Explorer XLT 4.0L V6

• Automatic transmission
• 145,000 miles

Granted my explorer had very high mileage at the time of the problem, I followed Ford's preventative maintenance recommendations as close as possible. I took a very long road trip in my car, continuous running for about 20 hours at 60-70 mph. Two weeks later on this trip I was on the highway driving to my temporary job and the check engine light came on, the engine started bucking and whining and the car slowed itself from 65 to about 30 without me intervening. I pulled off the highway, on the road I could not get the car to accelerate over 10 mph, the engine was making a bad ticking and the car was bucking back and forth a bit as well.

I had the car towed to Maroone Ford of Fort Lauderdale whose service advisers are some of the scummiest I have ever dealt with. The adviser I dealt called me up fast talking, would not explain anything in detail but said my engine needed to be replaced. He stated he could get me a Ford rebuilt motor with a 3 year 100k warranty for $6,500 and estimated the labor would be another $1,500 - $2,000. The trade in value of the vehicle is probably half the cost of the repairs. I went and spoke with the manager of the service department to voice my disgust about how his adviser dealt with me. The manager was pretty sympathetic and explained to me in great detail what the mechanic felt went wrong. He said the timing chain guides which are held in by oil pressure had worn out, the engine then went out of time and basically self destructed. They took me into the shop to prove they had pulled the heads off, which I had not authorized therefore would not pay for diagnostic labor, the valves were dented and bent from piston impacts and the push-rods were bent as well. I took the codes from the diagnostic that were run and gave them to a mechanic I trust. He agreed and said the engine needed to be replaced but could be done for about half to a third of the cost of the price they were estimating. I have done a decent amount of work on it myself, replaced the water pump, pulleys, and alternator on my own. I didn't think I had the time or experience, or resources to attempt replacing it myself (on top of the fact that I was 1,200 miles from home). I was able to set up a quick sale with a guy who fixes junk cars, got a little less than I wanted but got it out of my hair. I am just upset at how I am hearing more and more about timing issues with the Ford 4.0L and Ford/It's Dealers being completely reluctant to even acknowledge the issue. I will never buy another Ford as long as I live nor do I recommend them to anyone based on my experiences.