ryster
Member
- Joined
- April 20, 2001
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Southeastern, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS
Hi!
My '00 Explorer XLS 4x4 has a loud popping noise somewhere in or around the driver's door. I took the truck to my dealer on 9/20/01 to have the problem diagnosed and repaired. Well, it has now been back 5 times for the problem with no resolution. In fact, last week's appointment ended with the dealer calling me and telling me they simply have done all they know how to do and do not know how to fix the problem on their own. I am scheduled for appointment #6 on 11/20 to swap my truck for a loaner so they can have the truck for "a few days" to work on. This time, the dealer is going to contact Ford directly for assistance. The service advisor anticipates only needing the truck for 2 days, but considering it is going in Thanksgiving week I doubt I will have it back before the 26th. In any event, they have already done the following to try and fix the noise:
1. Initial diagnosis was a loose running board. They tightened the running board "under warranty" and said the problem was resolved. Ford paid $45 for this mis-diagnosis.
2. They then diagnosed the problem as a bad window run and upper door moulding. They ordered the parts.
3. A week and a half later, the aforementioned parts were installed. The mechanic and shop foreman indicated the problem was fixed. Ford paid $230 for this mis-diagnosis.
4. Truck went back again. Mechanics worked on the truck for several hours at which point they decided they couldn't fix it and would need it back for an extended stay. When I went to retrieve my truck, the seat belt was severely twisted, the trim cover for the upper seat belt bolt was broken, the door panel was not properly reinstalled, the mounting bolt for the seat belt retracting unit is just sort of "there" but not fuly tightened, and there was dirt all over the door panels and interior trim. They resolved the seat belt issue and ordered a new trim piece to be installed at my next appointment. Don't know what Ford paid for this trip, but figure 5 hours of the mechanics time at $70/hour and you're looking at $350. Now we are at $625 in warranty work so far and the problem isn't fixed.
There was one other trip to the dealer to have the foreman drive the vehicle and listen to the noise, but I didn't list it above.
I must give kudos to the dealer for having the patience to work on the problem. The truck didn't have this problem at first, it has developed progressively over the past few months.
Should I spend any more of my time and the dealer's time trying to get this resolved? Should I just cut my losses and trade the truck (it will be one year old in two weeks and currently has 15,200 miles on it)? Incidentally, I have spoken to a lemon law lawyer who said I would have a case should I choose to pursue one. He recommends letting the dealer have at it one more time. The noise is very loud and seems to be getting worse daily.
I just don't know what to do. I do enjoy the truck but the noise is driving me insane. I have test driven other cars and will be doing so again in the morning. However, none of them feel as "right" as my Explorer (you know, that feeling you get when you drive a vehicle you enjoy).
What do you guys think? Trade it? Let the dealer have at it a sixth time? Go the lemon route directly? Let the dealer try again and then go the lemon route if it doesn't work out? Try a different dealer (after the current one undoes everything they've done)?
Thanks for your time!
My '00 Explorer XLS 4x4 has a loud popping noise somewhere in or around the driver's door. I took the truck to my dealer on 9/20/01 to have the problem diagnosed and repaired. Well, it has now been back 5 times for the problem with no resolution. In fact, last week's appointment ended with the dealer calling me and telling me they simply have done all they know how to do and do not know how to fix the problem on their own. I am scheduled for appointment #6 on 11/20 to swap my truck for a loaner so they can have the truck for "a few days" to work on. This time, the dealer is going to contact Ford directly for assistance. The service advisor anticipates only needing the truck for 2 days, but considering it is going in Thanksgiving week I doubt I will have it back before the 26th. In any event, they have already done the following to try and fix the noise:
1. Initial diagnosis was a loose running board. They tightened the running board "under warranty" and said the problem was resolved. Ford paid $45 for this mis-diagnosis.
2. They then diagnosed the problem as a bad window run and upper door moulding. They ordered the parts.
3. A week and a half later, the aforementioned parts were installed. The mechanic and shop foreman indicated the problem was fixed. Ford paid $230 for this mis-diagnosis.
4. Truck went back again. Mechanics worked on the truck for several hours at which point they decided they couldn't fix it and would need it back for an extended stay. When I went to retrieve my truck, the seat belt was severely twisted, the trim cover for the upper seat belt bolt was broken, the door panel was not properly reinstalled, the mounting bolt for the seat belt retracting unit is just sort of "there" but not fuly tightened, and there was dirt all over the door panels and interior trim. They resolved the seat belt issue and ordered a new trim piece to be installed at my next appointment. Don't know what Ford paid for this trip, but figure 5 hours of the mechanics time at $70/hour and you're looking at $350. Now we are at $625 in warranty work so far and the problem isn't fixed.
There was one other trip to the dealer to have the foreman drive the vehicle and listen to the noise, but I didn't list it above.
I must give kudos to the dealer for having the patience to work on the problem. The truck didn't have this problem at first, it has developed progressively over the past few months.
Should I spend any more of my time and the dealer's time trying to get this resolved? Should I just cut my losses and trade the truck (it will be one year old in two weeks and currently has 15,200 miles on it)? Incidentally, I have spoken to a lemon law lawyer who said I would have a case should I choose to pursue one. He recommends letting the dealer have at it one more time. The noise is very loud and seems to be getting worse daily.
I just don't know what to do. I do enjoy the truck but the noise is driving me insane. I have test driven other cars and will be doing so again in the morning. However, none of them feel as "right" as my Explorer (you know, that feeling you get when you drive a vehicle you enjoy).
What do you guys think? Trade it? Let the dealer have at it a sixth time? Go the lemon route directly? Let the dealer try again and then go the lemon route if it doesn't work out? Try a different dealer (after the current one undoes everything they've done)?
Thanks for your time!