Need 2000 Owners Opinions Please

[Pack]

I just traded my 1998 Sport 4x4 4.0 OHV Manual in for a 2000 XLS 4x4 4.0 SOHC Auto with 37000 miles on it. I am thinking of buying a 4yr/48k mile extended warranty from Ford for $1400. I really don't want to fork out that kind of cash for something I may never use. My '98 never needed a repair that cost more than $200 (doing it myself). This is the newer engine and I know there have been problems with it, and now I have an automatic instead of a stick. Any help/opinions on how reliable this drivetrain is would be greatly appreciated.

 

[addkev]

I have mixed opinions, I have an extended warranty 75,000 / 60 months w/ $100 deductible.
1. I have used it many times, I figure that I have saved about $400, (roughly $1200 is what I paid for the warranty) so I am still $800 behind. But it is nice knowing it is there.
2. Not all Ford Dealerships are recognized by the warranty companies. Last summer on vacation my thermostat and water pump went out. So I took it in to a Ford Dealer in Dallas, assuming that any Ford dealer can work on my truck. I showed them my warranty and they said that because it was a holiday, I would have to pay the entire balance and take it up with the warranty company for reimbursement. I was pissed, but it was Memorial day weekend and nobody else was open and I had to be back at work on Monday. So $800 later I had a new water pump and thermostat
I know $800 is way too high, but we will get into that later, the dealership assured me that was the going price and I would be reimbursed, so out comes the VISA!
I get home after memorial day weekend call the warranty place, they say they only pay $250 for water pumps and thermostats. They have a chart saying how much maintenance should cost for different types of parts and jobs. Subtract my $100 deductible and I get a whopping $150 check 4-6 weeks later.
So, I call the dealership, Grand Prairie Ford in Grand Prairie Texas, just outside of Dallas, I-30 and Beltline. Talk to the service manager, blah, blah, blah he has to pay his mechanic's time and a half so that is why I paid $500 in labor. I made it all the way to the General Manager, but basically I was screaming through a phone, so all he had to do was put me on hold and ignore me, so the issue was never resolved. I lost out on $550.
If you use the extended warranty I think it is worth it. If you do alot of your own maintenance, then you can do with out it. Just read the fine print!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[addkev]

Also, I forgot.
Some extended warranties only cover certain parts and different rules cover parts and not labor or vice versa.
And have different deductibles, so again, read the fine print.

 

[Pack]

Thanks

Thanks for your opinion. I have been doing a lot of searching regarding the SOHC 4.0 and it seems that ford has extended the warranty on the three most common problems seen on the engine. This helps sway me to the no-warranty side a little. Anyone know how reliable the 5 speed auto tranny is?

 

[doomdrv01]

I have a 2001 but it has exactly the same powertrain. It only has 10,000 miles but has already developed a problem that seems to be common - a bucking feeling at lower speeds on dry pavement.

Trouble is warranty doesn't help because they can't fix it. I don't know if its the tranny or the engine or something they call the PCM.

Anyway, good luck and I hope you get the same service from your new vehicle as your last one!

 

[BWJones]

Good luck with your 2000 Explorer. Since I have owned mine (bought it new), it has had the cam tensioner and upper intake replaced. The upper intake would have not needed replacing except the guy in the shop at the Ford dealership where I always took it for service wrenched off two of the bolts when he replaced the intake gasket, and didn't bother to tell anyone.

As far as the transmission mine have 70,000 miles and has an intermitted slipping problem, and from what I have seen on other web sites, the 5r55e is not a strong transmisson and does have its problems. I will probably drive this one till the trans quits and then dump it .

 

[agallant]

2000 XLT 4X4
bought with 48K now have 96K
I don't off road, and i have no mods.

Repairs in the last year:
radiator
water pump
hoses
thermostat
front drive shaft
front hub
throtole body servo control
2 sets of pads (front)
rear pads
front rotors
plugs
wires
transmission flush
transfer case flush
front and rear difrential fluid change
beak fluid change
dash lights
ABS sensor
front and rear shocks
many fuses
over head lights
both head lights.

Granted i put on 50K in a year but that is a bit much. I did all of the work my self it cost about 2K.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

My 2000 with the 5R55E only has 45K on it now, so I can't speak for the long term durability, but so far I haven't had any problems with it. I did a fluid and filter change last fall, and the pan and fluid still looked clean.

I was hoping that Ford had worked all the bugs out of this transmission by now. Only time will tell......

 

[00XLS]

I'm in the same boat as him, I bought my 00 XLS 4dr 4x4 a little while ago and I only have a 1K miles on it, 37K on the truck. I have to say I'm a little scared of what I've been reading. I have an extended warrenty myself but mine came with the vehicle 3yr 45K on the drivetrain. I would get it if I could afford it if I were you. But thats me.

 

[MONMIX]

I must be fortunate.
my 2000 has 43k and other than 2 IAC's , not a lick of trouble.

 

[Billy177]

i have a 99 with the same powertrain. i think it is worth it it is just added to your monthly payments so you are not hit with a big repair cost all at once.

mine is going in to have the transmission replaced
engine pulled to have timing chain fixed
had a bad iac

all in all i say it is a good investment if you can afford the warranty then i would say good for it. with these transmissions and stuff you just don't know when they will go. some have lasted well over 100k where some have failed at 30k

 

[Majisto]

The Explorer XLS doesn't have the SOHC motor in it. Unless Ford changed that without me knowing it. But if you do have the SOHC...

I think I can speak for the lot of 2K owners here, seeing as how I have the great SOHC/5R combo and I have 121K miles. No, not 121 miles, 121,000 miles.

You know, I haven't had ANY transmission, or engine problems since owning this truck. The cam problems should not affect any 2000+ model (Hasn't bugged mine), and the only noise I have is the plastic cooling fan which has warped and is making a rubbing sound against a coolant line.

My Explorer has lived a pretty rough life. It has seen a few street races, and light off-roading. I first learned to drive on this truck, and our old Buick. Well, the Buick died 2 years ago with a bad trans-axle. Looks like the Explorer managed to survive. I thought these 5Rs were weak autos? Obviously, my Explorer was never told it was supposed to break drivetrain component, because mine has been rock solid since we bought it at 20K miles back in 2001.

You do the math. Don't worry about this motor or the tranny. It's tough enough to handle me.

 

[00XLS]

I think the SOHC was option for an XLS, I've seen a couple trucks with it in. Glad to read your response tho.

 

[jared ajlouny]

the tranny would probobly go before the waranty is done.

 

[jaydublyew]

4.0 SOHC -

All I've had to do is oil changes and regular maintenance. I may need to replace my IAC pretty soon. Extremely cold starts are becoming difficult, but that's only if I'm in 25f weather or less. Other than that I may have a wheel bearing going out, but nothing mechanical has gone wrong. I'm at 47,000 miles as of right now.

I paid $1200 for a 75,000 mile/60 month warranty. I think it's worth the peace of mind. You never know what can happen.

And I have driven off-road a bit.

 

[dreamr]

Get the warranty, If you never use it. Then at least you didn't have to pay for it all at once. Besides if you have to rebuild a tranny or a t-case, it'll pay for itself. The weak tranny was the only reason I bought the warranty.

 

[cmmb1987]

i have a 2000 xlt 2wd, with 60,000 miles and not a single problem

 

[BradE.]

2000 XLT 4X4
bought with 48K now have 96K
I don't off road, and i have no mods.

Repairs in the last year:
radiator
water pump
hoses
thermostat
front drive shaft
front hub
throtole body servo control
2 sets of pads (front)
rear pads
front rotors
plugs
wires
transmission flush
transfer case flush
front and rear difrential fluid change
beak fluid change
dash lights
ABS sensor
front and rear shocks
many fuses
over head lights
both head lights.

Granted i put on 50K in a year but that is a bit much. I did all of the work my self it cost about 2K.

Some of the stuff on your list is uncommon, but being honest most of that looks like normal stuff. What do you expect with 96K miles? Stuff wears out, and has to be replaced. I don't consider fluid changes, brakes/rotors, hoses, plugs/wires, shocks, etc as problems that reflect poorly on the vehicle. All that stuff is considered normal maintenance, doesn't matter what kind of vehicle you have.

 

[dtl 2k2 sport]

Kinda seems like were all alittle skidish about the transmisions in our trucks!, I have the extended warrenty through ford. 2K2 SPORT, w/ uhmmm 36K on it right now,, I was worried about my tranny and also cooling system going out! That's the two reasons i bought my xtended warrenty, I think it's a bargin for only 1400 which is what i payed for mine,

 

[VOATMJ1]

I must be fortunate.
my 2000 has 43k and other than 2 IAC's , not a lick of trouble.

Agreed, my 2000 Sport 4x4 (OHV) has only been in the shop for a thermostat and a recall notice. It runs great, shifts great, starts everytime even in the dead of winter, or the hot hell of summer, and everything works on it, SO FAR!

There have been no signs of any trouble as of yet. It is under an extended warranty until 65,000 miles. I have 40,000 in the clock now.