Subject: Explorer 2002 4 door........
Date:    4/25/2005

Just wanted to share my Ford "story" with those
who might be thinking of buying one, or have
already made the mistake.  I purchased the vehicle
new July, 2002.  The first problem was at 21308
miles.  The ABS light came on and would come on
and remain on after the SUV was driven a few
hundred feet.  No big problem just a light, right?
Wrong, took it to the dealer and he returned the
vehicle with the Diagnosis as "Customer states the
Abs light comes on at "times".....NGS Diag Ford
has under investigation at this time".  Next trip
to dealer was at 23795 miles for the same problem.
Diagnosis ABS .....same problem....replaced ABS
light.  Back in again at 28526 for same problem
with a new related problem, the rear end developed
a whine.  Ford service manager at my insistence
checked the computer for Tech. bulletin from Ford.
Low and behold they recommended replacing the rear
differential, part was ordered, also cold start
problem was repaired.  Our next visit was at 29022
miles to have the new differential installed.
Recall on rear window struts taken care of also.
At 35243 miles I returned the vehicle because :
Rear axle assembly had begun to whine again.  This
trip they replaced pinion set and all bearings.I
told them that the shifter would not move all the
way to park from drive with out difficulty. They
Adjusted linkage and stated needed to keep foot on
brake pedal until vehicle is in park.  I had been
doing that all along!  At about 35600 the vehicle
had a roar coming from the rear end. Presently in
shop.  Called today and they had replaced several
rear end components and remove them when they
didn't solve the problem: drive shaft, rear axles,
tires, final answer was bad differential! How's
that for trouble shooting technique?  Again the
Differential repair is in process and the part was
order to repair shift linkage, only after I had
the service manager "show" me how to shift it, he
couldn't either.

At this point I'm trying to get a warranty
extension.  I'm at the end of my 36000 mile new
vehicle warranty. The rear end may or may not be
repaired when I receive it back.  Ford knew all
along they had this problem.  The reason the ABS
light continued to come on was because there was
so much run out in the differential gear that the
computer thought that the rear axle had stopped
turning, because it lost alignment with the gear.
Florida Lemon Law expires after two years, so I
can forget that.

Regards

Ed Perry
flyj3@alltel.net

Any suggestions regarding dealing with Ford on the
warranty extension would be appreciated.