Couple of question? I decided to change my wife's 98 Explorer Bauer v6 4.0 spark plugs. This is my first exp. working on a Ford all my exp. is on BMW's. Everything is easy access and well thought and planned out.

First question? What <!the F^%$> were the Ford engineers thinking? The driver side was a breeze the passenger side now thats a different story. For starters I can't even get the wire cap to release from the first plug. What gives? I went as far as removing the air box and fluild res. to get a better angle and it will not release it is like it is melted to the plug.

Second the 2nd and 3rd can I get to them from taking the wheel well out? Someone help me before I kill my wife for talking me into buying an american made car.

Lastly in the last year the car is starting to fall apart(122k). The blend door went out, My power antena broke and the air ride suspension is acting like it is on blown shocks and the radio lights work but dim often and last but not least the driver side door handle has broken. Inside there are 2 spings that pull the handle back...well the part of the spring that makes tension has cracked off both and for sure those brillant ford engineers connected this piece with rivits not nuts and bolts.....Great american engineering....

I called ford on the blend door and they basically said <!F%$# off or> pay $1000.

theDogger

 

You can get to the passenger side plugs thru the wheel well. Blend door is fairly common. There is a sticky repair at the top of this forum. Can't comment on the air suspension, and the door handle is also fairly common. I saw a post a couple of months with a fix. Suggest you do a search on 'spring door handle'.

Mike

 

OK everything else is going ok..But the main problem that I'm having is that I can't get the wire seperted from the plug on the front cylinder on the passenger side. It's like it is melted to it. My fingers are raw I have pulled so hard.....

Any suggestion???

theDogger

 

So, smash it. You're putting in new wires anyway or you can at least dig it out at a more convenient location. Spark plugs are considered a low maintenance item now on par with replacing a water pump. People complain about changing these, but if you have an assortment of extensions, swivels and ratchets the job is fairly easy. If you don't have the tools, you are in deep do do.

Didn't Tom Hanks say, "There's no crying in auto mechanics."

 

...and before you go trashing Ford's TOO much more on this site, let's all check out the latest Auto Issue of Consumer Reports. According to them, the most unreliable vehicle you can now buy in this country, the one with by far the most number of problems is:

The BMW 7-series, followed not to far behind by the X5. Some of us just get a little tired of this "foreign-cars-are-perfect, American-cars-are-junk" mindset that some folks have. People that live in glass houses............

 

Look I am not trying to make this into a ****ing match...just have some questions that I would like answered....

But I have to say I still own my first BMW 525i and it has 122k and is running very strong. These M50tu engines will go for 300k easy. Can you say that about a Ford without any major issues? Do you know what the weak link in the BMW are. The GM Auto Tranny. It basically dumps at 100k. Locks into limp mode. Thats why I swapped mine for a 5 speed Z rated BMW ///M3 tranny.
When I shut the door it sounds solid. When I shut my wife door it rattles. My point being this. The European made car better quality. They fit a round peg in a round hole not the US cars...Round into square and call it good. That is what is wrong with america now. Do not get me wrong I'm 100% american and 100% support BUSH! (not a liberal bone in my body) I just wish we could get the real pride back that made america and stop being lame like the democrates..........

theDogger

 

Dogger dogger dogger.

I think a case of brew needs to be cracked on this thread to cool off everyone lol. Sounds like your bitting off the hand that feeds you. I hate my ford too I have gone over the whole thing from the day I bought it off of a guy from work. 91 exploder
but I would buy another now that I know how to fix em lol

And I wouldn't be trash talking to the guys that you want to help fix your problems

comparing a beamer to a ford is unbelieveable so dont go there.

and if it wasnt for this site I would have been in a pickle on more than one occasion

oh has anyone said welcome to the forum yet welcome

 

Just wait till you pay for parts or a simply thing as a brake job for that beemer.

hehehehehehe

 

One man's junk is another man's treasure. I buy cars at the auto auction. Almost 2 1/2 years ago I bought a 97 XLT 4WD for $5,200. Sure, it had a lot of little problems that scared others away. $350 later it runs great and have put almost 50K on it. Someone took a bath on this as many others have experienced. The value of Explorers drops like a rock. For me, Explorers are plentifull and the parts are dirt cheap. I don't see how anyone can afford any vehicle if they have to pay others to do the work.

 

Well I really do not have to worry about paying for repairs. I do all my own work. I never ever by parts from the $tealer. There are 3 other parts places that are BMW OEM at 3/4 the cost. I have never let the $tealer touch my Bimmerz unless there was a recall. My new project is to transplant a 99 ///M3 engine into the 525. Direct swap. 240 hp and easy to get to 280 hp by swapping the ECU chip, Euro MAF and 21 lb injectors. All this with Very good relability of a 300k engine and tranny.

LOTR-HAMMER I agree it is sites like this one that allow issue to be solved. I do the same for the BMW's

LOL

theDogger

 

I wonder how much help you want to give somebody on a bmw site when the first thing that they say is I HATE BMW!

 

OK guys....

Lets keep this as a civil thread. Don't let this get out of hand so that I actually have to act like a moderator...

There is not a vehicle made that doesn't have problems. Everyone comes to forums for interaction - either to get help or try to help others, plus share ideas. Lets try to keep it that way....

 

Hey Guys, forgetting the BMW/Ford goings on for now.

About the spark plug wire boot that won't come off. Just cut the thing. The idea of smashing the plug gives me the *******. Just slice the boot rubber and you are home free.

 

Thank you for making my point better than I could.

You said you "just want some questions answered ." If you'd go to the top of the threads in this forum, you'd see one entitled, "FREE blend-door fix!" There you go: we just saved you $1,000.

You also asked if any Fords are capable of going 300k without major repairs. Someone once asked this question in the Ranger forum, and you might be surprised at the responses. Many of our members reported that even that lowly little vehicle, devoid of any sophisticated Bavarian-Teutonic engineering, has often gone 300, 400, even 500,000 miles with basic maintenance and minimal repairs.

As for the door on your BMW sounding more solid than that of your Ford, well, it should. If I paid $50,000 for a Taurus, I'd expect the door to sound like a bank vault, too. I drive an 8-year-old Town Car, and the doors on that close as tight and solid as anything on the road today. No rattles, just a nice, solid "thunk." I notice it EVERY time I get in and out of the car.

Some advice that I know will be helpful for you in the future: do be careful about posting your political views here- that's strictly forbidden per FTE guidelines.

 

The Dogger,
Skip that plug that you can't get to.I've not seen a plug change help these vehicles run one iota better.They have platinum plugs from the factory and with the unleaded gas,they'll go 200,000 miles,easy. It's kind of like trying to hand wax a car you get washed twice a week and get the silicone wax applied there. It just doesn't shine any better. Same with the plugs!
Huffer