Ripped off on a 2003 XLS...

[LifesGladiator]

Well, its probably too late to cry over things. So, i would like to have some advice on these issues:

I am new to the USA and at one time, i was desperate to buy a car.. i went to the Ford dealer at Sandy Springs, Atlanta who ended up selling me a 2003 XLS with 124k miles on it for $7,500

1. The emergency breaks (the pedal in place of where a clutch would be in a manual transmission car) doesn't work. It engages, doesn't do anything else other than bringing on the Break light
2. One of the windows, (the one behind the driver's seat) doesn't roll down.
3. The AC is awful. Its getting extremely hot these days here and the moment i set the fan speed to 4, it makes a sound like I turned on an industrial fan.
4. I get a gas mileage of 13 (this is with me feather footing the gas pedal. earlier i got 11)
5. I just paid every single penny i had saved to buy this car and now I am not in a condition to pay for any repairs. I am thinking of trading it in to get another one but am really scared now. Me being a no brainer in the auto world, am worried to go to another dealer now.

Please suggest what I should do.

Thanks a ton in advance.....



Do you think ripping off the back seats will help improve the gas mileage? I live alone and drive alone. Nobody drives with me so i have no need for the extra space at all.....

 

[RickM]

It is common for the friction media ("pads") on the emergency brake shoes to become unbonded. They're relatively easy to replace if you've done drum brakes before.

The A/C temp issue may merely be a top off on the charge. The loud fan may be an obstruction....?

Gas mileage may be plugs, filters....basically a good tune up. Don't expect any stellar number though. Good gas mileage is not the Explorer's forte. (Uhm, don't bother ripping the rear seats out)

A search on this forum will help immensely if you choose to do the work yourself.

 

[zerodevil]

deffinately a malfunctioning AC could just mean you dont have enough HFC 134, any auto parts store will have a kit that comes with a gauge and a can of refridgerant and if your low just add some more. all of the extra seats weigh about 200 lbs togeather taking 200 lbs out of a vehicle would help a little, but not that much. Id check to make sure your air filter is clean, and that you have good ignition and fuel delivery. how many miles on the truck? also the emergency break pads are quite simple to replace.

 

[patrick112390]

deffinately a malfunctioning AC could just mean you dont have enough HFC 134, any auto parts store will have a kit that comes with a gauge and a can of refridgerant and if your low just add some more. all of the extra seats weigh about 200 lbs togeather taking 200 lbs out of a vehicle would help a little, but not that much. Id check to make sure your air filter is clean, and that you have good ignition and fuel delivery. how many miles on the truck? also the emergency break pads are quite simple to replace.

even if he does do that, you just dont "get low" on refrigerant, so he probly has a leak somewhere and would need to evac and recharge with dye for a start..

 

[Got2bneo]

window did the same thing in mine till my little brother kept pushing the button till it worked.

 

[jayton]

You should get the codes checked. If you are only getting 11-13 mpg and you aren't driving like a mad man, then something is definitely wrong, and that would likely trigger a check engine light. There is a possibility the previous owner maybe pulled the bulb for the check engine light. I got similar gas mileage when I had a problem with the Evap purge valve solenoid. It could also be an EGR valve or DPFE sensor problem. You can get the codes scanned for free at any Autozone parts store.

Do not decide that the check engine light bulb was removed and start making accusations at the dealer because of my post on here, I'm only saying to get the codes scanned to check if it is.

I don't think that your air filter or ignition (plugs/wires/injectors) would be the cause of your gas mileage woes. If the air filter was that clogged or if your plugs/wires/injectors were that bad, you would have other symptoms, such as stalling and misfires along with a lack of power.

Also check to make sure that the fuel tank does not have a leak. A couple of ways to check:
1.Gasoline evaporates almost instantly, so if you can park it in a garage, it will be easier to tell.
2.If you park the car in the same parking spot every day on asphalt (like at an apartment), a gasoline leak would start to eat away at the asphalt.

Have you tried checking the gas mileage with only highway driving? I know that Sandy Springs/Dunwoody/Roswell/Doraville traffic can be a nightmare. Are you measurements only from city driving? Highway driving at a steady 80mph should net you around 19-23 mpg.

Ripping out the rear seats is not going to get you back where you should be. That would be a waste of time.

The window could be a problem with the window switch. Can you hear the motor trying to engage when you push the button? If you cannot, then you should replace the switch. You may need to replace both the Driver's master window switch as well as the switch for that particular door. I've had both the master window switch and door switches go bad on mine a couple of times. Try taking the switch from the rear passenger's side door and plugging it into the wiring on the rear driver's side to test the switch. Replacement switches can be found on ebay for pretty cheap. If you can hear the motor trying to engage when you press the button, then you will need a new window regulator.

For the emergency brake, as the others said, the brake material can come loose off the shoe. If that is the case, then the shoes can easily be replaced. I had the brake material separate from the show on one of my two emergency brake shoes. I got the replacements from Pep Boys for about $25. If the brake material has not separated from the shoe, then you can adjust the parking brake tighter by taking both rear calipers and rotors off, and then spinning the little star nut with a flat-head screw driver until it is tight. It is OK if you over tighten, as they self adjust. After about 20 presses/releases, they will self adjust to the proper tightness.

 

[DLinkOZ]

For that window, if you do hear it engage and it's just not moving, then remove the door panel and beat the metal of the door like it owes you money. Just a couple good smacks while holding the down button. This is common and a little tough love can go a long way.

 

[RickM]

Y

For the emergency brake, as the others said, the brake material can come loose off the shoe. If that is the case, then the shoes can easily be replaced. I had the brake material separate from the show on one of my two emergency brake shoes. I got the replacements from Pep Boys for about $25.

Best price I found between Pep Boys , AutoZone and other locals was AutoZone @ $65. You must've lucked out.

 

[jaschlum]

tkae it back and bi*&h out the dealership haha. just kiding. sorry to hear that though, good luck!

 

[EasyRhino]

Don't kick yourself too hard, and welcome!

Given the list of problems, none of those cause me excess heart burn, with the possible exception of the gas mileage, but that, too can usually be sorted out. For now, gas remains cheap here.

Good luck.

 

[LifesGladiator]

Thanks all for all the suggestions! I didnt expect such good quick responses!

Unfortunately, i have concentrated more on computers than cars so am not a do it yourself kinda guy when it comes to auto so i dont want to try any of these myself. i will look for any mechanic whom i can trust and see if he can help me. I will never go back to the dealership.. last week, one of the front headlights had to be replaced and they billed me 60$ for that. later, the person who did the replacement took me aside and showed me how to replace the bulbs :exp: :frustrate

I have one more question do you think putting in a CAI or just a K&N performance filter alter anything? i guess the change in mpg will be fractional but otherwise, will i notice any other changes?

Okay now the big thing: i am planning to trade it in for a smaller car which suits a single loner. Any ideas on what kind of a car i can trade it with? i dont want to have to pay anything extra as i just piled in all my savings into buying this one.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Just get a Focus or something small- 2 door manual. Best gas mileage, and cheap to own.

And no on the CAI or filter. Spending money you don't have on stuff for a truck you're unloading won't help. If you ever net gains with them vs. what you paid for them vs. gas savings, it'll take so long the truck will be gone by then.

 

[thepotroast]

Maybe it's just me here...but I don't really see how this buyer is anywhere near being ripped off?

An 03 Explorer for under 8k from a dealership...common

Worn e-brakes on a 100k+ mile X...common and easy/cheap fix

7yr old vehicle that needs A/C recharging...common and easy to do yourself
(not sure about the 4th setting comment...mine BLASTS on the 4th setting too, which I don't seem to mind, kinda thought that was the point )

Gas mileage in the city of Atlanta at 13mpg...common

 

[Curtis]

For your AC problem you didn't say if it was cold or not
or if its nice and cold, but not much air coming out

I have an 04, and Ive always thought that there is not enough air flow coming out. When on max AC on speed 4 its just loud and you cant feel much wind on your face.

In my case the problem is the Max AC door, had it replaced once, now broke again, common problem. lucky for me its still under warranty and in as I type to be fixed again.

 

[RickM]

Bendix is a popular brand, Id use them.

Ditto

 

[jayton]

Best price I found between Pep Boys , AutoZone and other locals was AutoZone @ $65. You must've lucked out.

This was over 2 years ago, as well. I remember there was a small core charge of something like $10 or so, as they wanted my old broken shoes (1 of them were broke) back.


Check rockauto.com. I have ordered lots of parts from them and have never had any customer service issues. They have several brands for good prices.

 

[eeprete]

Like jayton just said, try Rock Auto for parts (www.rockauto.com). Great prices, brand name parts, very fast shipping. You will just need to double check all your part numbers when doing your research to ensure you are selecting the right part.

As for the price you paid, its not bad, its not great, its just average. A tune up may help to improve your mileage. Plugs, boots, air filter, run through some fuel injector cleaner and you may see those numbers bump up to a more respectable level. Some of the other items you mentioned are wearable items. If you have a 90 day warranty with the vehicle, I'd be taking it back to them saying "my window doesn't work and my AC is x.. degrees, when it should be colder" (Ford likely has a published number of acceptable interior temperature when the AC is on).

Remember, this is a car with 125K on it and is 7 yrs old. I am doing some major work on my 03 Limited with 69K, so don't feel bad.

 

[Allmost 50]

That's what forums are for. The price was a little high, for me at least. In life if I make friends with someone who just happens to be an auto mechanic I'm always on my best behavior. "Chet" has saved me thousands of dollars. I do 90% of my mechanic work and if I'm unsure of what I'm doing I arrange to do the work in Chets home shop just in case I get into trouble. Word of mouth is the best way to find a mechanic.
Adding one can of r-134 is easy. First look at your condensor and see if it is clogged with bugs or debris.
I would allow someone else to do brakes for safety reasons.
Removing weight will help a little. Keep the tire pressure at 35psi.
Is your Ford a 4x4?
May I ask where did you move from LifesGladiator?