Ok, I am new here but I am desperate for help. I am on my second Explorer and I am already having problems with my new one. Let me just explain the situation:

Bought a 1992 Explorer from a private seller back in the summer of 2000. It was very nice and I loved it till the problems started. 5 months after the purchase was made, the radiator went out. Ok, I thought, this vehicle has got some age on it so this was expected. Spent $200 to have the radiator replaced. A week after getting out of the shop, I am driving it and hear a large "POP" from beneath the truck and the acceleration dropped rapidly w/o my foot even coming off the gas petal. Back to the shop we go only to find out that the rear differential locked up causing the rear axle to brake. Ok, $1000 to have repaired. Now, I have the Explorer back out of the shop and fixed. Driving it down the road again and I hear a BANG and steam started to pour from the middle underneath of the Explorer. Here we go back to the darn shop. Diagnosis: Both head gaskets have cracked. Quoted cost to repair: $1900. Needless to say I was tired of having this things fixed so I traded it in for a 2000 Intrepid (new w/ a WARRANTY).

Ok, now I am going through a divorce and can no longer afford the outrageous payments on the Intrepid. So I go SUV shopping since I would rather have an SUV anyway. I got to the local Ford Dealership and find a very nice fully loaded 1997 Explorer. I am thinking, ok I had a lot of problems with the last Explorer I owned. But my instinct told me to shrug it off because maybe the other one was just a lemon. Nobody could have that problem twice. So I thought. After taking it to the mechanic for an inspection and getting nothing but a good grade, I decided to purchase the vehicle. Needless to say since it was used it did not have a warranty. Ok, 3 weeks after the purchase was made, I was driving it and I notice the temp gage is starting to rise. I slow it down and turn the heat off, and the gage goes back to normal. This began to be an everyday thing. Ok, just last week it got so high that is reached the H and the check gage light came on. I found that turning the heat on full blast fixed the problem and the temp went back to normal. A few days ago that did not even work. I drove it straight to the shop.

The mechanic comes out and tells me that it is one of two things. It is either the thermostat or a plugged radiator. He told me that the cheapest thing to fix would be the thermostat (which he told me was exotic and the part alone was $60). Of course I was thinking to myself, "GEE, is it made out of solid gold". So I told him thank you but I would take it to the dealership and have them test it. Well, the mechanic says ok, let me pull it out of the garage for ya. He returns and tells me that he has worse news. When they started the Explorer the engine missed. He stated that if an engine misses like that after having temperature test run on it that it is a good indication that it is a leaky head gasket. :-X23 "OH *****, here we go again". I came straight home and called the dealership. They can't even see me till Wednesday. Ok, I bought this thing on Dec 13th, exactly a month ago today.

Is there some kind of 30 day guarantee where they should fix a defect as large as that w/i 30 days of a purchase??? I am just very because the salesman knew of my past experience with Explorers. Has anyone else had this problem?? The mechanic told me that he saw a bulletin that just came out stating that Explorers are having problems overheating and they only solution is to replace the engine. I just don't have the money to have this thing fixed. Can I hold the dealership responsible for selling me a P.O.S? I just don’t know how I should handle this when I take it down there Wednesday. Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

Heather , Which Engine does your Explorer have ? There is the 4.0L SOHC , VIN E ; 4.0L VIN X or the 5.0L V8 .

 

It is a 6 Cylinder 4.0 Liter. That is all I know!

 

Also, it is a XLT. I don't know if that helps, but it may.

 

Heather , Without seeing the truck & based on what you have said ... $60 for a Thermostat , Ford lists the Thermostat for that engine , Ford part number F7TZ 8575 A for $38 . Is this Ray Viles Ford you are dealing with ? The problem I have seen with a lot , Not only used Ford vehicles , is that they have been previously leased & not had the scheduled maintenance . The 4.0L engine has had more than its share of problems , The whole Explorer line for that matter . I know of a guy in Maryville , That has his own shop that does pretty much exclusively Ford repairs at a fair price , if you want to call him & schedule I can give you his name .

 

Go back to the sales side of the dealership and tell them you pissed. The sales side should stand up for you, they have a stake here and they don't want to be known for selling crap. I would think they would stand behind their sale for at least 30 days. Keep taking it up the chain until you get satisfaction. You're in tough spot, don't let guys walk on you anymore.

If they don't work out a deal. Offer to buy the extended warranty, powertrain only, especially if this turns out to be head gasket repair. If it's a $38 no big deal. Regardless, extended warranty, if you can afford it, might give you some piece of mind especially considering your experience with explorers.

The shop should be able to perform a coolant pressure test to tell pretty easily if you have a large head gasket problem.

Good luck

 

Thank you for your help. I will probably go ahead and take it down to the dealership (Dean Stallings in Oak Ridge)and have them check it out. If they tell me that it is something major (or even minor), I will probably go back to the salesman and request that they stand behind what they sold me. If they are unwilling to do that I will first, give them a piece of my mind, and second,cause bad business for them by telling everyone that they have bad business ethics. Paul, I would appreciate that guys name and number. I will need it just incase the dealership does not offer to repair the Explorer or even for future repairs. Again, thank you all.

***Paul, you can email or aim the contact info to me.