Bof...

I don't know where your at in Central Florida, but give me a pm and I'll see if I can at least get you in touch with a reputable and honest shop. I know we charge a small diagnostic fee if it takes a lot of time to fix, usually we just lump the diagnostic in the repair and bump the labor up .5hr.

Oh, and if you think 65/hr is bad, try getting a boat worked on. The boat shop I use gets 75/hr to work on my bassboat, but they charge over 100/hr if your boat is used in saltwater. Prices are getting way outta line anymore.

 

WOW! IF 130,000 miles is a useable life for these trucks, Then I got a SUPERMAN EX! I got 165,xxx on mine right now. I drive it back and forth to work every day. It is my construction business vehicle... it carries 500-1000lbs of tools on a regular basis. It hauls my family and friends everywhere we decide to go. It see's frequent trips form NC to MA... about 2/yr. It tows trailers and hauls lumber. It is currently getting set up to haul a Travel Trailer. This is the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned.... I also have a Taurus that just had the original battery from 96 changed. No problems either. I traded in a 4X4 Ranger Ex-cab for the EX and didn't have one seconds trouble out of it either! Ford is top notch in my book. Almost everyone in my family has a Ford and no problems anywhere! I just can't understand why I am seeing the posted problems that I see. Unless someone didn't fix a problem when it started and it snowballed into a pile of rolling crap! IMHO Ford is one of the best built vehicles on the road..... Toyota is up there too.... CHEVY is trash... ask my neighbors!

 

Also known as dealer doesn't have a clue and is trying to take the easy way out if the repairs aren't that great if at all. What dealer said this? I'd like to call and ask what his decision is based on. You know what would be fun, go to the sales manager and ask if the service manager is right in saying that, I'll bet the sales manager would go threw the roof.
I hate all dealerships ALL of them are crooks. Hey and just for the record 4 months! Are you kidding me?! For sure your truck is sitting ouside doing nothing with a lot of grass growing around it. You need to call your Ford district rep.

 

Many here have called ford trucks the best ever. Many here have called the new Expedtions great and some called them crap.

It seems to me that the Ford "trucks" are better than the "SUVs" even though they interchange many of the parts.

Oh well. I've finally learned that FORD does apparently stand for "fix or repair daily" or "found on road dead" thanks to my 03 Expedtion.

 

That's my feelings toward my 98 Ranger XLT S/C 4x4 off/road 4.0L OHV - what a hunk of junk! 19 visits to the dealership in the first 3 years (52 or so days out of service). new engine installed at 36k...the list goes on and on and on.

I traded it in on my wife's 02 EB Explorer - we made sure to buy the Premium Care - 6yr/100k mile warranty on it...want to be ready if we see the same crap with it!
I know you can get a lemon in ANY Make/Model...we had the bases covered for Rangers. Hope the Explorer is better. I just bought my 98 Expedition with 101k miles on it and am hoping it's as good as I've heard...otherwise I'm stuck!

Scott

 

FWIW,

We bought a '98 5.4 extended cab new in 12/98. We also bought a new 1998 Chevy Venture van at the same time (don't ask). Here it is, almost 6 years later...

My truck: 0ne repair @ 30,000 for a failed coil pack, under warranty. I haul WAAAAYYY over the recommended weight & tow heavy stuff on a regular basis. Regular maintenance. I even have to loan it to the mother-in-law on a frequent basis. Survives everything.

The Venture: traded in 2001, after 18 months of hell. Trans leaked from the first day. All power options failed on a regular basis. Superb maintenance, since it was in the service dept. all the time. Brakes junk after 17000 miles. Front bearings & axle junk after 32000. Serious rust, through the metal, by the time it was traded, still under the warranty.

The replacement: 2001 Dodge Durango. "Ram Tough." Yeah, right. Three wiper motors; failed fuel pump; gas cap (yes, the cap broke); shifting problems; & the list goes on. Why the Durango? Needed the third seat & my wife said the Expedition was too big. By the way, my wife drives like an old lady. I drive like I stole it.

Also, the Ford dealer service was 1000% better, more competent, & faster than either the Dodge or Chevy dealers.

They can all break; they're all way too complicated; but in talking with friends & acquaintances, the Fords seem better built & more reliable. Sorry about your bad experience.

 

well, I just replaced the rear differential sensor (for ABS light) [got part at NAPA for $11} and also had to replace the air compressor relay
from http://www.arnottindustries.com/part...d153_yid2.html ...

That takes care of 3 problems with 100% accuracy thanks to you guys!!!

I'm feeling better about this truck after all, realizing the problems arent REALLY that bad...

It's just so overwhelming to go to the dealer and hear him say it's $90 PER DIAGNOSIS, so there's $360 down the drain without even purchasing anything yet... then you stack up $65/hr rates and parts at a %30 mark up rate = a good greaseless *****in'


3 problems down, 1 to go, Check Engine light... I will go to Pepboys and get codes soon

THANKS TO ALL





For future reference to all with 98 expedition probs:

ABS light with 'stutter/slide' while braking, can remove ABS fuse to stop premature ABS engagement (brake slide/stutter) and then replace rear differential sensor (NAPA #530780 = $11)

Rear end sagging (tire up in wheel well), in my case it was only the Air Compressor Relay, part # F3LY2C013A $90

If Cruise Control wont work anymore, replace Brake Pressure Switch , part # F3TZ9F924BB $20-30

 

We got the Expedition back Thursday afternoon and my wife drove it to work Friday. Friday evening we drove the Expedition to a mall about six miles from the house. We got about half way there when the PCM went out again. Once again it has been towed to the dealer. We heard nothing from the dealer until I was able to get by there after work Monday. The service manager wasn't even aware the truck was back in his shop. After a slightly heated discussion he offered to give me my money back, including the towing bills, and the cost of repairing the scratches that his "technician" put on both front fenders and the front bumper, and the cost of cleaning the grease off of the carpet, doorpanels, console, and overhead. He left to "get me a check" and came back about five minutes later and asked if I could give them a "few more days to try to make this good." He said one of his other techs is an expert on PCMs and he now working on it. I don't understand why he didn't have another tech work on it by now since they have had the vehicle since June 18th, but I left without my check or my vehicle. I think I'll most likely end up having to get a lawyer to get my money back and then get the truck to a more qualified dealer. At this point I just want to get it running long enough to trade it in. That's a painful thing for me to do, because I've always been able to sell my vehicles myself, many of them were sold to people I know because I've always have taken good care of the vehicles and they still ran and looked excellent. I wouldn't want to sell this lemon to anyone because it would probably come back to haunt me.

 

Wow, Id love to have a local dealer that only charged $65/hr..I might actually go to them

 

I officially have NO more error lights on the dash...

after this fix today... PVC vacuum assembly #F85Z-6C324-AA
http://www.azda.com/ford/


Washed and waxed

I love my FORD!!! :lol:

 

Thats great. The best part is that you did it yourself. Now you won't be scared of your truck anymore. They aren't that hard to fix if you take your time and think things through.

 

You went from "Never again" to "I love my truck" in a week. Sounds like due in part to the member of this board! FTE members are the best!

 

DAmn straight!!! The Members are truly the best, turned my frown upside down and error code free, at the tune of <$200, not $1000...

(I should've said "never a stealer again" )

 

I have a 97' Expy XLT, 5.4, has 119 k on it now,,it's been a great ride, only prob was a CV boot tore, and had ford repair it,,,not to bad a price either.

I purchased the truck for $14,900, with 88k on the clock, and have been very happy with it so far,,everything works fine,,has rear heat and air, 6 CD changer, been a very good truck.

My GF drives it mostly, she has said the ABS light stays on now and then (well twice now) in the last yr or 2,,anyone have an idea what this may be from ??

Sensor??

Thanks,,,,later,,,,,,,,,,,Mark

 

I have a 97 exp. and we won't trade it in for nothing. We are in heavy duty snow country and this is the "FIRST" anything that my wife has felt comfortable driving in any kind of ice or snow. It has been a god send now that I don't have to drive her anyplace that I don't want to go. It has 118,000 on it and the only probs has been a cvc joint in the right front wheel and brakes (goes thru rear brakes all the time) The 75,000 mile check engine light came on and I was goin to do something about it when I realised that my millage went "UP" 2 mpg and since that has been my "ONLY" real complaint about this truck its still on....lol. I wasn't to happy about how this towed my 8000# (dry) prowler trailer for 15,000 miles definatley under powered and light on suspension but I bought a diesel f250 when we got home to do that (what a mistake) but the advantages, ride comfort, and wifes security will let me drive the wheels off this thing until it won't go any further