SOHC tensioners: warranty program

[idrojdpj]

I couldn't find a recent thread to add this to so here goes...I have a '97 SOHC, of course the timing chain tensioners were going bad. I went to the dealer and the service guy said that there is a warranty program that is available at "their discretion". I had mine replaced under this program and it only cost $50.00(yea thats right fifty bucks!!!!!!!). On my receipt it says that it was fixed under the "AWA waranty program", whatever that is. Give it a shot it might save you alot of cash. Just passing on more info...

 

[Ricardo Miramontes]

paper work...

Hey DJ,
I am going to be doing this repair on my 1998 SOHC engine as well. I am willing to pay the $200+ amount of the repair, but if it can only cost me $50 I would much rather do that. If you could give me the phone number of the dealership you went to it doesn't matter if you're out of state, I personally am in San Diego, CA. Where are you? I would like to get your service guys name and recommendation. Thanks a lot.

Ricardo

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by idrojdpj
I couldn't find a recent thread to add this to so here goes...I have a '97 SOHC, of course the timing chain tensioners were going bad. I went to the dealer and the service guy said that there is a warranty program that is available at "their discretion". I had mine replaced under this program and it only cost $50.00(yea thats right fifty bucks!!!!!!!). On my receipt it says that it was fixed under the "AWA waranty program", whatever that is. Give it a shot it might save you alot of cash. Just passing on more info...

It is rare finding a dealer that will actually tell you about the program. Most won't tell you anything about it until you start to pry. The particulars of the special program are: it is only available through the original place of purchase, can be used no more than twice, the mileage limits are 50K miles, and they prefer (not sure if it is a requirement or not) that you have had all of your service performed at their dealership. Since I bought my Explorer in Ohio and now live in Arizona, I couldn't get a dealership to let me use the program here since I didn't buy it from them.

 

[idrojdpj]

Warranty info

I just bought my explorer in July, so I've only had it for about 3 months. It wasn't fixed at the dealership I bought it from(they are a Dodge dealership). I went to Lubbers Ford in Cheney,Kansas (just west of Wichita, KS about 20 miles...a country dealership). 1-800-582-2377: They are a Ford and Chevy dealership. I didn't have to show any papers or have the truck serviced there, heck I didn't even buy it there. They offered the program before I could even ask if there was one. I was told it would be about 59.99 but in fact its a $50 customer pay(like an extended warranty or insurance) you pay the dedctable and Ford picks up the rest. Good luck with yours, and if I can help just let me know.

 

[Ricardo Miramontes]

Thanks!!!

Thanks A lot DJ!!! I hope I can get the same deal over here in San Diego, CA. I am currently in school but whenever I am on my break between quarters I will definitely have my car fixed.

Thank You,
Ricardo

 

[Robert]

Re: Warranty info

Originally posted by idrojdpj
I just bought my explorer in July, so I've only had it for about 3 months. It wasn't fixed at the dealership I bought it from(they are a Dodge dealership). I went to Lubbers Ford in Cheney,Kansas (just west of Wichita, KS about 20 miles...a country dealership). 1-800-582-2377: They are a Ford and Chevy dealership. I didn't have to show any papers or have the truck serviced there, heck I didn't even buy it there. They offered the program before I could even ask if there was one. I was told it would be about 59.99 but in fact its a $50 customer pay(like an extended warranty or insurance) you pay the dedctable and Ford picks up the rest. Good luck with yours, and if I can help just let me know.

It sounds like you have a good dealer. The two Ford dealers here have fought me over Warranty repairs, some of which they caused on previous service. The dealer that wouldn't fix mine under their program, was the same dealer that replaced the tensioners twice before. The second time they replaced them they fought me over it until I pointed out that the TSB was released after their first attempt to fix it and the TSB listed revised parts. They reluctantly gave in and agreed to replace them a second time. 14,000 miles later the noise came back (I had about 48K on it). When I mentioned the program to the Service Advisor he said "Oh yeah, that program is available if you have less than 50K miles on it ...". He then asked me where I bought it, I told him I bought it in Ohio before I moved back to AZ. He then told me that couldn't offer me the plan since I didn't buy my Explorer from his dealership. He then told me that my only two options were to either pay him to put them in a third time or drive it back to my dealer in Ohio and have them do it under the program. I now have 59K on it and the noise hasn't gotten any worse and with it starting to cool down a little, the noise is gone most of the time now.

 

[Ron Husak]

SOHC tensioners

Hi.. I am one of the newest forum members. I have a 97 SOHC 4.0 Explorer Sport. The car has aproximatly 40K on it. Whatr are the symptoms of the tensioners going bad? I have some strange rattling noises up front but haven't fully investigated yet!
Your insight will be appreciated.

 

[Robert]

Re: SOHC tensioners

Originally posted by Ron Husak
Hi.. I am one of the newest forum members. I have a 97 SOHC 4.0 Explorer Sport. The car has aproximatly 40K on it. Whatr are the symptoms of the tensioners going bad? I have some strange rattling noises up front but haven't fully investigated yet!
Your insight will be appreciated.

You will hear a loud tapping sound when you first start your Explorer, usually much worse when your engine is warmed up and it is hot outside. It goes away after a few seconds

 

[pmhuff]

I had the cam tensioners et al replaced with "customer participation" on my part of $350. The diseling is gone but now on cold startup I get a noise as if something is getting thrown around inside the tensioner area of the engine. After a few second it clears up and runs fine. The dealer changed the oil to 10w40 when I took it back but still have the same noise.

Anyone else experience this type of noise or have any suggestions?

97 w/ 52,000 miles

[Edited by pmhuff on 11-15-2000 at 04:05 AM]

 

[WILL]

ME TOO!

I JUST BOUGHT MY 97 SOHC XLT 4DR 4X4 TWO MONTHS AGO. THE DAY I PURCHASED IT I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A STRANGE TAPPING TOO. IT WAS AT STARTUP BUT DISAPPEARED IN LESS THAN 20 SEC. IT WAS NOT THAT LOUD AND DIDN'T DO IT THAT OFTEN. I COMPLAINED AND TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A STARTER SOLENOID HANGING UP. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR 6HRS AND THEN STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER STILL UNDER THE USED CAR WARRANTY, THEY SENT IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO CHANGED THE TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND CHAIN GUIDES. TIMING COVER GASKET AND OIL CHANGE. MY COST....NOTHING. MY QUESTION WHAT THE HECK WAS THE CAUSE AND HOW MUCH WOULD THAT JOB COST? I CAN FIGURE THE LABOR BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TOTAL? ANYTHING THAT I SHOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR?

BTW- 70K ON THE TICKER
PS I CANT FIND A FORD RECOMMENDED TRANS FLUID(MILEAGE) CHANGE ANYWHERE

 

[Robert]

I just found out that apparantly Ford has issued a voluntary recall on the camshaft tensioners as well as the lower intake manifold o-rings. The bulletin number is 00M12. It is not listed on NHTSA.com yet though. The latest one they list is 00M11 which is the voluntary recall for the broken swaybar links. The camshaft tensioner warranty sounds like it is lumped in with the intake manifold o-ring warranty. The warranty on both was supposedly extended to 6 years/72k miles. It is apparantly an "Owner Notification Program" and covers certain '97-'00 Explorers with the SOHC V6. The vehicles covered are vehicles built at the Louisville and St. Louis Assembly plants from Job #1, 1997 through April, 2000. If either item requires replacement, the dealer is instructed to replace both with upgraded parts at the same time, at no charge to the customer. Part of the message isn't too clear about how long it will last, but it appears that it will only last until April 30, 2001. That seems likely though considering their voluntary recall on the oil pump a few years ago only went for so long before it expired. I will be calling a Ford dealer on Monday to see if they know anything about it. If it is as new as it looks, they may not.

 

[Walrus]

Re: ME TOO!

BTW- 70K ON THE TICKER
PS I CANT FIND A FORD RECOMMENDED TRANS FLUID(MILEAGE) CHANGE ANYWHERE [/B][/QUOTE]

Ford has revised the interval for Auto Tranny Change on the 5 speed tranny. Log onto www2.ford.com and register, then go to owner area. A downloadable (adobe acrobat file) is there for the service manual. I can't remember what the new interval is; however, the severe duty service schedule calls for a change well after 40K miles... If I had my service manual nearby i could tell you exactly as Ford and I had two phonecalls about this very item. I was very disappointed that i was not notified about the revision... Imagine if a warranty concern had arisen and the service schedule was brought into question...??? e-mail me and I will look up the info for you and return the info via e-mail

 

[sphaugh]

Are the manifold gasket & tensioner problems exclusive to earlier SOHC engines, or are they prevalent in all SOHC's?

mine's a 1999, 55K on the clock - only problems I'm aware of are an infrequent stalling immediately after startup; I wonder if it's the rings....

my nearby dealer is horrible, so I'll make some calls to others.

Robert,
where did you find out about the 00m12 bulletin ?

thanks, all

 

[Jeff]

Robert,

I am very interested in any info you can provide on the intake manifold and chain tensioner recalls. My problem? I just spent $400 on the o-rings 10 days ago and my vehicle has 78K on it. I will definately complain because the warranty program is for 6 years and as I understand it, the o-rings shrink with age, not with mileage.

I have some noise at start up but it doesn't seem as prevalent as some of the other postings I've read.

Please keep us posted.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Tensioner

My cam tensioners have already been replaced once. That was a month after I bought it. I don't know why, but when I got it back from repairing the drivers window motor the service receipt said that they replaced the cam tensioner.

Maybe someone will know about this sound. I get a slight rattling at 2500rpm cold or hot. Sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesn't. Should I be worried about it? My ranger's 3.0 had the same noise and the dealer told me it was the injectors and can't be fixed. Any possible relation?

 

[2001ExpSport]

I went to the website www2.ford.com and looked up service bulletins. It has some stuff for the 2001 Explorer, but it says I have to purchase them. Is there a spot where I can see the bulletin without buying it. Seems silly to me to have to buy it for $6.

 

[Robert]

Re: Re: ME TOO!

Originally posted by Walrus

BTW- 70K ON THE TICKER
PS I CANT FIND A FORD RECOMMENDED TRANS FLUID(MILEAGE) CHANGE ANYWHERE

Ford has revised the interval for Auto Tranny Change on the 5 speed tranny. Log onto www2.ford.com and register, then go to owner area. A downloadable (adobe acrobat file) is there for the service manual. I can't remember what the new interval is; however, the severe duty service schedule calls for a change well after 40K miles... If I had my service manual nearby i could tell you exactly as Ford and I had two phonecalls about this very item. I was very disappointed that i was not notified about the revision... Imagine if a warranty concern had arisen and the service schedule was brought into question...??? e-mail me and I will look up the info for you and return the info via e-mail [/B][/QUOTE]

The manual that came with my '97 has the interval listed at 51K for the 5-speed automatic under severe duty and no mileage listed under normal duty. The normal duty schedule goes up to about 120K. I can't believe that Ford would recommend the 5-speed auto go 120K without a fluid change regardless of whether or not it saw normal duty. I did mine at about 50K.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by sphaugh
Are the manifold gasket & tensioner problems exclusive to earlier SOHC engines, or are they prevalent in all SOHC's?

mine's a 1999, 55K on the clock - only problems I'm aware of are an infrequent stalling immediately after startup; I wonder if it's the rings....

my nearby dealer is horrible, so I'll make some calls to others.

Robert,
where did you find out about the 00m12 bulletin ?

thanks, all

The message was posted on the Ford Explorer Newsgroup (rec.autos.makers.ford.explorer). Someone posted that they went in to get theirs repaired when their dealer told them about it. I'll be calling a local dealer today to find out if they have any information on it yet. It is supposed to cover all SOHC V6 engines produced through April (1 or 30?) 2000. The 00M12 number is a NHTSA number. When I went to their site, the highest listed was 00M11 for broken sway bar links. That warranty was extended to 7yrs. 100K miles.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport
I went to the website www2.ford.com and looked up service bulletins. It has some stuff for the 2001 Explorer, but it says I have to purchase them. Is there a spot where I can see the bulletin without buying it. Seems silly to me to have to buy it for $6.

A very good dealer will sometimes let you see them. My experience though is that dealers do not like consumers having access to them. When I went in with 4 TSBs regarding problems that my dealer couldn't fix, he went off about how consumers had no right to acess that kind of information since people come in all the time now trying to tell them how to do their jobs. I bought a subscription to alldata.com for $19.95. It gives you acess to all of the TSBs and recalls for a year on one vehicle. It also gives you component locations, many drawings, specifications, and troubleshooting steps. Well worth the $19.95. I bought a subscription for my Wife's '93 Sable since I was so impressed with the amount of information available.

 

[sphaugh]

here's a real greenhorn question:

----nevermind--- answered it myself using google.com, found

http://search.mailgate.org/rec/rec.autos.makers.ford.explorer?QUERY=gasket

[Edited by sphaugh on 11-27-2000 at 07:25 AM]