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Comments
Whats wrong with that?
In order for the comparison to the Subaru "Gold Plus" warranty to be valid, the "Extra Care" which is one step down from the "Premium Care" would need to essentially offer bumper to bumper coverage comparable to the original Manufacurers 3yr / 36K warranty (this is how Subaru describes their Gold Plus warranty).
Subaru OB (AWD) 7yr/100K,
"Gold Plus", $0 Ded = (MSRP) $2,460.00
Ford Taurus (FWD) 7yr/100K
"Premium" , $0 Ded = (MSRP)$2,820.00 (assuming a 25% discount)
My experience trying to comparison shop, on 4 different websites, for the Explorer warranty tells me the most I am probably going to save on a Ford warranty is 15%. In which case my expectation is that the best I could do for a Ford backed "Premium Care" warranty --with the most comprehensive coverage-- on the Taurus is about $2,400 compared to the best discounted price on the Subaru OB, 40% off or $1,400. As I pointed out earlier, the Subaru warranty is covering an AWD vehicle so one would actually expect that warranty to be more expensive, all other factors being equal.
Even though the Ford "Extra Care" coverage would seem to be less comprehensive than the Subaru "Gold Plus" coverage, at $1,700 the Ford Taurus warranty is still $300 more expensive even though it's covering a less complicated vehicle, (FWD as opposed to AWD).
~Cath
Wow! Sorry you are having so many problems with your '06 Explorer. I bought one for my wife. We have put about 8,500 miles on it so far. We have not had one problem with it. Our average fuel economy (ours is a V6) is 17.8 mpg. Mostly around town driving. I'm surprised by your mileage since the V8 and V6 are rated very similar.
Have the same likes as you, but don't have the glare problem, and believe it or not, I'm used to the door handles where they are, but did have an instance or two where I had to put a little pressure on the armrest to keep the door from swinging out too quickly. (My wife is still not a fan of the handles.) I heard that the interior designers have already made a door handle change on the next one coming in September.
But overall, we love the Explorer. My wife says the best vehicle she has ever driven. Her favorite feature is the suede and leather seats. Man, are they comfortable.
Keep in mind that a warranty for a more complicated vehicle will also cost more. Accordingly a lower priced warranty with the same exact coverage means that that vehicle has a history of lower repair costs.
Unfortunately, every dealer has different markup practices on these warranties and the markup is HUGE! like designer clothes HUGE and by designer I mean Versace or Armini! So its hard to compare between dealerships if you don't call around.
Mark.
I owned a 97 Mountaineer previously and I actually had fewer problems and better service than I've gotten so far with Toyota. Just the luck of the draw, I guess.
Coman, that just can't be true. A toyota having more problems than a Ford product. No way. All those people out there that own Toyotas will be crushed and devastated by this news. My god, I think I'll just go jump in my 2004 Mountaineer and drive to the nearest bridge and jump off. I'm just flabbergasted. NOT!
Good luck in the future with your new Toyota.
My dealer though is great on service, never an excuse, nor a harsh word. They always give me a free loaner, and treat me like gold there.
Maybe the pesky solenoid.....
My wife drives a 2000 Explorer 4.0 SOHC with the 5R55E and it has always shifted fine, but I guess I feel lucky. The internals of the transmission are great, but their are a few main problems from what I can gather.
1) To many electronic components (6 solenoids), and one that is variable (called EPC solenoid) that controls how your transmission shifts. This is the "learning" component that adjusts to your driving style.
2) Other valve body problems such as: Reverse servo seals (now double lipped instead of single lipped), valve body separator plate gasket breaches, and other more minor design issues.
3) Finally, I completely disagree with Ford sealing the transmission. I don't care what anyone says, this is plain dumb. Sealed for life, when life = 150,000 miles, isn't good enough. Average truck life is 180,000 miles now, get with it Ford. In addition to that, when the thing needs to be serviced, it is a labor intensive undertaking. I am waiting to see if the 6-speed in the new Explorer is sealed. If it is, I wont be buying one. Please don't try to defend Ford's use of them again, the posts I have seen here are evidence enough that this is a mistake.
With that said, I really really like the 06 Explorer. I sat in one at the auto show in Detroit, and was amazed at how nice and comfortable it was. The interior appointments put my wife's 00 Limited to shame. Since my Expedition's miles are starting to rack up, I will be seriously considering one of 06/07's in the future, given that Ford don't cop out on a dipstick for the transmission.
FWIW: The 00 Explorer has been a pretty darn good truck. I had to put on new upper and lower ball joints, in addition to new shocks. However, we go through suspension parts like water where I live. The dirt roads are brutal, and wifey driving 35-40 miles an hour down them to "skip" over the bumps, doesn't help. Switched to Rancho brand shocks, from the Edelbrocks(sp?). Working great for now at about 100,000 miles!
The thing is - I don't believe anybody on the planet makes a better designed SUV of this size. So, I may buy yet another one. One more thing - my dealer has never given me a single problem about repairs. No arguments, got a free loaner, and the repairs were done on time.
Mark.
I have been trying to look for information on this tranny, but it has so far been a futile effort. Maybe I am looking in the wrong areas, but thought a google search would work-it hasn't.
The sealed part really is a let down. I just don't like it being that much harder to service if need be. I really want the V8 (like 292HP), but I want to be able to trust the transmission, and it seems like the 5R55W in the 2002-2005 Explorer was having its limits pushed with the 239HP in that generation's V8.
NVbanker: Sorry to hear about your woe(s), you've been a pretty loyal Ford owner (I think I recall you having a great dealer). Was it your 2002 that was a V6 that had strange shifts cured by a reflash?
If I recall correctly, the A4LD in the 1991-1992 Explorer's had a dual wrap band (overdrive) that failed frequently. In 1992, Ford switched to a better single wrap design.
http://atsg.biz/
Does anyone here know if the 6R60 is the transmission co-developed with GM? If GM is using it, I wonder if they are sealing it up in their applications? Is the 6R60 based on the 5R55* at all?
After I found out here yesterday that the 6R60 is sealed, I was trying to think in my head of why an automotive company would want to do that. First thought makes me think they want the transmission to fail. If its actual life is 150,000 miles, then Ford should warranty it for that period. I know, unrealistic. I was able to dig up a 2006 service suggestion guide for 2006 Ford vehicles yesterday. At 150,000 miles, Ford suggests changing the transmission fluid for the first time. Maybe that means that the fluid itself has a life of 150,000 miles. Not sure if I feel any better about that. I hope that the 6R's come with a giant transmission oil cooler to help slow the inevitable break down of the fluid from heat.
More: I know I'm rambling, sorry folks I'm almost done.
It's been a while since we've owned a Honda at our house (2001), but I don't recall us ever having to pay as close of attention to the maintenance on those as our Fords. When I say that, I am not talking about the oil and filter. That was religiously changed at 3,000-7,500mile intervals per the owners manual. With our Fords, I feel like I can't miss a beat. If I am right on top of maintenance, then Fords will treat you well. With that said, how many people do I know (lets say a few) that own foreign vehicles that barely do maintenance. Maybe that is where Ford's thinking is. Since many people may not know or remember to do maintenance, they will try an eliminate it as much as possible. Problem is, I don't think Ford has this down to a science yet. To date, I still haven't seen a 5R55W-S have more than 100,000 miles yet. I know it is rare that many people could do that in 4 1/2 years, but the lack of evidence surrounding the longevity of these transmissions isn't confidence inspiring.
Finally, are the days of Explorer's making it to 250-300K gone? Time will tell I suppose.
That tranny is FWD platform only.
It is my understanding that the 6R60 is a ZF unit from Europe.
Mark.
I did some more looking around on the internet and came across Ford's media release for their new 6-speed automatics.
This is what I found:
New 6F Front wheel drive, six-speed automatic co-developed with GM,rated for up to 300HP
6R Ford developed and built in Livonia, Mich. Only application is in the '06 Explorer and Mountaineer so far.
Aisin front wheel drive, six-speed automatic:
Used in Five-Hundred, Montego, Milan, Fusion, and Zephyr.
ZF 6-speed RWD
Used only in the Navigator
________________________
Since Ford developed and is building the 6R, I wonder if it has links to the 5R's? Looks like I will have to buy one of those books to find out. Not that it matters. The 6R may be a 5R with all of the bugs worked out that plagued the 5R55W-S.
Thanks.
And, you are correct, it was my 02 with the V-6 that the reflash cured the wierd shifing perfectly. That transmission turned out to be extraordinarily smooth.
My 04 had one of those with the bad fluid fill.
It amazes me....100+ years of building cars, and the wrong fluid gets in to the tranny. Yea, I know it was a Ford "vendor issue" - but c'mon!
I am still considering the Explorer for my next vehicle despite the transmission being sealed. I just like it too much, and the Expedition is too big for me anymore. However, has anyone with the sealed transmission paid for the fluid to be changed before the 150K mark? How much does it cost? Odd thing about the 6R, is even when you get the fluid changed, they tell you that you don't have to change the filter-strange. It's my hope that the fluid changes wont be excessively expensive so that I can do it at 50-60K intervals for my personal peace of mind.
I have some friends that bought an 06 Mountaineer back in December, and they love it so far.
Ford is with trucks and SUVs like Toyota is with cars - the best designs first. Anyway, that's how I feel.
02 explorer xlt v8
just because the 'service interval' is 150k, it does not mean that you have to wait that long. i had mine done at 30k. it has worked better since then. another 6k until 60k.
did brakes at 54k.
I look up the Automatic Transmission Section.
The parts of 6R60 are very similliar with ZF 6HP26.
And the Structure of 6R60 and 6HP is the same.
I don't think that Ford developed the 6R60, but just
produces 6R60 in Ford's Plant.
Toyota gets a dipstick up there, why can't Ford?
Mark.
tidester, host
Not to mention being able to re-fill it after a purge. Hey, now there's a thought!
Mark
Steve, Host
Reclining back seat was very useful, on the long drive.
Reg. Frank R.
PS. Our 204 Ex XLT V8, never did this well, even after 15,000 on the clock.
We have an '06 Premier AWD with tow package on order (will be our 4th one) and I can't wait to get it and enjoy all the revisions.
Usually your keyless fob can also reset it....by pushing the lock button, followed by the unlock button. No luck there?
The truck when into security mode because you tried to start it with a key that was not programed to your truck.
Use the other key.
If you lost both original keys, you will need the dealer to program a key for you.
Mark.
Reg. Frank R.
Bought used laster year with 19000 miles on it. Since I've had it, I've only put about 6000 miles on it. What I have experienced, about 8 times in those 6000 miles, is that when I've made a turn where I was going a decent speed (45 - 55 mph), slowed down enough to make the turn... the engine cut out while making the turn! Has happened on left and right turns.
I had found a summary report about some problems with the 2002-05 Mountainer, and it mentioned about when making aggressive "right" turns and cavitation in the fuel tank as fuel sloshes to one side, and the fix requires a redesigned fuel pump. I can't find a technical service bulletin on this though (I subscribed to a service where I could search all TBS for my vehicle and read full text).
I've had it back to the Ford/Mercury dealer once, but of course since it didn't do it while they had it, they couldn't do anything other than run diagnostics and they same everything came up fine. They did say that that didn't mean there wasn't a problem somewhere, maybe in the fuel tank.
Anyone have this happen to you where your Explorer or Mountaineer cut out in a turn?? The scarey part its that with no engine, I lose the power steering and it's a pretty heavy vehicle to try to steer safely into the shoulder of the road, and that is if I'm lucky enough to even have enough momentum at the time to get off the road... and of course there's always the person on your tail going into the turn... this really scares me when it happens, I can just see an accident waiting to happen.