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Shocks will come next (it bucks like a wild bull). Past posts have recommended the Edelbrock and the bilstiens (spell?). My concern is that my wife drives it mostly and does not want anything too stiff. Any comments on either brand?
Steve
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BTW: Ford puts the Bilsteins on the F150 Lightning truck at the factory. Posche uses them as well.
Good luck.
1) I replaced the 4 tires I ride on with Cross Terrains in January amidst all the Firestone mess. I had Wilderness ATs without the VDL or whatever that code was, so I could not get the tires replaced under the recall at that time. So I held on to the receipt, and low and behold I submitted it for reimbursement this summer when they decided to recall all the Firestones. So today, when I had it at the dealer, I requested they replace the spare with whatever they were using. After the truck was at the dealer half the morning they call to tell me that they can't give me the fifth tire because Ford closed my claim, and he told me I could call Ford to try to iron it out! After I reminded him that he was a Ford dealer and he could call them to iron it out, they game me a Michelin M/S on the spare.
2) Rear wiper motor replaced.
3) Ah, the creaking seat that nobody can fix! After the dealer called me to inform me that they "could not duplicate the problem", I asked if someone could go for a ride with me. So, as soon as I get in my truck, the radio is blasting as soon as I turn the key - nice way to listen for a noise, huh? So the service advisor finally agreed he heard the sound, and they are ordering me the whole recliner assembly for the driver's seat...I will let you all know what happens.
Bioman3
I brought it in to the dealer and I left paying $450 for new Plug Wires and Plugs. Anyone else ever have this problem? I can't believe that something like this would go at only 40,000 miles. The dealer had no explanation other than this never really happens. And of course, the truck is off lease in a few months and this happens after the warranty expires.
Has anyone happened to check the current Kelley Blue Book trade-in values of their Explorer?
Checked mine this morning...$16.2K!!!! I have a '00 Explorer XLS 4x4 with 12,600 miles. I bought it new 10 months ago. What a drop! Three weeks ago the blue book was $17.5. It dropped $1,300 in 3 weeks.
Actually considering bailing out now. At this rate of depreciation, I won't break even (even with the low 0.9% financing) until it's paid for.
Oh well, so goes the life of a Ford SUV owner.
Where was the sound coming from in the engine?
It might be a vacuum pressure relief valve or else the radiator. You put a big strain on it with the trailer, but if the hissing happens again with no load, I'd have it checked.
Good luck
I was able to solve that one on my own after living with it for too long on my 1995.
What I found is that the seatback frame is not mounted tightly. To correct take the seat cover and foam pad off (the cover is attached to itself at the bottom in the rear). Take a TORX wrench (I think it was size T25) and remove the seatback. Reinstall it using a 3/8" washer or two on the inside mount. On the outside I added a homemade bushing (cut from a plastic coffee can lid) between the bolt and frame.
The creaking was very noticeably reduced, if not completely gone.
Good luck!
Check these sites I know it says Ford ranger, but its the same tranny in the Explorer!
www.homestead.com/therangerstation/AutoTrans.html
www.allexperts.com/getExpert.asp?Category=811
The only other things to change is the Tranny fluid and filter and the gas filter.
You may also want to treat your vehicle to a bottle of Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner to clean the fuel linjectors. Buy the large bottle.. costs about $10.
Has anyone else had this problem?
ace
Seeing as how they were recently "Blue Oval Certified" I hope they will take the time to thoroughly investigate the problem.
If I can't get it fixed there, I guess I will try a different dealer (I fully expect to get the "Could not reproduce problem" response).
Will just have to see what they say.
My Exploder is spending the night at the dealer as well, it took almost 3 weeks to get the parts they need to repair/replace the driver's seat recliner assembly. PS...after all that and my leaving it overnight so it is there when they open, the service writer said they "should be able to get to it". NOW ISN'T THAT $30000 WORTH OF CUSTOMER SERVICE?
For what it's worth, whenever they give me the standard "could not verify concern" or "could not duplicate problem" response, I immediately request the Service Advisor or Service Manager go on a road test with me. That has helped on several occasions with vehicles from different dealers/manufacturers and usually gets them to fix it.
I posted in the past about the vanishing coolant in my 2000 XLS. After it vanished this past winter (honestly I did not keep a good eye on it), I re-filled it in the spring. All summer long it stayed at about the full line, but I noticed it started trending down a few weeks ago, and after I had it out on a good run yesterday (2 trips of about 100 miles each, cruising about 70 on the highway), I've noticed a substantial drop.
I park in the same place every day, no sign of leaks. Dealer "pressure checked" the system a few months back and said all was well. Oil looks fine. Any ideas?
1. Note the oil level
2. when they change the oil to let it run into a clean pan and look for signs of water
3. There is a dye that can be added to the coolant tank to trace the leak into the oil
Another thought.. if there is a slight defect in the block, water could get into the combustion chamber and then go out of your tailpipe.... especially when the engine is very hot... as would happen on long trips. Take a look at the tailpipe and check for a gummy black residue.
Hope you find it.
I purchased a 1996 Ford Explorer Sport Lemon from AutoNation USA. The problems are too numerous to list here. I do have an after-market warranty on the car through Fidelity Warranty Services that definitely helps offset the cost. A few questions for the wise members of this board.
1.) Is there a lemon law that will be ABLE to help me.
2.) Are there any additional recalls (after the tires and sway bar links).
3.) Do these cars tend to blow through rotors? I am on three sets in 24 months (No, I don't lean on the brakes)
4.) Does the ABS system have any known failures?
5.) Is there any significant electrical problems with the car? I have blown 3 sets of tail/brake lights in the last 24 months.
There are a variety of other issues, but I don't see the need to go on any more in this post.
Thank you.
Tim
I get a vibration thru the gas pedal. It is real prevalent when I get up to 55mph. has anyone else had this problem?
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Beyond what the linked article says, the NHTSA recall only covers Firestone tires made in Quebec and Wilson, NC prior to 1998.
The good news here is that Ford and the Explorer gets some vindication and possibly some cash back from B/F on the tires that have been replaced voluntarily by Ford.
Feds side with Ford
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
anybody has any contrary evidence, the Tauzin committee is looking for it. c'mon, send it in.
if it is truly exhaust gas escaping, I had a loose manifold to converter pipe gasket, and had to have that tightened on my 2000 V8. mine whistled. if it sounds awful from underneath you should be able to put on the parking brake and block the wheels, and crawl around underneath with a feather tied to a stick and find the exhaust leak yourself.
the things you've tried look like a carbon chase in the cylinders... unless you've mucked about putting in funny plugs or premium gas... or had an EGR valve lock up... it's hard to believe the heads are gunked with carbon, and that would seem to me to be more like a ping than a diesel thump as a result.
being a 2000, I'd tend to look for an air or exhaust leak anyplace from the manifolds back to the tailpipe... hitting a rock could have holed the system someplace, or something could be loose and blasting gas when the engine starts getting worked.
good luck. Sell that thing!
Took my Explorer to the dealer (second time back for my clunking/popping driver's door) yesterday.
The dealer rode with me when I got there to hear the noise. When the door popped, they actually seemed interested in getting it fixed. I had tried telling them it was very noticeable; they now agree.
Well, after having the truck all day they decided it needs a new window run and a new piece of moulding (which piece I don't know). The parts were ordered yesterday and should be in on the 18th. They have me scheduled to have the parts installed on the 19th.
We'll see what happens after they are done next Friday.
On a positive note, I was able to get my rear wiper working properly. It had reached a point where it wouldn't sweep the middle of the rear window. It would simply lift itself over the center of the window and only sweep the left and right sides. After buying 3 or 4 new wiper blades with no success, I let it go for a few weeks. While driving behind another Explorer, I noticed their rear wiper lock nut was visible (the shroud that covers it was gone). Not realizing the plastic shroud was covering the lock nut, I went home and tightened the nut which, of course, was loose. Voila! Now the wiper works like new. My parent's Mountaineer had the same problem, so we tightened the nut and their rear wiper is working properly as well. Leave it up to Ford to design a system with a lock nut that tightens clockwise and a rear wiper that sweeps counter clockwise. Noticed the '02 Explorers have a brand new rear wiper assembly that sweeps clockwise.
Other than the driver's door noise, and an obnoxious dash rattle first thing in the morning, the truck is very comfortable and a pleasure to drive. I would consider another Explorer in the future, although the styling of the '02 models is still growing on me. Has anyone else noticed that the exterior styling of SUVs is starting to become very minivan-like?