Help, my 2021 Platinum died tonight… | Ford Explorer Forums

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Help, my 2021 Platinum died tonight…

scottfmc

Well-Known Member
Joined
February 8, 2011
Messages
294
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24
Location
Nashville
City, State
Spring Hill, TN
Year, Model & Trim Level
2021 Platinum
It’s on its way to the dealership. At one point tonight it started miss firing horribly and could hardly stay started. No idea what’s happening, but I guess the dealership will figure it out. Interestingly, it had a knocking noise for several days at start up that smooth out after the engine warmed up. No idea if related.
 



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It’s on its way to the dealership. At one point tonight it started miss firing horribly and could hardly stay started. No idea what’s happening, but I guess the dealership will figure it out. Interestingly, it had a knocking noise for several days at start up that smooth out after the engine warmed up. No idea if related.
Ughh. Good luck. Hopefully something minor.
 






It’s on its way to the dealership. At one point tonight it started miss firing horribly and could hardly stay started. No idea what’s happening, but I guess the dealership will figure it out. Interestingly, it had a knocking noise for several days at start up that smooth out after the engine warmed up. No idea if related.
Engine failed a leak-down test. Dealer thinks will require a NEW ENGINE! At 2300 miles???
 






It happens regardless of make or model. Hopefully dealer can get one quick and put you back on the road.
 






Engine failed a leak-down test. Dealer thinks will require a NEW ENGINE! At 2300 miles???
Sorry to hear that, gotta be beyond frustrating.

Did they elaborate further on the leak down test, what exactly is failing or failed for that matter?
 






Sorry to hear that, gotta be beyond frustrating.

Did they elaborate further on the leak down test, what exactly is failing or failed for that matter?
I researched it a bit. It can mean several things such as the block cylinder has become misshapened and the piston rings can no longer seal. Alternately, it can indicate a head gasket is no longer functioning or other such seals are no longer working. In any case, the typical fix involves rebuilding or replacing the entire engine.

I saw the comment that "it can happen", but my Ford-dealer friend indicated to me that is happening a lot more. In fact, he mentioned that he'd had more than a handful this year at just his dealership. Ford has to get in front of this.

No idea how long it will take to procure a replacement engine and install it yet. Does anyone know?
 






I have just over 1,000 miles on my Platinum. Looking back were there any indications from an engine perspective?
Hope this is resolved quickly and satisfactorily for you.
I've come to realize my Platinum built in early Sept 2021 isn't the vehicle I was expecting. While I'm impressed with some features I'm questioning the reliability.
 






I have just over 1,000 miles on my Platinum. Looking back were there any indications from an engine perspective?
Hope this is resolved quickly and satisfactorily for you.
I've come to realize my Platinum built in early Sept 2021 isn't the vehicle I was expecting. While I'm impressed with some features I'm questioning the reliability.
The engine recently developed a very slight "knock" when started cold. It consistently stopped after just a few minutes. I chalked it up to a cold snap we just had. In retrospect, that may have been a signal. Otherwise the engine was as strong as ever.
 






The engine recently developed a very slight "knock" when started cold. It consistently stopped after just a few minutes. I chalked it up to a cold snap we just had. In retrospect, that may have been a signal. Otherwise the engine was as strong as ever.

Possibly a cracked piston ring that eventually broke. Really impossible for anyone to know without tearing the engine down. I've been working on cars for a long time, things just happen. Manufacturing/materials defects. Thank goodness you have a warranty, and if your Ford dealership has seen it often they should be good at fixing it. Best of luck.
 






Very possible it was the cam phasers that went out. Some ST guys have had this problem as well. Very well known issue with ecoboost engines on F-150's.

I have a similar problem with mine, but not 100% sure if its the flex pipes or cam phasers. I can hear a loud rattle on cold starts from the drivers side only and the pipe moves very violently compared to the passengers side.


Its currently being looked at the dealer. Good news, you'll get a new engine with fresh phasers. My Platinum just clocked in 7k miles.
 






I researched it a bit. It can mean several things such as the block cylinder has become misshapened and the piston rings can no longer seal. Alternately, it can indicate a head gasket is no longer functioning or other such seals are no longer working. In any case, the typical fix involves rebuilding or replacing the entire engine.

I saw the comment that "it can happen", but my Ford-dealer friend indicated to me that is happening a lot more. In fact, he mentioned that he'd had more than a handful this year at just his dealership. Ford has to get in front of this.

No idea how long it will take to procure a replacement engine and install it yet. Does anyone know?
Ford doesn’t have to, and won’t get in front of this. Ford has a very long history of just rolling with very well known, huge engineering flaws that they don’t even bother to fix with a generation change. These are getting so complex every o e of the line is going to be a crap shoot. These are now lease only quality vehicles.
 






Very possible it was the cam phasers that went out. Some ST guys have had this problem as well. Very well known issue with ecoboost engines on F-150's.

I have a similar problem with mine, but not 100% sure if its the flex pipes or cam phasers. I can hear a loud rattle on cold starts from the drivers side only and the pipe moves very violently compared to the passengers side.


Its currently being looked at the dealer. Good news, you'll get a new engine with fresh phasers. My Platinum just clocked in 7k miles.

Perhaps the phasers, though misfires were occurring on Cylinders 3, 5, and 6 (per PTS), and those are not all on the same side, are they? Not even sure that matters as I'm not a tech. Still waiting for dealer call back.
 






Ford doesn’t have to, and won’t get in front of this. Ford has a very long history of just rolling with very well known, huge engineering flaws that they don’t even bother to fix with a generation change. These are getting so complex every o e of the line is going to be a crap shoot. These are now lease only quality vehicles.

A long history? Examples (other than the well-known Focus DCT issues)? Just curious...
 






Perhaps the phasers, though misfires were occurring on Cylinders 3, 5, and 6 (per PTS), and those are not all on the same side, are they? Not even sure that matters as I'm not a tech. Still waiting for dealer call back.
Bad Phasers can throw the VVT off which can cause cylinder missfires.

There were certain ST's that arrived with low oil from the dealer as well which can contribute to low oil pressure from the start. Mine was at the low end as well, barely had any on the dipstick.

ZFG, who is pretty well known for making tunes on the ST, recommended to add an additional .5 of quart on top of the 6 quarts of oil if you go WOT from time to time even if stock. These 3.0's have been datalogged to have low pressure, take it with a grain of salt, but its something im doing now.
 






A long history? Examples (other than the well-known Focus DCT issues)? Just curious...
The 4.0 SOHC, and the automatic transmissions between 91 through late 2000s. All of the PTU models. Garbage internal water pumps.
 






Still waiting on replacement new engine. Ford takes too long to deliver parts. Was able to verify that 18 such engines are available in the US, so why the delay? Going on 3 weeks now without my new car. Grrrrrr. :(
 






Still waiting on replacement new engine. Ford takes too long to deliver parts. Was able to verify that 18 such engines are available in the US, so why the delay? Going on 3 weeks now without my new car. Grrrrrr. :(
Still waiting on parts. A response I got from an FCSD friend.
Dealer has approval for Part L1MZ6006A. This part is supposed to be in stock by 12/16 in high quantities, but there aren't any today. They were expecting to get these parts in starting this past Tuesday, and the supplier has 81 that are in process of being packaged/shipped. 86 orders in the system. 418 more on the way soon. So they near the end of the backorder fiasco.
Fingers crossed dealer can obtain and install and successfully hook everything up the first time. Anyone have any experience with an engine change-out on a 20-21 Explorer? Was your dealer successful?
 






...................................................Anyone have any experience with an engine change-out on a 20-21 Explorer? Was your dealer successful?

I believe you are the first one, Scott.

Peter
 









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Pioneering! Oh my...
Apologize to the mods ahead of time if this is not allowed.


OP, another user on the ST forums had his engine replaced by the dealer, phasers went bad on his engine. He documented everything he went thru as well as lead time
 






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