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2K Ford Explorer Sport Trac's
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manager's phone # that was mentioned in some of the recent postings. It would be greatly appreciated.
Don't know how true this is.
Yesterday, the 20th, my sales guy called me at work to tell me he received an email from Ford stating the Skid Plates are on a materials hold and if I wanted to keep them on my order, it would be October/November before my ST would be ready. I don't plan on driving this ST in serious enough conditions to warrant the Skid Plates so I conceeded and told him to cancel them off the order. He said he should be calling me in a couple of weeks with my VIN.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated at this point. I called the 800# for Ford Customer Service and they still do not show a build date but they do see my order in the system. She said that there was something noted on my order 'screen' on the 15th (which by the way was a Thursday, and supposedly the days the 'allocater' runs) but then she said, "Oh nothing." It made me a little suspect as to what she may be looking at. She told me to call the dealer with delivery status questions above what she could tell me.
I will stay on this issue of the skid plates. I thought it important to come back and tell all my homeys in this forum about this development.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Good luck
If you are even thinking of taking the ST off road, consider purchasing the skid plates as cheap
insurance. The ST doesn't offer much clearance
to begin with.
The skid plates bolt-on and can be dealer installed at a later date - after the parts are no longer on material hold. Note that the "over the parts counter" price can be 2-3 times higher - highlighted by post #572 regarding to the cargo cage. Just have the dealer agree to sell and install them for ~ factory invoice price. I had two dealers agree to this when I was shopping for mine.
Best of Luck
cover? I ordered one on 6/6 from my dealer, he said they are back ordered and could take a week to a month to get it. What all problems are you having with the top? Does it keep it dry in the box? What should I avoid or do to make sure I dont damage it?
Thanks, Ryno
It would be impossible for me to resist posting on anything to do with the STs wheels. LOL!!
I can't comment on the spare tire room under the ST but I can give you some numbers for someone to help from here.
Wait, there's smoke coming of my keyboard...
The 15" standard tire P235/75R15
Tire diameter = 28.87"
Tire circumference = 90.72"
The 16" Premium Sport tire P255/70R16
Tire diameter = 30.055"
Tire circumference = 94.42"
**AN AFTERMARKET 15" TIRE** P255/75R15
Tire diameter = 30.059"
Tire circumference = 94.43"
I've heard that consistent tire diameter is important with some AWD systems but since Ford sets up the ST spare this way it's obviously not an issue with the ST's differentials.
Reguardless, if your goal is to keep the diameter of the spare tire the same as the 16" PS tire, replacing the 15" spare's rubber to the listed size would accomplish that for less $.
Sorry guys, couldn't resist....
If I told my dealer over the phone that it was ok to do it without the plates, do i have a leg to stand on and go back to him and ask/insist they do it for the $125 after the part becomes available?
I didn't even think to try and get them to stick to the original deal even if it meant aftermarket.
I mean, they would make me stick to the deal since I signed my life away when I ordered it.
Let me know!
Ford cover is of excellent quality; 30 minute easy one person installation. I have no leaks from rain or washing the truck and I did drive it in a monsoon downpour (approximately 2 inches of rain in 45 minutes/real bad Louisiana weather).
Installation instructions included in the box are only fair and I have some suggestions to possibly avoid my hot climate installation problems:
- Park truck out in the sun and let the bed heat up and expand before installation. You have a composite plastic bed, composite rear quarter panels and fenders. I did mine in the shade and found the bed expanded almost one inch wider in the sun. Did not think it out. Cold weather? Your guess is as good as mine?
- Assemble and dry fit the aluminum frame, plastic corner brackets and cross braces on the bed BEFORE removing the paper exposing the adhesive on the weather stripping. The tonneau rails and cross braces are stamped/marked where they go (passenger side/driver side and first cross brace/second cross brace) these parts must be used where marked. Even the cross braces are not interchangeable. You should also put on the turnbuckles to snug the frame down gently for a test fit before permanently attaching the the tonneau frame to the ST's bed. You will get a better fit and alignment this way.
- Rolling up the tonneau to put in small items did not cause me any problems. Removing the tailgate brace and the two cross braces, parking my ST in the sun, and my turnbuckles snugged down too tight - sheared a plastic corner bracket behind the cab. Remember the bed side rails are held down by the turnbuckles and adhesive weather stripping; the tonneau cover's rail is also held down with adhesive weather stripping. Enough said - I COULD HAVE LOOSENED THE TURNBUCKLES A LITTLE BEFORE REMOVING THE TAILGATE BRACE AND CROSS BRACES - and might have avoided this problem.
Would still recommend soft tonneau but Ford should have metal corner brackets not plastic for the ST.
I got my cover within 5 days of order in April.
Dealer can't get me a new cover/parts now - everyone is probably buying the soft cover because of Ford's delivery problems with their hard covers. After my experience and the Ford back order problem, I would look for an after market soft tonneau cover with metal corner braces. Ford's is fine just need metal corner braces for the ST.
I probably can give most of you what the true story is concerning ordering this SUV/Truck as my ST is a company unit and was ordered by one of the nations biggest leasing company who orders several hundred units for my company each year.
I ordered 4-10 and even changed the color on 4-19 with no problem.I received the ST 6-16 and was told there was a shipping problem which held it up as it was built 5-29.
I can truly say this is one of the nicest vehicles I have owned and I usually get a new car every two years,I just love it!
Now even though I love it and have found only one sample defect the power steering does seem to be a problem.When I turn the steering wheel when going very slow I get the studdering which makes the ST seem like it is going to stall but now I know it is the power steering unit. Even with this problem I still love the ST, however hopefully some of you have had the problem fixed
and so can I.
I do have 16" tires and somewhere in this e-mail posting I thought I saw someone say some of the problem could be caused by this.
Has anyone had this problem and had it fixed?
That's just my opinion...I could be wrong
1) Why didn't you order the cargo cage w/ the truck (it would have been less expensive). We did and paid $166.
2) Why didn't you go with the in-dash 6-cd changer? I realize that often changers are less expensive and most of the time they are better but this one is fantastic.
3) It seems to me that adding a moonroof after the vehicle is built may not be a great decision. Just one second hand experience with that. A friend of mine did that and had nothing but problems with the moonroof leaking and it just didn't look right. My question here again is, why did you not choose that option when you purchased the vehicle?
And yes, parts and service with Ford are simply awful, aren't they? We ordered a hood protector (2-piece to protect the grill from bugs, rocks, etc.) one same day we took delivery of our ST and we're STILL waiting...one month later.
2. The dealer did not have the changer and the wait was too long (I am impatient)
3. I agree with your comment on the moonroof after-market. However, the company (recommended by Ford) stated that most cars on the lot with a moonroof have them added after they have been manufactured.
As far as purchasing the vehicle without adding all the extras..there were only 2 vehicles in a 50 mile radius and as I mentioned above, AI am a bit impatient.
I also have to say...Dolphins66 Great comments, I was wondering all the same things. And as to bigdogst1. I am also an impatient person. I want it and I want it now. But I am also wise enough to know "Whats worth having, is worth waiting for" And sometimes to get what you want the way it should be...requires a little more patients. Will keep you posted on My ST. Thanks
He did say that releasing the Skid Plates from the order helped it along. I asked him about them being put on aftermarket and he said yes, but he would check on the price with the parts counter. I told him I know how much the parts counter is going to charge (rape) and it would be bad customer service to not put these on when they come available for the price I WOULD have paid at the time of the vehicle being built.
He is calling his District Manager to see if it is possible to do what I am asking. He did this after I asked for the phone number at Ford for someone to talk to about the Skid Plates.
(any suggestions on how pushy I should be with this issue? please post!)
Good Luck everyone. I hope I am close to that delivery date! I ordered on Saturday June 10 and got my VIN on Thursday June 22. Pretty good so far considering some of the horror stories on here!
Until next update...hasta!
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=SUV&t=2639&Z=nnKlq3DxmIwW6FaEdXFwwevXr8O27fIF
It's topic 2639.
bonanza ford sold me the vehicle for $100 over invoice (edmunds is right on) plus $28 gas and $130 adv. these last 2 items are a rip off, but this was still $650 less than in my local area. i'm leasing my vehicle for business and the bonanza manager really did check around for the best lease. in fact he saved me the $350 end of lease return fee that a lot of lease companys charge.
i'll get back and let you know all about the final experience with bonanza ford and how working with someone over the phone worked out. i've got my fingers crossed that the repairs were completed and that i'll be able to get in and out of the dealership quickly. by the way, i was able to sit in a st at the local dealer but have not been able to find one to drive. i've relied on the posts and the majority have been so favorable, i figured how can i lose. we'll see.
(KY)factory where the ST is built and the brand manager's phone # that was mentioned in some of
the recent postings. It would be greatly appreciated.
special service message #14005 fix for the power
steering shimmy
Anyone else waiting for a long time. Thanks for the good information from everyone.
GG
I was so excited to discover that the CD-6 radio has RDS. Haven't ever seen that fact advertised! Woo hoo!!!
I definitely notice the power steering "shimmy" that I've read about. Haven't noticed the moon roof leaking, but am watching.
Thanks for all the great comments over the past few months.
re: greenwade,
Hope you didn't give up to soon! I feel your frustration every time I pass a Ford dealership and see Sporty's on the lot. Along with all the great posts in this site. Im iching to get mine too! I was going to take it on vacation this summer and in fact planned on it. But here I sit with no truck..... Stupidity? or just plane Stubborn? Hope my wait will pay off by getting the top and interest rates will be a little lower.......
re: beard1,
The "Oasis system special service message # 14005 on how to fix power steering shimmy" you mentioned. What is the solution? What does it say? Where did you get this information? And how can I get it? (thanks)
re: mkazarian,
My salesman told me yesterday that the CD player was being updated and the current one that comes in the Sport Trac in no longer avalable. Some time ago doing research I came across "Product Features" in some site and it said that a "Boston Acoustics Audiophile System including six speakers and subwoofer" would be the upgrade from the standard 1 CD player. Wondering if this is the one taking the place of the current 6 disk CD?
Thanks guys.... great posts..... keep the test drives coming!
There aren't many stations that currently take advantage of the system -- or at least not many here in St. Louis. I understand that this is still catching on in the U.S. It's much more popular in Europe.
If more radio stations adopt this system, it would be awesome. Especially to be able to search the type of music while traveling, and to get ongoing traffic reports of accidents, etc. at home.
btw, an update from my post this a.m. even though the st's steering with 16" wheels at freeway speeds is not real tight, it handles like a dream on winding mountain roads. also in the 400 miles i've driven now, i get intermittent rattles.
this topic is being "frozen." Please continue these discussions in Topic 2031 2K Ford Explorer Sport Trac's - II. Thanks!
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