Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
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
the rear hatch window has opened up twice now during the last month while i was driving. i drive a 2004 explorer xlt with 23,000 miles that i bought used 2 months ago with 21,000 on it so i have no idea if this has happened before. has anyone run into this sort of problem? i know i didn't hit the button on the keychain. thanks for any and all information. already had it in to fix the solenoid problem. amazing that it was ford certified and the "bucking" going in reverse was still present....i hope i start getting lucky so i can refer these vehicles to friends in the future. love the ride, features(290 watt stereo among others)and look otherwise. wayne
I just had Terry in "Real World Trade Values" do an estimate on mine, and he said high $4s low low $5s, and I still owe $7600 on it. If thats the case, I'll be holding onto her longer than I thought. I want to keep it at least til it hits 67k, or June of '06, when the crummy warranty expires. I'm really getting keen on those '01 Pathfinders though...
Good luck with the install. Keep us updated on the results!
Re:idntnvu
The replacemnet ball joints on my wife's truck are sealed, but I asked the 2 service people if they have seen people come in for second replacements. Both said no, the part has been redesigned with a new part number. We'll see I guess....
One issue that baffles me - when going down the highway at normal speeds 40 to 60 mph - the vehicle stays straight on the road. Upon acceleration - the vehicle does a hard veer to the left. Been to the Dealer 3 times, and they have checked with the Ford Engineers, and they say this is "normal torque steer". Does anyone have an opinion if this is right? In all my years of driving - I've never known a car to do this?
I think he paid a little too much for the upper ball joints, but the $100 labor is excellent if that is for replacing all 4 of them. It sounds like the price is right, and the peace of mind will be priceless!
I'm wondering if maybe you're saying I wasted my money on the truck in the first place.
I was told that both lowers NEED to be replaced, and one of the uppers, so they said why not replace both of them while they were at it. The ones I got are TRW from Advance, with a lifetime warranty. So I seriously doubt I'll have ball joint problems again.
I was told that my front end was out of alignment now because of the bad joints, and would require at least half a shim to get it back in line, possibly a whole shim. Do you think I still need it?
As for paying too much for the parts, I had heard the TRW front end stuff was really good, that coming from my boss at the bus garage, who's had plenty of experience in this kind of thing. I also wanted something with a lifetime warranty, and Advance is about the only place that offers that. It's not too late to take them back, haven't had it done yet. What would you guys have done different?
Nothing, but I would go for the allignment, couldn't hurt:)
I have always drawn the line at suspension and exhaust systems. Mainly because I never had the correct tools to do the job right. All other aspects of cars I have no problem with.
I think you got a great price for what you are having done.
BTW....nvbanker, from what I recall, thought you were crazy for buying the vehicle.
We have all made mistakes...it's what we learn from those mistakes that makes us stupid or not.
:-)
Unfortunately she said they could not duplicate the distortion noise I am getting from some of my speakers (sounds like I blew out one or two of them, lol). But speakers are cheap, right? Maybe I should just throw some nice aftermarket ones in there. Experiences or suggestions?
As far as TRW parts, they're good for the price. I'm pretty sure they used to be an OEM supplier for Ford but were dropped in the early 90s. That said, I use them too because I'm cheap.
"Your vehicle was filled at the assembly plant with tranny fluid, that may cause delayed/harsh reverse engagements etc etc. They are going to FOC install a bottle of 5R55S/E & 5R44E additive.
Customer satisfaction program, 04B22."
I recently had the solenoid replaced deal. Not sure how this effects me. I have call into the dealer.
reg.
http://www.flatratetech.com/
In your opinion a hard pull to the left is "normal", and this would also be considered safe. The Dealer said I just need to be sure to "tightly hold on to the steering wheel".
i don't think the pull is normal. it is the front that is pulling left, not the back?
I also received the letter from Ford about the tranny fluid. There was an article posted in the money and investing section on excite.com's website that addressed this more than 6 weeks prior. It was because of this article that I called my Mercury Dealership to schedule an appointment because I indeed had the problem of the harsh reverse engagements. Service department told me it was a solenoid problem. They never mentioned anything about the fluid. Brought it in Saturday after Thanksgiving and they replaced the solenoid. Guess what? Problem reared it's ugly head again. Brought it in 12/27/04 and I was told the replacement solenoid that was put in was defective. They replaced it again. It is now 2 plus weeks since and I am still experiencing this problem. Looks like I will have to arrange a third visit for the same problem.
For some reason, I cannot get this to hyperlink, but this is the link to the excite.com article.
http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_ge.jsp?news_id=cmt-327w6868&a- mp;feed=cmt&date=20041122
Good luck!
Check your States lemon laws...
Ford should be ashamed of this product!
Had vehicle in for replacement of differential(under extended warranty) and recall on rear hatch and asked them to look at the lens and was told it looks like some kind of liquid and removing it would not be covered under warranty. I argued to no avail that nothing I did would have caused this. The vehicle has not been submerged or gotten wet inside. Has anyone experienced this?
So I didn't listen, but now I'm stuck with it, so just hear me out and try to put that behind us. I'm not the only one on here having problems, even though I do apparently complain a lot. I'll try to keep that to a minimum from now on. However when I do have a problem, you better believe you guys will be hearing about it!
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. I would say Ford should be ashamed of their service departments.
I had AC problems on my 97 Exploder and the first time I took it in they pressure tested the system and told me that it just needed a recharge. One week later I brought it back in to them and they told me that now it needed a new o-ring. One more week later I brought it in again and they told me that it needed a new compressor.
Seems to me someone needs some more training. :-)
Explorerx4, you may very well be correct, but I honestly think it was used for towing. When I got it on June 2, 2003, it had 32k miles on it. There is a big gouge in the bumper next to where the ball would go, so that tells me it was backed up to something. It might have been a boat, a camper, a small trailer to haul a lawnmower...could be anything, but it pulled something. You can tell it's been used. The evidence is right there.
At any rate, the ball joints are replaced now, and I'm happy. I'll keep my mouth shut until something else catestrophic happens to it. hopefully that'll be a long, long time. I have a newfound confidence in it. Thanks for all the help and advice.
LOL, you must be referring to what I did. A Pathfinder is a good bet, but not a Titan. Holy cow, what a nightmare. I even had my 04 Explorer back as a loaner for a while. Made me kind of miss the truck, it never gave me that much trouble, I had brief thoughts of buying it back.
I told him not to buy that particular Explorer, it was offered too cheaply, and I figured it had been running the AlCan or something its whole life. It's been a problem and how, he's regretting it, and thinking about replacing it with a Pathfinder. I wouldn't look that way for relief if I were him. That's all I'm saying.
Okay, time to heed your advice, nvbanker. If, and only IF, I decide to trade come summer time, what would you recommend me look for? Keep in mind I'm looking for something in the $10k-$16k range. I'm positive I wanna stick with something about the same size, not sure I could go back to something small like a Rav4 or a CRV. I like Tundras and Tacomas, they'd have to be extended cab, and I'd prefer the Tacoma to be the 4 door version. I like the 4Runners, especially the Sport version with the hood scoop, but they're so expensive I seriously doubt I could find one in my price range with decent mileage. What other good bets are there our there in the quad cab, ext cab truck, mid size suv genre, oh wise and insightful nvbanker?
Although the older Paths are good rigs, as are the older Quests. However, I don't think that anything has the refinement of Toyota or Honda. I should have bought a Toyota last summer instead of my Nissan. Ah well, live and learn.
Really the only Honda "suv" that appeals to me is the Element. The CRVs are nice, and the Element is based on the CRV...so probably not much a difference. I like the fact that the Element has a rubber floor and waterproof seats, which make cleaning it out a snap.
There is a possibility (a good one) that I'll be moving to NC come late spring early summer, and while there still is snow down there, theres not nearly as much as up here in VA, so I may break down and get a car rather than a 4x4.
However, my fear is with the cost of the move I will no longer be able to afford a higher payment on a car. I can only hope the Explorer holds up. It doesn't really like warm weather, lol.
I am in need of some advice here. I have a 97 5.0 AWD Ford Explorer. The problem that I am having is when I am at a complete stop and I accelerate fast I here a loud noise , it's hard to describe, My co worker thought it was the motor mounts, but when he check it out he said that was not the case, the noise is something similar to this (motor mounts). It only happens when I accelerate from the get go. PLEASE HELP ME
Any feed backs are greatly appreciative
catperez
tidester, host
Is it an immediate noise or is there a delay before you hear it? (one second...half second)
Is it a metallic sounding clunk or a muffled thunk?
:-)....you may think me asking these questions sounds funny but it can tell a lot.
Is it coming from the front, middle, or back of the vehicle?
(I assume the front since your co-worker thought it was the engine mounts)
One more....how was it determined that it "wasn't" the engine mounts?