Ford is putting engine #3 in my Exploder @34k

[jayhawk]

I am waiting on engine #3. It's '99 Explorer Sport SOHC V6.

Has anyone else had this problem????? I will never buy anything with a blue oval on it again.

 

[FMExplorer]

jayhawk,
There are people on this site with well over 100k and still purring - even after hard usage. I have the OHV engine, but there are many SOHC's with high mileage too. I haven't heard of anything like that...

Jon

 

[Roger Babich]

"There are people on this site with well over 100k and still purring"

We are the 3rd owner of a '92 4.0 OHV, 4Dr, 4x4, XLT that has been passed thru the family to us. It currently has 149,000 miles on it and is still going strong. It is stock except for replacement of items that have worn out: rotors, drums, brakes, U-joints, muffler, shocks, radio, etc. The engine has never been apart, original injectors, MAF, throttle body, cats, radiator, trans, transfer case and diffs. It gets about 14 mpg around town and 18 on the road. Someday it might catch up to our '77 E-150 that has 290,000.
Roger & Trudi Babich

 

[tac0meat]

ihave over 302k miles on mine with the original engine and original auto tranny, i am very hard on this vehicle and it still still runnin strong. i am stock as far as suspension and gears but i ride it hard enough to barely get better than 10-12 mpg, its definatley a good vehicle and sometimes there is just a "bad" one made, im sorry to hear that your on your third engine, but unforunately for you it seems like it could just be a coinsadence.

 

[Mainfraim]

'91 EB 4x4, 2nd transmission at 150,000, got 180,000 now, still runs fine, just minor glitches.

 

[Cameron]

Originally posted by jayhawk
I am waiting on engine #3. It's '99 Explorer Sport SOHC V6.

Has anyone else had this problem????? I will never buy anything with a blue oval on it again.

Have they previously replaced the entire motor? Two times? Inconceivable. The Ford 4.0 is one of the most durable motor designs. I would seriously question the dealer as to what the hell they are doing! Or not doing for that matter!

That’s just nuts!

 

[Tony91Sport]

Durable my ass. Ive got a 91 Sport, and my head gasket blew at 155k. I had to have my motor rebuilt, both heads were cracked. The heads are the weak point of the 4.0

My grilfriend has a 97 Eddie, it has 80k on it, and she had the motor replaced at 40k!! The SOHC sucks. Shes trading hers in in less than a month. I told her to get a 5.0 because its been around longer, and is a much more reliable engine. Screw the 4.0

Tony
91 Sport

 

[glenn233]

I have a 92 sport with 180k on it onlything i replaced was radiator and regular tune ups still runs great

 

[FMExplorer]

Tony91sport,
Honestly, I wouldn't complain too much about 155k miles and a blown head gasket. As far as the OHV motor goes - there are more people here that have abused the crap out of them and they are running strong. It's unfortunate that problems occur, but you can find that same problem on any board, with any car maker. However, the OHV 4.0 has held up much better than the SOHC. I had a Saab 9000 that crapped out at 225k and I heard those lasted forever. No complaints though <G>

JonM

 

[SV]

Blown 4.0 SOHC

Originally posted by jayhawk
I am waiting on engine #3. It's '99 Explorer Sport SOHC V6.

Has anyone else had this problem????? I will never buy anything with a blue oval on it again.

BE INFORMED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A NOTICE PROGRAM FOR ALL 97-00 4.0 SOHC FOR DEFECTIVE CAM TENSIONERS! ALTHOUGH FORD CLAIMS THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS "NOISE" THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITES ON FORD EXPLORERS WHERE THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ANYWHERE FROM 36.4K MILES TO 77K MILES ON THE ENGINE. IN SEVERAL OF THE CASES, FORD HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLOWN ENGINE, HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE NOT AWARE OF IT YOU MAY HAVE PAID FOR THEIR PROBLEM!!! THE DEALERSHIP WILL DENY DENY DENY ANY DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN BLOWN ENGINES AND FAULTY CAM TENSIONERS, HOWEVER, I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO SPEAK WITH A SERVICE MANAGER AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I INQUIRED HOW HE CORRELETED THE PROBLEM AND HE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS MINUTE DEBRIS IN THE OIL PAN WHICH CAME FROM THE CAM TENSIONERS AND ULTIMATELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE (CONTAMINATED OIL)!!! MOST MECHANICS ARE LOOKING FOR MECHANICAL DEFECTS AND WHEN FOUND (SUCH AS A BROKER TIMING GUIDE) CANNOT CONNECT IT TO THE CAM TENSIONERS. CONSEQUENTLY THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAM TENSIONERS. THE FORD ENGINEERS ARE AWARE THAT THIS CAN IN FACT HAPPEN AND THAT IS WHY FORD IS PICKING UP THE TAB ON THOSE INSTANCES WHERE OWNERS ARE DEMANDING JUSTIFICATION FOR THE BLOWN ENGINE (ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED)!!! TALK TO YOU MECHANIC - OBVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE MUST STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY!! BUT I THINK ALL REPLACEMENT ENGINES HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED!!! GOOD LUCK!

 

[Cameron]

Originally posted by Tony91Sport
Durable my ass. Ive got a 91 Sport, and my head gasket blew at 155k. I had to have my motor rebuilt, both heads were cracked. The heads are the weak point of the 4.0

My grilfriend has a 97 Eddie, it has 80k on it, and she had the motor replaced at 40k!! The SOHC sucks. Shes trading hers in in less than a month. I told her to get a 5.0 because its been around longer, and is a much more reliable engine. Screw the 4.0

Tony
91 Sport

Actually the 4.0 has been around for a very long time. It was originally a German design. I’m sorry to hear about your girlfriends SOHC problems. That is not the norm. I know how it is though, you get bit once or twice and you’re turned off completely. My mother will never buy an American car again because in the late 70’s she got burnt twice with a Dodge. A Dodge Cult! She won’t even look at a Cadillac because her Cult sucked!

Regardless of your experience, the SOHC is a good motor. The OHV, although not as efficient is extremely durable. 155,000 miles from a motor is nothing to sneeze at but like others have said, there are people on this site with 200,000 miles plus with no major problems. I think if you visit a Mustang board, you’ll find a few people who’s 5.0 crapped out with far less than 155,000 miles on them.

 

[gijoecam]

Your problem is not an uncommon one.... the tensioner problem I assume? I'm on my second-and-a-half engine... they replace the tensioners in the original (knocked from 3000 miles on) then replaced the engine, then replaced the tensioners in the new engine. Mine are the new design... I guess I was one of the guinea pigs for the current fix. There is a wraarnty extension related to the tensioner and exhaust o-ring problem... I don't have the info in front of me, but I can get it if you're interested. Believe me, I understand your frustration.... If you are buying it (not leasing it) have you considered hiring a lemon law attorney? You've got complete grounds for a case just based on loss of value if nothing else.

http://www.lemonaid.com

is my attorney's site.... I can't really recommend him, but he's got some good info there and can answer a lot of your questions.

Let us know how it turns out.

-Joe-

 

[jayhawk]

Thanks Joe.....I am going to try and work the lemon law issue as soon as I get it back from the dealer! If that doesn't work, it's getting traded for something that burns rice.

 

[tac0meat]

hey, like i said earlier: i got over 302k miles on mine and can still smoke the tires, and if i work it right-i can catch a second gear scratch(might not mean much but considering thats with the original auto tranny, its nothin to complain about)

 

[woulduno]

When I see two vehicles in the same household with issues I tend to lean towards bad drivers and service. I am on my 3rd Ford with the 4.0 and know several people with them and nothing put perfection except one. But, that person has no clue what an oil change is. My current 4.0 is a SOHC. And I run mine pretty hard. I only get about 10-13 miles per gallon with my driving, but I do take it in for service and I only let the dealer touch it. My issue with the 5.0 is it would seem you can only get that with the full time all wheel drive. Which I do not care for. Hopefully in the new explorer it will not be that way. I like my 4 wheel high/low lock.

Originally posted by Tony91Sport
Durable my ass. Ive got a 91 Sport, and my head gasket blew at 155k. I had to have my motor rebuilt, both heads were cracked. The heads are the weak point of the 4.0

My grilfriend has a 97 Eddie, it has 80k on it, and she had the motor replaced at 40k!! The SOHC sucks. Shes trading hers in in less than a month. I told her to get a 5.0 because its been around longer, and is a much more reliable engine. Screw the 4.0

Tony
91 Sport

 

[Tony91Sport]

My car, hm. My parents didnt take good care of it, but when I got it things changed. As for my girlfriends car, Her Explorer has been into Ford at every Scheduled service interval. I just tyhink it was a dud. Im hard headed, so youre right I DO think I would get burned again with the 4.0 But im probably going to get another 91-94 w/4WD to lift and I have no other engine choice.

Tony
91 Sport 2WD

 

[jayhawk]

It's been 10 days, still waiting on that engine to show up!! Talked to Ford main office and they are looking into the problem.

Can you say LEMON!

I hope they buy this piece of junk back!!!!!

 

[edogwv]

trashing the 4.0?

Humm.. Sorry for your luck, although I can't speak for the SOHC, The OHV in my '92 Runs like new. I just turned over 150,000 miles and its still churning. Of course, I've always changed the oil 2500 - 3000 miles with Halvoline 10w30. Getting 21 Mpg at 75 mph on the highway with a manual transmission...

-Evan

ps - Knock on wood

 

[rpenner54]

I can say I have never been impresed with the performance of the 4.0 (A 2.9 thats been bored over) for its size. To me an engine this big should be getting near 200hp stock not 155hp! If the Yota guys can make engines soooo much better and soooo much smaller and get soooo much more power and precision out of them why can't Ford? If I could do it all by myself I would have a Ford Explorer body/frame, a Yota V8, a Dana 44 front, a nice GM auto Tranny, a Dana 20 with a Klune between it, and a Dana 60 in the Rear. To me that would rock. LOL I sure did pull this off the subject huh?

Anyways the 4.0 is a decent engine for a Ford Ranger regular cab short bed just not made for an Explorer with all its extra weight. It has to work to hard. If I was you I would be doing everything I could to get that lemon law into effect before its to late. It sounds like they need to buy that puppy back ASAP. Plus give you the costs ($$$) to compensate for your loss (rental fees and other little costs associated with not having your vehicle).

 

[01EB5.0]

155K is pretty good milage I think. As for your grilfriend's 97 Eddie, thew 1997 model year was the first year of the SOHC and it had bugs. They were not aware of the cam tensioner problem and now the new SOHC engines have the problem corrected.