2002 Ford Explorer Engine

TIMING BELT TENSIONER......MY CAR IS MAKING NOISES AND EVERY MECHANIC I TAKE MY TRUCK TO EITHER TELL ME TO GET A NEW MOTOR OR SELL IT AND NO MECHANIC WANTS TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE ITS SO COMPLICATED... :/ AS A SINGLE MOTHER EITHER OPTION IS NOT AN OPTION....BOTH MY DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTORS BROKE, I ALREADY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION 3 MONTHS AGO...AND NOW THIS.....I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/10/11 AND ITS FUNNY HOW THEY KIND OF LAUGH ABOUT THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND GIVE ME THE SAME LOOK THAT OTHER MECHANICS GIVE ME ABOUT HOW THE TENSIONER IS ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THEY'D NEED TO TAKE THE ENTIRE ENGINE OUT TO REPAIR IT, AND IF YOU DON'T REPAIR IT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE TENSIONER WILL BREAK AND CAUSE THE ENTIRE BACK PART OF THE MOTOR TO BREAK......THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MODEL. PLEASE HELP..PLEASE REFER TO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AT THE FOLLOWING SITE... HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/. *TR

#3 CYCLINDER PLUB BLEW. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIX EASILY BY INSTALLING A HELIX COIL ADAPTER & COULD HAVE CAR READY NEXT DAY. DEALER CALLS BACK AND SAYS THEY FIXED IT BUT IT WAS REALLY RUNNING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING IT. I ASKED WHAT THE SOLUTION WAS AND THEY SAID THEY COULD PULL THE HEAD AND REFINISH IT BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING SUCH. I ASKED ABOUT A JASPER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AS JASPER HAS A POOR WARRANTY (12 MONTHS+LIMITED MILEAGE & NO LABOR) WHILE A NEW FORD ENGINE WOULD HAVE 3 YEARS, NO MILEAGE LIMIT & BE WARRANTED FOR BOTH LABOR AND PARTS. AS I NEEDED THE VEHICLE - AS IT IS I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK AND TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD DEALERS - IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THE FORD DEALER INSTALLING THE HELIX COIL MAY HAVE DROPPED DEBRIS INTO THE ENGINE - AS NONE OF THE OTHER DEALERS SAID THEY HAVE EVER HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR A BLOWN SPARK PLUG. PS: THE PLUGS WERE THE ORIGINALS FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER TO GET SOME SORT OF REDUCTION IN WHAT I HAD TO PAY BUT THEY HAVE BEEN LESS THAN INTERESTED IN TALKING WITH ME. SO AM TRYING FIGURE OUT WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. ALL ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS APPARENTLY THE PLUG BLOWING PROBLEM IS COMMON! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD - THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 177,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT(NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPARK PLUG EJECTION ISSUE ON V8 4.6L ENGINE. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD SPARK PLUGS EJECT FOR THE ENGINE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FORD REDUCED THE NUMBER OF THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUGS TO SAVE MACHINING TIME AND COSTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE SPARK PLUG THREADED BACK IN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SOMEWHERE FOR PROPER REPAIR. I AM NOT SO LUCKY THE SECOND TIME AS THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE DESTROYED. NOW I HAVE THE EXTRA COST OF TOWING THE TRUCK FOR REPAIR. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE YET FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS. IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE TOWING PACKAGE AND 4.6L V-8 MOTOR. I HAVE 181,457 MILES ON IT AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. THE MOTOR DOES NOT BURN ANY OIL AND HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE UNTIL THIS MORNING, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. THIS MORNING WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND MY CAR ENGINE WAS LOUD AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE CYLINDER HEAD, BREAKING THE MOUNTING HARNESS OFF OF THE COIL FOR THIS CYLINDER. I TRIED TO SCREW THE SPARK PLUG BACK INTO THE CYLINDER, BUT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED OUT. AFTER LOOKING THIS UP ON-LINE, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD V-8 MOTORS USED IN F-150'S, EXPEDITIONS, EXPLORERS, ETC. I HAVE HEARD MECHANICS CALL EXPLORERS "EXPLODERS" BEFORE, AND NOW I KNOW WHY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF A CYLINDER HEAD BEFORE AND AFTER READING ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON-LINE, SPEAKING TO THE AUTO REPAIR MANAGER WHERE I HAVE MY CARS SERVICED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE SEEN FREQUENTLY WITH FORD V-8 MOTORS. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TODAY, HE SAID THAT HE HAS TOWED ALOT OF FORDS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. ISSUE A RECALL AND/OR OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH VEHICLE REPAIRS OF THIS NATURE. *TR

TIMING BELT PLASTIC GEARS WAS SLUNG OFF AND CRACKED A REAR VALVE. HAD TO REPLACE VALVE AND HAVING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC GEARS. COST APPROXIMATELY $2000-3500, MOSTLY IN PART BECAUSE ENGINE REMOVAL IS NECESSARY TO ACCESS THE TIMING CHAIN. MANY DEALERSHIPS SUGGEST BUYING A NEW ENGINE. IF NOT FIXED, COULD POTENTIALLY HARM SHAFTS, AND/OR OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE TIMING BELT/CHAIN COMPARTMENT AND FURTHER REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND EXTREMELY LOUD AND SPITTING SMOKE I PULLED OVER AND AFTER INSPECTION OF THE MOTOR I FOUND A SPARK PLUG LAYING ONTOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE COIL LAYING NEXT TO IT. THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE THREADING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER MY WARRANTY FROM USED CAR DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE. AND THE CURRENT INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY AND PER MY MECHANIC HE IS GOING TO PUT IN A HELICOIL TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE HOWEVER; THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000. UPDATED 8/2/10 *CN UPDATED 08/09/10*JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS BLOWN THE TIMING CHAINS IN THE ENGINE. PLASTIC PARTS THAT WEAR OUT EASY AND CAUSED THE CHAINS TO FAIL. NOW I AM LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS V6 AND IT ONLY HAD 95,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. FORD IS USING FAULTY PARTS AND CAUSING THIS DAMAGE TO THEIR PRODUCT AND NOW THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY BIG BUCKS FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THEIR CHEAP AND SHOTY PARTS USED BY FORD. THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING NOISE AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE CONVERTER AND A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THAT FIRST NOISE THE ENGINE FROZE AND STOPPED RUNNING. THEIR REALLY WAS NOT ALOT OF TIME FROM NOISE TO FAILURE OF ENGINE. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, SO IT WAS NOT FROM FAILING TO CHANGE THE OIL, IT WAS CHANGED REGULARLY. I LOVE THIS TRUCK, IT DRIVES GREAT, COMFORTABLE AND FOR ME NOT BAD ON GAS AT ALL. I WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE SOMEHOW. THE COST OF ANY NEW TRUCK IS OUT OF MY RANGE, SO I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TRY AND FIX IT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER ME ON THIS SUBJECT? THANKS *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE WE WERE MOVING, IN IT WERE SOME BELONGINGS. *TR

A FIRE BURNING MY ENTIRE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IN THE EARLY MORNINGS WHEN THE SUV WASN'T EVEN STARTED. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT EJECTED A SPARK PLUG. THE SPARK PLUG WAS ORIGINAL (IT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG WAS COMPLETELY EJECTED AND BROKE THE COIL MOUNT. THIS ALLOWS FUEL VAPOR TO ESCAPE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. LUCKILY, MY WIFE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE FIRE SINCE SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER DESTINATION WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. THE SPARK PLUG EJECTION STRIPPED THE THREADS FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING 4-18-10 WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW WITHOUT WARNING !! BITS OF A PISTON AND ROD CAME RIGHT THRU THE BLOCK, LEAVING A HOLE BIG ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR FIST IN ! THIS EXPLORER ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT FROM A FORD DEALER. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE HAD, WHY HAS FORD NOT HAD A RECALL??? IT IS ABSOLUTELY A LEMON - AND I FEEL LIKE SUING THEM !! CAN YOU HELP ME?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT DUE TO A FAILURE WITHIN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH WAS CRACKED AND CORRODED. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS ALSO FAULTY DUE TO THE GASKET PROBLEM. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,225.

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THREADS AND SPARK PLUG BOTH BLOWN OUT OF TOP OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

ENGINE KNOCK IN ALL 4.6 FORD EXPLORER ENGINES-KNOW BY FORD, DUE TO FAULTY CYLINDER HEADS

2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4.6L V8. SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM HEAD UPON START-UP. THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NUMBER 8 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE TODAY ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002 MODEL YEAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE. HAS 145,000 AND ORIGINAL PLUGS (PLATINUM). CAR STARTED TO MAKE A TICKING SOUND AND THEN THE PLUG POPPED OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER WHICH IS A 2002 AND MY FRIEND HAS A 2003 EXPEDITION AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEAT IN THE BACK BUT IT KNOCKS ALL THE TIME AND WHEN YOU TURN THE REAR HEAT ON IT GETS REALLY LOUD. IT KNOCKS ALL THE TIME AND IT IS ANNOYING AND LOUD I KNOW OF 3 VEHICLES THAT ARE FORD AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED COULD IT NOT CATCH FIRE OR SOMETHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE POWER. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE DEALER HAS NOT EXPLAINED WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.