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Need Help 2002 Ford Explorer making noise...

16 years ago

Hello

My hubby's explorer is making a squeeling grinding noise. I mean it is loud. You could hear it when he is coming down the street.

He said it is fine on the high way but when he is parking and especially backing up it is loud.

Any idea what this could be? It is going to the dealer tomorrow.

Thanks

Sharon

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Comments (3)

nine7xbam
16 years ago
Better off to trade that Exploder in , since everyone I ever knew who had one had problems with them when they got older (5 or more years ) . Sadly they're not built to last long term without incurring nagging problems . Typical of certain domestic models .
john_g
16 years ago
I know this is the garden forum, but we really don't need fertilizer like this here, in this corner.

"Better off to trade that Exploder in , since everyone I ever knew who had one had problems with them when they got older (5 or more years ) . Sadly they're not built to last long term without incurring nagging problems . Typical of certain domestic models .

I own a 2002 Ford Explorer. Yes I had to replace the rear wheel bearings, and of course did the brake pads, rotors, and e-brake shoes all at the same time.

My Ford Explorer is by far the nicest car, and most durable car that I have ever owned. Plus few that I have worked on (30 years as a professional technician) has matched it's level of quality (almost 6 years removed) from it's date of purchase.

Cars break and need serviced. Parts do wear out. The nameplate has nothing to do with it. Nine's comment is so biased it clearly needs to be called out as so. Remember I work on EVERYTHING. When it came time for me to buy a car that was All Wheel Drive, could tow 4000lb+ and needed to last me 300,000 miles, and maybe 20+ years only one was deemed capable of such service. My Ford Exoplorer is right about the first 1/3rd of that expectation and is living up to everything I could have hoped for.

Unless nine wants to claim he has never known me, he needs to withdraw his comment.
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jbryson1, welcome to the board. As a Ford Electrical engineer (retired) we will find some common ground, and probably some where we will bump heads. While specific vehicle knowledge can come into play on some models, and plug and play is acceptable, there are others out there that plug and play attempts can cause serious problems so that really should be avoided at all costs. First thing, the 4WD indicator blinking does indicate a fault in the 4WD system, and they probably would not have 4WD available if they needed it. One of the biggest things they need to know is the dealer isn't the only place to have this looked at. Most independents can handle GEM module issues with the run of the mil scan tools such as the Snap-On MTG2500, the Genisys, or the Mastertech. However top shops will have an NGS on hand for these systems as well. As far as the repair that was done a few months ago, forget about it for the moment Sue. The car should be diagnosed right now as if it's never had any other problems or repairs. It would really be a waste of time and effort to pull the door panel and start looking at things first, before following a proper diagnostic routine. That being said, the easiest circuit to deal with is the power window circuit. As I said, for this car, and especially this system, I would choose the NGS for my scan tool. The first step I would perform is pull the drivers door switch, and check for power at the LT Blue/Black wire. If there is no power to that wire with the key on, I would use my NGS and attempt to command the ACCY delay relay on/off. BTW, the ACCY Delay relay not only controls the power windows, it also powers up the torque on demand relay, which is part of the 4WD system. Depending on my findings at this point I would be either headed towards the ACCY delay relay, or the GEM module for the next step in the diagnostics. But the most important thing, is I would not be getting anything to plug in and try, and this is where jb and I will be at odds. Ford for some reason has never embraced the idea that technicians are capable of critical thinking skills, and quite able to analyze a system like this. All we need in many cases is a fault code, the criteria that the system uses to determine the fault, and an appropriate schematic, and we will go find the problem in an efficient manor. Now the main reason that I would start where I did in my diagnostics? The switch is easy to access. Plus you said you "windows" don't work which I take as being all of them. The RH door does not get controlled directly through the GEM module. But the ACCY Delay relay, is controlled by the battery saver relay, and it is controlled by the GEM. Once you understand the circuit, it would be easy to temporarily take control of one or both relays away from the GEM, and see if you can operate them and the windows. That is the outline for a solid diagnostic routine, and armed with a schematic, and the correct tools any tech would diagnose your car without unneccesary expense and substitution of "known good parts" that you don't presently own. Use the link below to find a good electrical/electronics technician near you. Here is a link that might be useful: the international Automotive Technicians Network
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nine7xbam
16 years ago
Since when did I claim to know everyone with an Explorer and why should I withdraw a comment based on honest observation ? For the record a family member had one and when it was 6 years old it developed an intermittent starting problem that even stumped the techs at the local Ford dealer . Rather than deal with yet another problem on a vehicle that she drove a mere two miles to work she traded it in on a Camry with 17k on the clock - 6 years later , not a single problem with it . A friend had one (2 year old used) and after 2 reliable years and a year and a half of constant problems traded it in on a Ranger which is still going strong with over 200k . A guy at work bought one new that was a total lemon from the get go and eventually worked out a trade with the dealer he bought it from on a full sized Ford pickup that he's been happy with -save the rattles from the rear half doors on the extended cab . I also know people who've had Explorers for 3-4 years , liked them and traded them in on new Explorers . So that's where I conclude that they develop problems with long term ownership .

Not everyone is a mechanic who can fix their own vehicles and based on Sharon's problems posted here in the past , I'd say she and her husband are in that category . These car companies make an average of 14k on every one of these suvs sold , cutting corners with parts outsourced from the lowest possible bidder . Why would they build them to last a long time with minimal problems ? That wouldn't be in their best financial interests , but as a mechanic it would be in yours . And frankly from what private mechanics charge these days , it costs about the same to take that vehicle to a dealer . Who actually fix the vehicle when scheduled and don't let it sit around for days untouched after an appointment has been scheduled well in advance !

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