior colors...but no listing of interior colors, cloth or leather...I like dark colors, like charcoal gray and black, midnight blue )like on Caddy DTS) also OK...
What were the interior colors and fabrics.leathers available in those years with the various exterior colors???
Hey, if I may someday buy a car, I really do want to enjoy looking at it...my friend has a Jag, deep blue with almost white interior...beautiful to look at, but, with me, would show dirt in a week...so, dark colors for me...
I was wondering how to tell if it only 2wd or awd? I looked under the SUV and saw what looked like a front diff and rear diff.
It had a hidden tow hitch with a 3500 lbs limit....this mean 2wd???
Cheers
Auction pass, so I can literally kick 2000 tires per week if I want to, drive any of 'em, at least around the lot.
The Aviator only has two interior colors - tan and dark gray. It's two tone, but quite dark. Graphite, I think they call it.
There's another option for you though, if you can't find the Aviator of your dreams...(they are a marvelous driving machine). The Lexus GX470. Similar size, V-8, smooth like butter, and used, not a king's ransom. Although, you may need to go a little older for the same money. Last week, I stumbled on one at the auction here, it was an 04 with 25,000 miles on it. Had been a leased car. It was gorgeous, ended up selling for $35,000. Half the price of new, and honestly, you could not tell it was used. Check 'em out.
You have actually irritated the hosts, because you have now given me one more vehicle to add to my never ending list, one I never considered...:):):):):)
You know what this means...I must, by law, now join into the GX topic, to bother them forever and ever, until I decide to keep it on or off my list...
Maybe it will be easier if the hosts of the GX topic are not the same ones as here, then they won't know who I am and I can post incognito...:):):):):)
LoL! Actually, we enjoy following your pursuits and appreciate your contributions.
tidester, host
Nah, that won't happen...as soon as I buy one, 5 different carmakers will upgrade all the ones I DID NOT BUY, making them all exactly what I REALLY wanted, and then I won't be happy with my purchase and the whole process will start all over again...:):):):):)
Nah, won't happen. Based on your activity over the years, I suspect you'll start researching your next vehicle within weeks if not days. It's called foresight and deliberation.
tidester, host
We're thinking of purchasing a 2003 Aviator from a private seller. It only has 25K miles on it and they are asking $8K under NADA. It looks great and has tons of amenities. My problem, I have a '95 Eagle Vision TSI that I love - have had it for 10 years, therefore no car payments for 6 years and it gets 22 miles/gallon in town and 30 on the hwy. The Aviator gets what...13/15. So the money I'm saving up front, I'll be paying at the pump. Yeah, it would be great to own a "Lincoln," a luxury SUV. Any thoughts, opinions, suggestions would be appreciated from previous owners. Thanks so much!
If you really like the looks and the way it drives then go for it but don't expect it to be trouble free. Check the compression in all the cylinders to rule out the head problem (for now).