BandwagonJumper
Member
- Joined
- June 11, 2017
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Raleigh, NC
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2016 Limited 4WD
Hi all, new to the forums and semi-new to Ford. Traded in our previous family vehicle on a 2016 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD. It was a former Enterprise Rental (wasn't thrilled about that, but the offer was too good to pass up).
As we approached 36k miles, I desperately wanted to have the vehicle checked over for possible problems, but couldn't make it happen. Now, with just over 36k on the clock, we're getting charging system warnings, and the battery light is on in the left side of the console. While driving the car, the power steering also stopped working (electronic power assist?) Fantastic!
The battery appears to already have been replaced once - it's an Interstate battery, where I had expected to see a Motorcraft battery. I chalked it up to routine fleet maintenance done by Enterprise, especially on the Limited model with all the gizmos and gadgets, power liftgate, power seats in third row, heated steering wheel, etc, so didn't think much about it. The terminals are clean and connections are tight.
Now, since we're out of warranty (by less than 200 miles) I'm wondering if this is the start of bigger problems.
Most dealership service advisors that I called have told me it's likely to be the alternator going bad. Really? Already? This is a 2016 with barely 36k on it.
Dealership service quote for the 230 amp alternator is just over $400, and labor in this area is $120 / hour.
I'm handy enough with a wrench, but the location of the alternator looks absolutely terrible. Even if I get it loose, there's almost no clearance to get it out of the engine bay, much less get the new one in place. Brilliant design (keeps the technicians busy and forces the average owner to get it serviced by the pros).
So yeah, I'm pretty unhappy right now.
I've seen the thread about the variable output for charging system. But when it is idling in the garage, and I put a multimeter on it, it reads BELOW 12v. Certainly not enough to keep the battery charged. If I rev up the engine, it only got as high as 11.8v.
Kicking myself for not dropping the extra $1000 on an extended warranty (especially since it was a former rental). "But, hey, it's a 2016, with only 32k miles on it, how bad can it be? No thanks, I'll pass on the extended warranty." Oops.
Thoughts, opinions, suggestions all welcome.
As we approached 36k miles, I desperately wanted to have the vehicle checked over for possible problems, but couldn't make it happen. Now, with just over 36k on the clock, we're getting charging system warnings, and the battery light is on in the left side of the console. While driving the car, the power steering also stopped working (electronic power assist?) Fantastic!
The battery appears to already have been replaced once - it's an Interstate battery, where I had expected to see a Motorcraft battery. I chalked it up to routine fleet maintenance done by Enterprise, especially on the Limited model with all the gizmos and gadgets, power liftgate, power seats in third row, heated steering wheel, etc, so didn't think much about it. The terminals are clean and connections are tight.
Now, since we're out of warranty (by less than 200 miles) I'm wondering if this is the start of bigger problems.
Most dealership service advisors that I called have told me it's likely to be the alternator going bad. Really? Already? This is a 2016 with barely 36k on it.
Dealership service quote for the 230 amp alternator is just over $400, and labor in this area is $120 / hour.
I'm handy enough with a wrench, but the location of the alternator looks absolutely terrible. Even if I get it loose, there's almost no clearance to get it out of the engine bay, much less get the new one in place. Brilliant design (keeps the technicians busy and forces the average owner to get it serviced by the pros).
So yeah, I'm pretty unhappy right now.
I've seen the thread about the variable output for charging system. But when it is idling in the garage, and I put a multimeter on it, it reads BELOW 12v. Certainly not enough to keep the battery charged. If I rev up the engine, it only got as high as 11.8v.
Kicking myself for not dropping the extra $1000 on an extended warranty (especially since it was a former rental). "But, hey, it's a 2016, with only 32k miles on it, how bad can it be? No thanks, I'll pass on the extended warranty." Oops.
Thoughts, opinions, suggestions all welcome.