Subject: 
Rearend Noise


Wed, 29 Dec 2004 07:42:19 -0600
Date:    





I have a 2002 Ford Explorer that I bought new in Nov. 2003 from Friendly 
Ford in Springfield Mo. I live in the Memphis Tn. area so when I had a 
problem with the rearend haling I took it to Dobbs Ford in Memphis. 
After a test drive the Service Writer agreed that the rearend was making 
a haling noise and replaced the rearend. A week later I took another to 
Branson and noticed the rearend was haling again. I took it back to 
Dobbs and they drove it and replaced the rearend again. It was OK for a 
few days then started haling again. I made another trip to Dobbs Ford. 
This time the overdrive light and would not go off. They repaired the 
problem with the overdrive light and did nothing to the rearend. When I 
ask why the Service Writer said Ford told them not to do anything else 
to the rearend. I called Ford. The person I talked with told me that 
Dobbs Ford had desided that the haling noise was with in spects
This made me very mad so I asked if I could get a openion from another 
dealer. He said I could so I took my Explorer to Schilling Lincoln 
Mercury also in Memphis. They not only took it for a test drive they let 
the mechanic that works on rearends ride with us. They said the rearend  
was too noisey and needed to be set up. They explained the noise was a 
penion noise caused by the gears not being set up correctly. I left it 
with them and the next day I received a call from them after they talked 
to Ford. The told me Ford would not pay them to repair the problem that 
I would have to take it back to Dobbs. So I called the Service Writer at 
Dobbs and was told they would have to talk to Ford and would call me 
back. This was early morning. I waited tel that afternoon and desided I 
would turn the rental car in and pick up my Explorer. Well when I arived 
at Schilling, the Service Writer told me if I could wait there for a 
couple of hours he would have his mechanic pulled the rearend and reset 
the gears. I asked why would you do this if Ford said they would not pay 
you to repair it? He said I should not have to go through all the 
trouble I have been going through and they would fight with Ford to 
collect. This made me feel a lot better. I said I would be glad to wait. 
They had me out of there in an hour and a half. There was no noise 
coming from the rearend. I was pleased and concern about Schilling being 
able to collect so I called Ford and was told by the person I talked 
that there was nothing he could. He said he was there to try to make 
customers fell better about the problems but had no power to do 
anything.  I receive another number for Ford. I have called it several 
times and left a recorded message each time and they have never returned 
my call. Just like the Dobbs Ford Service Writer. This acured over a 
month ago and I have not received a return call are any call from Dobbs. 
I Took another trip and found at the speed of 65 - 70 I could hear a 
haling noise. Even though it was ten times better than before. I called 
Schilling and they said they would fix it. The Service Writer I was 
working with before has left for a better job, I was told. I hope I was 
not the reason for him leaving. The last time I talked with him. 
Schilling had not been paid by Ford. He told me they were still trying 
to collect.

I have driven Fords for the last 35 years and have only had one other 
problem and it was more with the dealer than Ford. The dealer is the 
more important than the type of vehicle you buy. Remember any problem 
can be repaired correctly if the right dealer works on it.

If anyone knows of a number to Ford that might help, please post it

Thanks, Bill