Ford Escape Mazda Tribute Maintenance and Repair

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  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    Let me get this straight -- you tried to start the car with the wrong key, and when the security system shut down the ignition as designed, you now have a sinking feeling about Ford products?You might not feel this way once the SecuriLock system prevents someone from stealing your nice new Escape. The system has been credited with a tremendous decrease on the theft of Ford automobiles in which it has been installed, including such high-theft models as the Mustang.

    All the instructions for resetting the system and programming new keys are explained in the owner's manual -- it might be a good idea if you read it.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    a person who is mad at Ford for something they did!!?? The system works as it should. I bet you would be singing a different toon if someone actually tried to steal your new SUV..
  • suvbuyer5suvbuyer5 Member Posts: 1
    I put in an order for an Escape XLT. Scheduled to arrive 5/15. I read everyone's opinion on the Escape all the way back from Sept until I could read no more. Fuel smell, fuel line problems, weak steering wheel nut(?), suspension snapping, uncomfortable seats, etc. If I am ordering a new one now, should most of these problems be fixed? Give me a shout before I make this investment! Thanks!
  • jmlagascajmlagasca Member Posts: 37
    All of the problems that have plagued these SUVs have since been fixed. Tribs and Escapes that are being manufactured now have the parts that are new and revised as opposed to those that were installed incorrectly or fallable. All recalls have been addressed and taken care of (of which only 1 affected a large population of Escape/Tribute Owners, the windshield wiper recall).

    I'm sure you were able to test drive an Escape before ordering one. So you probably already have an impression on how comfortable it is. I however, sat in the seats and I found that the Escapes aren't as comfortable as the Tribs.

    I'm sure if you've put in research to your purchase/decision as well as some "one on one" time with the vehicle you'll be very happy. I had done this with my trib for well over 6 months and I'm as happy as can be... Now if only I could have that same experience with my University courses...
  • jmlagascajmlagasca Member Posts: 37
    If anyone here has brought their Tributes or Escapes to the dealer to receive the fuel smell fix, and if you'd be willing, please send me an e-mail at jmlagasca@ucdavis.edu to answer a survey about your experience with the fix.

    This is simply to build an information base about the fix too see how widespread and successful it is.

    Thanks,

    Jeff
  • mikelpmikelp Member Posts: 5
    I've had my LS/4WD Tribute (Desert Metallic) for only 10 days now.
    I've got so many rattles ands squeeks coming from the hatch that I can't believe it.
    Anyone else have the problem? I'm taking it in to be checked out in 2 days, so if anyone
    has any suggestions pls. let me know.
    If you're buying one soon please note 2 other imperfections that I found:
    1. Plastic wheel well lining - front passenger side looks like it was never completely attached
    it hung down so much that the tire wore a hole in it. Dealer didn't catch it?!
    2. "MAZDA" nameplate on hatch applied crooked.
    I like the car, but these things make me wonder about what's going on at the assembly plant.
    Aloha from Hawaii !!!
  • bskohlerbskohler Member Posts: 53
    Just make sure when you take delivery that all of the recall work has been performed on the vehicle, and ask them for proof. The escape has been plagued by recalls, and for a while, dealers were forbidden by ford to sell the ones on their lots until all the recall work had been done. Many still can't be sold because Ford can't keep up with all of the repairs.
  • cygnusx1cygnusx1 Member Posts: 290
    Related articles:
    Ford Escape - Emergency stop sale. Cruise control might stick

    Ford Escape - Emergency stop sale. Steering wheel might fall off in driver's hands

    Ford Escape - Emergency stop sale. Rear wheels might fall off.

    Ford Motor Company - Emergency stop sale. Air bags go off without warning.
  • goinergoiner Member Posts: 5
    Hey e2e
    Thanks for the input. I guess I can't read.
    But the point of my tirade you didn't get.
    If you accidently put the wrong key into the ignition, or if someone puts a key copy (same result) the ignition locks. There is a small plate that drops into the ignition cylinder that will not allow the key to be placed back to reprogram it. Now, as I said before, you are stuck without being able to use your car UNTIL it is towed to Ford and THEY reprogram it. If this isn't your understanding, please send me the proper instructions becuase our car is 250 miles away at a Ford Dealer who can't get into the ignition or reprogram the keys.

    Great huh? Actually not that funny vince8. Just trying to let others know before it may accidently happen to you.......
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    years isn't it?? I guess its going to take the internet and education to show people that these were INITIAL recalls that only affected certian build lots and not all recalls were for every Escape/Mazda out there.. YES Ford has fixed all the recall and is not building Escapes/Tributes with the recalled parts... Plus, a car of any type whether it be Ford or Toyota is not an investment.. Invest in a mutual fund...:-)
    Looks like prices are coming down as I predicted months ago.. In Saturdays paper a Dealer is offering XLT V6 Escapes (6) of them for $19,975.. I predict by fall I will be able to get one for about $19,000 - 19,500 no problem..
  • km99cobrakm99cobra Member Posts: 46
    One or two recalls seems to be pretty common these days, but six? It doesn't matter that it supposedly affected a small number of vehicles, some of them were/are very serious safety issues and the fact that it happened on a new product launch hot off the heels of the Explorer/Firestone controversy and the 1999 Cobra fiasco steered me away. I will not buy another Ford product at the beginning of a product launch.
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    I believe your information is incorrect. According to the owner's manual, attempting to use use an unauthorized or improperly coded key puts the system into a "start fault" mode which shuts it down, as you experienced. This is what it's designed to do, in order to thwart whoever might be trying to steal your car. However, the system resets itself after about 30 minutes, supposedly after the bad guy has given up and gone elsewhere. At that point, you should be able to start it using an original or properly programmed spare key.

    Note:

    It takes two good keys to program a spare. The instructions are in the owner's manual.

    If you have only one good key (i.e., you lost one), the dealer has to reprogram the system in order to make any additional replacement keys. Another safety feature to prevent someone like a dishonest valet, etc. from making a copy of your working key.

    The only situation in which you should have to tow the car (outside of a total system failure)would be if you lost all your working keys. In this case, the car needs to be reprogrammed by the dealer, and you would have no other means of getting it there.

    Hope this helps.

    Good luck!
  • goinergoiner Member Posts: 5
    Thanks E!
    What you explained is what I was told when we bought the car.
    BUT, it never allowed us entry back into the ignition cylinder even after 2 days! We have three keys (made and extra at purchase time).
    So, I will repost when I find out why the dealer is having so much trouble. Interesting situation.
  • haloehaloe Member Posts: 1
    I was wondering if anyone else noticed this, or if its a defect in my Mazda ES Tribute. The trunk does not lock or unlock with the keyless entry. I have to manually lock the back with my key. And if thats the case, is there anyway to unlock the back from inside the vehicle without getting out and physically doing it? Please let me know!
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    The rear hatch definitely locks and unlocks when you use the keyless entry, just like the passenger doors. When opening, make sure you press the unlock button on the remote twice within a couple seconds -- the first press only unlocks the driver's door. To lock everything, you only need to press the lock button once.
  • goinergoiner Member Posts: 5
    As a followup to the secruilock problem we recently encountered with our 5 month old Escape.

    It turns out that we had a defective ignition cylinder. When you get a lock out, it is supposed to reset in 30' but ours never did.
    Ford express mailed the part, replaced it, reprogrammed our keys and paid for the 5 days of rental without question.

    Hats off to Ford.
    Now if I could just get my van fixed, I would be totally satisfied.
  • minyominyo Member Posts: 5
    my tribute is only a month old, but i've already noticed rust all over the axle of the car.
    has anyone else noticed this? it doesn't look normal to me at all...
  • jayster2jayster2 Member Posts: 3
    I would take your ES to the dealer asap and have them check out your keyless entry device.
    My ES doesn't have any problems on the second "click" to open the trunk door.
    Good luck.
  • merlin67merlin67 Member Posts: 7
    Just wanted to let all you Tribute owners know of the last thing they did to my car to fix the fuel smell problem. Apparently, what they are doing is pouring some kind of dye into the gas tank and then running the car for 30 or 40 miles. Then they take off the top part of the engine so they can see where the gas is leaking by shining a black light on the engine. For me it turned out to be my fuel injectors and they replaced those. So far, it has proven to be the fix. But, I'll wait a bit longer before forming a definitive opinion. One more time in for this and it is a lemon.

    Secondly, my car got water, sugar and other chemicals poured in the tank. It has proven impossible for me to find a locking gas cap for the Mazda Tribute. (and yes I do have a remote fuel release as well as an alarm on my car. Still didn't stop them.)

    Any suggestions??
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    Is your dealer aware of the Technical Service Bulletin on the fuel smell? Maybe you're experiencing a different problem, but the official fix has nothing to do with gas leaks or the fuel injectors. Rather, it calls for replacement of the original silicone gaskets on the intake manifold with fluorocarbon ones, Mazda part #AJ03-13-111A. Other owners report that many dealers do not seem aware of the TSB for some reason -- if you give them the number, they can call it up on their system: 01-001/01 (issued 2/28/01).
  • merlin67merlin67 Member Posts: 7
    They had already done that repair and we still had the smell...and the reason they did it was because I had taken about four pages of e-mails from this forum and suggested that they might try this! So, perhaps we did have another problem as well.
  • jordan29jordan29 Member Posts: 20
    i have the same issue. the drive axel seems to be rusted.

    anybody else looked under the car for rust ?
  • edlohedloh Member Posts: 6
    Not only do you find rust on the axle, but check out the suspension bolts. Look under the back of the car, you will notice that most of the suspension bolts are rusted on the thread (especially the ones on the ball joins). Also check our the front strut bolt in the engine compartment, it has rust on it too!
  • minyominyo Member Posts: 5
    so, i assume that the rusting problem with my trib is "normal."
    is there a solution to the problem im having?
  • jordan29jordan29 Member Posts: 20
    went to the dealer yesterday and all they can say about the rust is that it's normal. it's on untreated metal and they did nothing. :(

    i'm going to do a little 'painting' or apply a rust-converter on the rusted out metals.
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    I think I may have found a locking gas cap for you:


    http://www.partscheap.com/forda.htm


    Ford Part# YL8Z-9030-BA $24.29


    It's for an Escape, but knowing the degree to which the Escape/Tribute are alike, my guess is it would fit. I don't believe the Escape has a locking filler door like the Tribute, which is probably why they have the cap available.

  • merlin67merlin67 Member Posts: 7
    Thanks for looking into that for me. You know, I asked the Mazda dealership if this was possible and they told me no way. Typical. I did finally find one that I think is going to work through Red Rooster Auto Parts. They went to extra lengths to try to find something that would work. They referred me to their customer service, I called there and they transferred me to their technical advisor. She called me the next day with a cap that would work. I think they have a new customer!
    Thanks again!
  • escape4x4escape4x4 Member Posts: 7
    I have two questions about the fuel smell fix on the Escape.

    1)Does the Taurus with the same motor have this same problem?

    2) For those who had the fix done, did your mileage go up? If so, by how much???

    Thanks
  • edlohedloh Member Posts: 6
    yeap you (#726) are correct in saying that the rust is on untreated metal parts. i would think that they would have some sort of plating on them to keep them from rusting. what do other car/SUV manufacturer's do? for sure i would apply some sort of paint or inhibitor on them.
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    Glad to hear you found a possible solution. If their cap causes any problems -- one symptom might be your "Check Engine" light coming on -- at least you know you can "zoom" over to the Ford dealer and get a factory locking cap.

    Did these miscreants actually pry open your filler door?

    Good luck!
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    My understanding is that a new plastic intake manifold was developed for this engine for the Escape/Tribute application. The fuel smell involves the silicone gasket used with that manifold, so this problem probably doesn't appear in the Taurus. The fix is to replace it with a new fluorocarbon one.

    The problem is one of an odor only -- no leaking fuel, no combustible fumes, or anything of that nature, so gas mileage is unaffected by the fix.
  • minyominyo Member Posts: 5
    hi jordon29 and edloh,
    do u guys know where i can get a rust converter/inhibitor?
  • jordan29jordan29 Member Posts: 20
    most auto parts store may have it. i got mine mail order from JC whitney
  • rutegerruteger Member Posts: 60
    I, too, am curious about this. It would seem that someone dislikes you, very much, to go to this length to pour foreign substances into your gas tank.

    Of course, maybe you're a lawyer and/or live in New York City, too. The motive behind the action would then be relatively understandable.
  • rutger56rutger56 Member Posts: 12
    I do not understand Mazda or Ford. They design a nice new vehicle and then go and leave off Anti -Lock brakes. Not only do they make them an option,but they make obtaining them almost impossible. If they want to compete with Toyota and Honda then ABS should be standard across the line. There's a reason ABS is standard on more and more vehicles now(see the Forester,Outback,Highlander). I would like to get a Tribute/Escape, but it is nearly impossible to find an ES with ABS. Why don't they want to sell me a vehicle? I am now ready to buy a Highlander or Forester.
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    You seem incredibly unhappy with Ford and Mazda. First, the diatribe about no rear seat headrests on the Tribute DX, now criticism about the optional ABS. This is probably not the vehicle for you -- why not just go with one of the alternatives you mentioned and make yourself happy? Ford/Mazda are not having any trouble competing with Subaru or Toyota -- the reason you're having so much trouble finding one is that demand for the Tribute LXs and ESs has far exceeded projections. There is a line that is thousands of people long waiting to get one.
  • edlohedloh Member Posts: 6
    it is interesting to note that ABS is a standard feature on the Escape but not the tribute. in my opinion the ABS should be offered as a standard item at least on the LX and ES model , especially the ES since it is almost a fully loaded model
  • mpsfmpsf Member Posts: 3
    Rust on the undercarriage of a car is perfectly normal (I am a Mechanical Engineer with a fair amount of materials and finish knowledge). The cost to apply protective coatings to every surface under a car is extremely high and not always value added. That would add a lot to the sticker price and in some cases have very little effectiveness (due to things such as temperature extremes). Engineers take this into consideration when designing a car. For example, when the axle is designed they take into consideration that the surface will rust and the material thickness will be reduced over time. This will not effect the performance of the car for many, many years under most conditions.

    Most cars have protective coatings on the surfaces of parts that have a limited thickness, such as the floor pans, fuel tanks, etc. These are the parts you should worry about seeing rust on. They have a protective finish which protects the base metal from corrosion.

    The best way to protect your undercarriage from extreme corrosion is to keep it clean, especially in the winter when road salt is heavily used or if you live near a salt water source (i.e. ocean). Salt, especially in the presence of moisture, increases the rate of corrosion and it will start to eat away at the protective coating causing premature corrosion on all parts.

    Your exhaust system, while protected by a finish, will see corrosion in a short period of time as well. That is due to the high temperature, the exhaust gases and the exhaust liquids (water, a product of combustion). This is why many cars have stainless steel exhaust systems, but you pay for that in the sticker price as well.

    In the end, I would not be worried about corrosion on parts like the axle, but if you see it on the floor pans, I would talk to the dealer.
  • canadianclcanadiancl Member Posts: 1,078
    But I thought most manufacturer nowadays use galvanize steel to prevent rust? Or is that only used on some of the parts such as the floor pan?
    Does anyone know which part of the Tribute has been rust-protected?
  • 1jimv11jimv1 Member Posts: 108
    Both of our Sideview mirrors have blindspots large enough to make the car we have halfway passed on either side Completely Disappear from view! This will make things surprisingly dangerous on the freeway. Try yours out and you will see nearby cars just vanish, so don't switch lanes counting on the mirror! Remember we are driving high trucks so we need to do what professional truckdrivers do .... get mirrors that see the blindspots! They do it with large mirrors that have large spherical mirrors attached. So we need to attach round spherical mirrors to monitor our blindspots too! I tried to find 2-1/2" dia sphericals but had to settle for the 2"dia. They work but I wish Ford/Mazda had given us somewhat bigger mirrors with the spherical built in. Another somewhat blind experience is backing up. The wide angle plastic RV lens on a corner of my VW bus rear window made a big improvement in backing up safety so I'm going to add one of those next!
  • gam2gam2 Member Posts: 316
    Rust on the driveshaft and similar parts is just the manufacturer being cheap and saving cost. It will not affect the vehicle. Threaded fasteners, even if they are plated, will scape off and lose some plating when they are threaded into the mating part. If it bothers you, get a can of good black spray paint and have at it.
    GAM
  • scnamescname Member Posts: 296
    Remember the sway bar recall. Ford so much admitted it will break given a couple years to rust.

    I think Ford used some cheap , poorly manufactured steel building Escape/Tribute. Don't buy this car if you plan to keep it more than 4 years. I've never seeing another car with so much rust on bottom parts brand new in dealer's lot. My 10 year old Toyota Corolla doesn' show so much rust on the drive shaft(I'm in Texas, no salt)
  • 590476590476 Member Posts: 6
    Does anyone have any experience (not guesses or salesman's quotes)on how long it is taking from the time an order is placed on the factory until the vehicle is delivered. I'm referring to an ES loaded with all the bells and whistles - including ABS. I ordered the end of Jan and was recently told delivery would be the end of April, early May. Thanks
  • 1jimv11jimv1 Member Posts: 108
    Henry Ford said "choose any color you like as long as it's BLACK!" He was trying to save money, but black or any Bold color is good safety advice for our driving today.
    I chose the very popular Parchment Gold on my Escape but it seems to be a Camoflage color that blends into the road itself because new or marginal drivers don't seem to notice me enough to keep from causing close encounters!
    Like some other Parchment Gold owners who have posted, I am going to have to install the Daylight Running Light accessory so I'll be seen as well as those of you who had the good sense to choose Bolder, Safer Colors in anticipation of those other drivers on the road!
  • proflig8torproflig8tor Member Posts: 1
    My wife and I are shopping for an Escapribute. On a couple we noticed the XLS badges on vehicles that were clearly XLT's (leather, sunroof, fancier console) then we went to the Mazda dealer and noticed that some of the DX's had the EX console. I suspect that perhaps the Maxda dealer was installing the consoles at the Dealer. However, the Fords were clearly mis-badged. They did not match the window sticker ID!

    It of course is no big deal, but you wonder, if they are messing up on badges, what else is there?

    Also, I looked at one up on a lift. With the 3.0 V6 the catalyst for the rear bank of cylinders is right up against the steering rack and the bearing for the right half-shaft. Anyone know if the heat from this converter is causing problems for the seals and fluid in the rack? It sure seems like a lot of heat near parts that don't generally like heat.

    I really like the access to the engine compartment. These appear to be easy vehicles to work on. Even better, with the Duratech engine and timing chain (instead of a belt) there should be very little maintainence required!

    Zoom Zoom!
  • e2ee2e Member Posts: 54
    Before this information starts to take on a life of its own, these are not misbadged vehicles. Ford and Mazda severely underestimated the demand for the high end Escape XLTs and Tribute ESs. As a result, dealers have some lower trim models available for delivery, and in an attempt to make them potentially attractive alternatives to shoppers for the high end models, are fitting them with aftermarket leather and sunroofs. The consoles are Ford/Mazda parts. There have been numerous confirmations of this practice in the Mazda/Tribute owners' clubs.
  • dannygdannyg Member Posts: 131
    Does anyone out there have a 4cyl Tribute/Escape? If so, what sort of MPG are you seeing? Thanks!
  • funokafunoka Member Posts: 13
    If you get your ES is that time frame, you are doing better than we did. We ordered our ES in Sept . . . and almost exactly five months later we got our Trib.

    I've no problems with the mirrors . . . we have much better visibility in the Trib that we had in our 626 or have in our '92 Protege.

    Also . . . on the color safety post . . . the Desert Mettalic color we have seem to be no problem for other drivers!
  • curreycurrey Member Posts: 144
    Not with the bumpers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just released new test results on their 5mph bumper test. Escape/Tribute did rather well compared to the competition.

    "One of three SUVs has acceptable bumpers: Only the Ford Escape, a small SUV introduced for the 2001 model year, turned in an acceptable performance in the Institute's bumper tests. It's 'the only vehicle in this round of tests with halfway decent bumpers,' Lund says. The other two SUVs tested, Hyundai's Santa Fe and Toyota's RAV4, turned in very poor performances."

    Average damage $ per test are as follows: Escape/Tribute $485; Santa Fe $1287; and, Rav4 $2003.
  • velmagvelmag Member Posts: 1
    The Shift on the Tribute is on the column, correct? Does anyone know if Mazda plans to move it to a stick shift in 2002?
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