Lincoln Aviator Maintenance and Repair

aa8qf

One other thing. Make sure you keep all of your service invoices, number of days out of service, etc.

bmwspngd

Did my first non-dealer oil change and the indicator alerts every time I start up. Thanks in advance.

akirby

Try reading the owner's manual.

bmwspngd

It does not tell you how to shut it off for good... I can "reset" without a problem EVERY time I start to drive. Need to reset for 5000 miles...
Thanks.

akirby

Ok, you're going to FORCE me to go look it up for you, aren't you?

2003 Aviator owner's manual, page 151.

Go through the Setup options until it says Oil Change or Oil Life at 0%.

2. Press and release the RESET
control to display“HOLD RESET
TO CONFIRM”.
3. Press and hold the RESET
control to displayOIL LIFE SET TO
100%. Your oil life is now reset.

oggie

Hello,

I am hoping people will offer suggestions for the following...I have found a 2004 aviator that has been on the dealer lot and has only 80 total miles. Not 80k just 80 total. They have offered me it for 35K fully loaded with sun roof, they will add voice navigation and Blue tooth technology for free. The warranty is as if it were a new car Is this a good deal? Are these reliable cars?

However, I have also been looking at the 2006 4 runners.

What would others do?

nvbanker

I'm not fond of the 4-runner - they are way different and much more trucky - to say nothing of the useless 3rd seat in the Toyota. Obviously, I'd get the Aviator - the price is good.

explorerx4

since you being so helpful, is there a way to change when the warning displays? :confuse:
i think there is, but i'm too lazy to look it up. can you refill my drink while you are at it?

akirby

:P

dickerdoug

I would like this info also. I know it can be done, because I stumbled upon how to override a Toyota Prius. (There is a way to use the touch screen and enter the "service" menu of the nav system.)

If you find out, please email me with the instructions. I will post any info I find here also.

himpim

I have a 2004 Aviator, 12,500 miles, purchased new. Within 6 months of purchase, battery went dead - dealer found nothing wrong, assumed a bad cell, and replaced with new battery. Now a year later, another dead battery. Dealer again says no obvious problems, it just needed recharging. I was told to just drive it more to get it charged up. Has anyone had a similar problem? Thanks.

nvbanker

Yes, I have had that EXACT problem with my 03 Navigator. After a little personal research, I discovered that my Stereo didn't ever turn off the backlights, which would over time drain my battery, and eventually ruin it dragging it through deep cycles of charge/discharge. Once discovered, I showed the service tech how the face of the stereo unit was hot all the time, and at night, the lights glowed constantly. They replaced it, no problem since.

I'm guessing you have something that is not shutting down like it should, draining your battery. If you drive it consistently, you probably wouldn't notice it until the battery failed. If you let the car sit a couple of days, I'll bet it'll go dead. Good luck

tbaughman

My Aviator is a 2004. It wants to dye on me as I am driving down the road. It starts up with no problems but when I am driving it it almost dies, then it starts going again. I won't have another one this car is a far cry from my Navigator which I loved!!! Does anyone have a clue as too what this problem is? :mad:

Tammy

akirby

"It wants to dye on me"

What color??

Seriously - is it still under warranty? Could be something very simple like bad gas. How many miles?

quemfala

O.K., to all of you who believe that you are "technically challenged" and can't change the inane belt-minder chime by reading the manual. Trust me, the manual is INCORRECT! At least on my wife's '04 Aviator. Shop tech called hotline #5LSDM003 and was told that info in owner's manual is incorrect. They performed service with WDS 386 WL94, FC: A85 42, Part # 10D840. Long winded, I know, but that's how they fixed ours.

quemfala

My wife just loves this vehicle, and since we've changed dealers for sevice, seems they know what they're talking about. 1st visit, great service, clean '05 Navigator for loaner.

TSB's identified and fixed, Seat Belt Chime - see post #424. Squeaking noise from steering wheel when turning, fixed with TSB 041001A OP Not in ADP 386 WL94, Part #3504. Driver's seat moves back and forth, TSB 05 4 16 050416A, install clips into seat track Part # 3L2Z*78618D46*AA kit

They also had to machine the front rotors to correct some "brake shake" experienced in braking from speed.

All in all, a good experience

Merry Christmas, and Life is Better at the Beach!

kiwicat

Right.
I also had the slight movement of driver seat when starting & stopping. They installed clips into seat track and the problem is gone with the wind. It really works!!

wilspwr

I had a 2003 Aviator, loved the climate controlled seats because they got "hot" or "cold", actually needed to decrease setting from 5 to 3. I traded in the 2003 on a 2005 Aviator. The 2005 Aviator climate controlled seats don't even get "warm" or "cool". An expensive option that doesn't work. Been to LM dealer 4 times to complain in first 6 months of ownership, all I get is "unable to duplicate problem" or "works to specifications". Thinking of going Lemon Law route. Any experience with this problem.

ajmtbm

i cant imagine there was a difference between the 2003 and 2005 seats, especially given the fact that the Aviator was discontinued after 2005.

we have an 02 explorer, and the heated seats dont get piping hot, but they are noticeable.

best bet maybe is to get you dealer to agree to sit in an aviator that is in his lot with you and have him experience the seats. then sit in yours.

we had what turned out to be a blend door problem that the dealer couldn't duplicate. i finally had to tell them EXACTLY how to duplicate the problem before they fixed it. took a lot of time and effort on my part, but if i hadn't done it, i probably would have had to replace it on my nickel at some point.

you may also want to go to a different dealer and see if they can see the problem. also try to call the ford / LM customer care center and tell them what happened. they are helpful.

asema

when my foot is on the accelerator, a hear a soft, high-pitch sound coming from the rear. As soon as I lift my foot off of the accelerator, the sound is gone. Its very sensitive, i.e. a softest touch to the accelerator produces the sound. Is this a fuel-lines related sound? Its very annoying, even though most people might not hear it (i'm very picky, and since I knwo its there, I hear it constantly). Anyone else hear it? Remedies?
thanks.

akirby

That's the dreaded Rear Axle Whine. There's a TSB for it - take it to the dealer.

ltbellis

Bought my 2003 Aviator with 52,000 miles (Bought it used from a Chevrolet dealer). Got an extended warranty. One week after purchase, heard the soft, high pitch whine. Happened during acceleration and only at 60mph or greater. Dealer said there had "been issues" noted with the ring and pinion and agreed to replace. Got back and it makes a VERY, VERY loud "wind-down" noise when DE-accelerating. Sounds like a dump truck. Took back to dealer - spoke with mechanic - said he put in new parts, but used old shims. Said the backlash was set at 6 thousdandths - Dealer kept for a couple days, said they took apart and everything was set "just perfect". Am VERY upset as I know that $50,000 vehicle shouldn't sound like dump truck during de-acceleration. Dealer said that is "just the way they sound" due to aluminim casing. Didn't make this horrible noise before new rear-end installed. Dealer said if they "tightened" it, the high-pitched noise would return. Any suggestions or thoughts? Am desparate as I paid good money for vehicle and have only had a couple of months. LOVE the vehicle but don't know if I can live in dump truck atmosphere.

ltbellis

Am new to this type of forum. Where do I find the TSB's and the ADP's that you mention? I have squeak in steering wheel and would like to see possible solution.

akirby

They're somewhere on the NHTSA government website. Search for NHTSA technical service bulletins.

stever

TSB summaries (and recall info) can also be found in the Edmunds Maintenance Guide.

The NHTSA sometimes has full text of the TSBs or you can buy them at Alldata.com if your friendly service writer won't give or show you a copy.

Steve, Host

baustin

i own a 2003 aviator it has 56000 miles on it.recently the rear shocks are no good.making a banging noise.about 300.00 bucks a shock installed yikes.....any one wiyth this problem extended warranty no coverage

akirby

First I've heard about shocks going bad, but if your roads are rough it's certainly possible.

Why did you pay $300 per shock? You could have gotten Bilsteins or Edelbrocks for half that.

tiller1

have 03 aviator w/43k--during low speed turns,wheels would cause steering shudder--ford has a recall on new hose--they put new hose on a month ago and it fixed problem.wind noise coming from dash area-while driving 65-80 mph on interstate--dealer said it was luggage rack bracket-that also solved the wind noise sound.brake tick or rattle--warrenty took care of it by replacing nut and bolt on caliper.hitch pitch whine--coming from rear end--warrenty also fixed it w/new ring gear and pinion kit and bearings.hope this helps folks

heyjewel

Great post, tiller1. Full of solutions not problems. Bravo!

zanud

I just read your e-mail on the aviator problem. I have owned my aviator for 1.5 years and I have the same problem. Has anything been resolved yet.

Thanks,

= = = = Nick = = = =

heyjewel

Nick;

Man, that's a year old message you're replying to.

I do know a little about it though I don't have an Aviator. I have a Lincoln LS, 2001 since new and it has the same problem. Ford did nothing to solve my problem either except to say that it works "within spec" but repeatedly refused to produce the spec.

I am 99% sure that Joel got his Aviator bought back. But it aint easy to do. My LS is 100% great except for this problem and I've learned to live with it. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth though - DO YOU HEAR ME, BILL FORD?

normanran

2003 Aviator with 27000 miles on it. Had good heat for the first 2 winters. Now the heat blows cold at an idle. If your diving the heat blows nice and warm. When you stop for a traffic light temp drops like a rock. From the mileage you can see it does a lot of city driving. The engine temp gauge shows the engine holding temp but air out of the heater turns ice cold. If you drop it in neutral and bring rpm up to 1200, heat comes back. The dealer had it for 2 weeks trying to get the problem corrected. They changed the thermostat. No change. The service writer said they changed a gasket on some thing but couldn't be very specific. They said the thought they had it fixed but with warmer weather coming they weren't sure. Today was cold, they didn't fix it.It seems like a coolant flow issue rather than a climate control issue since reving the engine slightly raises the temp. Has any body had a similar problem or hopefully had it fixed? The dealer is trying but no luck so far.

scootertrash

Heater control valve?

normanran

I'm going back to the dealer tomorrow to get some answers as to what they actualy did do. I'll ask about the heater control valve. It still has a year left on the warranty so I have to be careful how much I mess with myself. I want them to pay for as much as possible. All the electronic climte control is nice when it's working but appears to be difficult to diagnos when it doesn't. I'll let you know what I find out.

hbarth

The hatchback door of my 05 Aviator rattles and the rear window pops up in traffic for no apparent reason. The dealer has not been able to correct and I cannot see an adjustment myself. Someone please help. Many Thanks HLB

akirby

Maybe the remote hatch release is activating by itself, opening the rear hatch which rattles until it opens? Is it possible you're accidentally hitting the hatch release on the keyfob?

macusr

I managed to blow the fuse that runs the power outlet in the center console (armrest) of my '04 aviator. I can't find anything else that is not operating and I also can't find any listing in the manual that says which fuse this is related to. If anyone knows that would be great! Thanks!!!! :confuse:

akirby

In your owner's manual there should be a map of the fuses. Or just pull them one by one and check them. You can also get a fuse tester that lets you check each one without pulling them.

clarksalmo

I have an 04 Aviator with the same problem. Once the vehicle heats up in cold weather, the side window vents blow cold air. :mad:

heyjewel

Good luck getting it fixed. Ford says it's within spec, but they won't show me the spec. If u have any success, please report back here as there are a bunch of us with the same issue.

sorlando3

I OWN AN '03 AVIATOR. INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON, DOORS DON'T LOCK AUTOMATICALLY,OR THEY UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING AND YOU HAVE TO LOCK THEM MANUALLY, DOOR AJAR WARNING STAYS ON,DRIVER'S WINDOW GOES DOWN WHEN PRESSING UP BUTTON. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T TEST IT OR FIX IT UNLESS THEY SEE IT HAPPEN. UNFORTUNATELY, DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE SUV IS IN THE SHOP, HOWEVER, THEY DID "FIX" THE WINDOW 3 TIMES.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN '03. HELP!

tidester

Welcome aboard!

I suggest turning off your CAPS LOCK. People tend to ignore messages types in ALL CAPS.

tidester, host

heyjewel

Geez that's gotta be frustrating. Since new this stuff's been happening and they can't fix it.

U know, I see a message like this and think 'wouldn't it be nice if someone from Ford could try to empathize with this customer, realize that this is a customer to be won or lost with this vehicle (and a darned expensive one at that) and perhaps get some upstairs help for this Lincoln owner?' Wouldn't that be nice?

normanran

OK, it took them another couple of weeks with the vehicle to figure it out but the heat is fixed.The best answer I can get is that there is a hose from the radiator tank that has some kind of check valve in it that was causing a problem. They said they had never seen this check valve in a hose before. Must have been in the early production and dropped in newer models. The new hose didn't have the valve in it. It took too long to find but at least it is finally fixed.

mikemarc

I just bought this SUV less than a week ago and in my garage this morning I noticed that there was an oily fluid leaking from the driver's side rear tire up by the axle. It's a 2004 and had only 20K miles on it. I've scheduled an appointment with the dealership to have it checked out. Anyone on this board have any clue as to what this may be?
Thanks......

akirby

Sounds like brake fluid. Check the brake hoses and connections on the caliper. If it was closer to the center of the rear axle it might be differential fluid.

mikemarc

Thanks for your quick response. If it is differential fluid, what kind of trouble am I in?

akirby

Not sure, but if it's by the wheel it's most likely brake fluid - probably a loose or damaged brake hose or a leaky caliper.

mikemarc

Thanks akirby for your help. I just got a call from the dealership and they told me it was fluid from the shocks and they would have to order the part and it won't be ready until tomorrow. In the meantime I'm driving a Ford Focus as a loaner car. My image is ruined!

akirby

Didn't think about the shocks. Glad it wasn't serious.