Frustrated Ford owners

[firedup]

Hi my husband and I currently own an Explorer, otherwise referred to as the exploder, and a Thunderbird, referred to as the thunderchicken. And have 2 or 3 dead Rangers in the yard. Came across this site and find it to be full of information. Will probably be spending a lot of time here. Almost forgot the custom Bronco 2!

 

[r1hatman]

So why are you frustrated?

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

welcome, but thats one weird intro...

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

welcome, a ford will only take care of you as much as it itself is taken care of.

 

[firedup]

so frustrated with auto parts stores!

having the same problem with both our Fords, and so many parts so few that are compatible with another vehicle! Turns out that we just keep getting bum parts from the auto parts store! So frusrated with Auto parts stores!

 

[r1hatman]

Well, what I can suggest is take the parts back. And get someone who knows what they are doing to install them.

 

[Hopman]

Fired, welcome to our little corner of the web. We will do our best to inform & entertain.

Disclaimer: While most of the information here is worth having, some of it may be off. Your results & mileage may vary.

 

[Mark_88]

Welcome to TRS~!

Now that I think about it...FORD could be Frustrated Old Ranger Dudes (Dudettes)...

I think I hear you on the parts situation...but since you didn't mention what parts are giving you problems, you may want to elaborate a bit...there are some very knowledgeable people on this site (myself NOT included) that could, perhaps, guide you in the right direction...

But to include myself in another group, there are those who care and try to help with what they can...

 

[Will]

having the same problem with both our Fords, and so many parts so few that are compatible with another vehicle! Turns out that we just keep getting bum parts from the auto parts store! So frusrated with Auto parts stores!

Yeah, Ford is the master of designing non-interchangable parts. Consider that in one year Ford installed 4 completely different engines in the same truck with zero interchangability between them.

I would caution that probably not all of those parts were bad. Probably not any of them. If you get an error code on a code scanner it's only telling you that an unacceptable return signal is coming from the component. It doesn't at all mean the component is bad. For instance, a leaky fuel pressure regulator might play merry hell with the O2 sensors return signal. You need to understand how the system thinks and how to test components. Look up this ISBN: 0837603021 and try to find a cheap copy of that book.

 

[firedup]

Getting someone who knows what they are doing when they install them is not the problem, getting someone who knows what they are doing when they sell them is a different story. The last incident was a coil, didnt want to believe it was bad out of the box, but put the old one back in and the rig starts. Go figure. We also have 2 exploders 4 rangers, 2 broncos and 2 thunderbirds, few of the parts are interchangeable! CRAZY!

 

[firedup]

good one.

 

[jasongind]

If the old coil worked why were you switching it out in the first place?

Personally I like the non-interchangability of Ford. Yes it does make things harder to find and can be frustraiting when the kid behind the counter gives you the wrong part (I've learned to take the part in with me and match it before i pay), but it keeps all the vehicles from looking the same like GMs.

 

[shane96ranger]

Although I agree with the quote below, I find it hard to believe there are few interchangeable parts between the Rangers and Explorers you own if the years are even close. I've owned two 91 Explorers and a 96 Ranger, which have a ton of common parts. I scrapped one of the Explorers and actually took a few items (including ignition coil) because they did interchange. Between the T-Bird and the others; I doubt you'll find many newer car/truck interchange abilities.

Personally I like the non-interchangability of Ford.

I agree, I don't like the one size fits all mentality of GM.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

If the old coil worked why were you switching it out in the first place?

Personally I like the non-interchangability of Ford. Yes it does make things harder to find and can be frustraiting when the kid behind the counter gives you the wrong part (I've learned to take the part in with me and match it before i pay), but it keeps all the vehicles from looking the same like GMs.

i do the same

 

[firedup]

I suppose there are some interchangable parts, but there are many more that are not. But thats not really my problem anyway, my husband has had some major problems diagnosing the current problem with the exploder. It was running ok, seemed to probably need a tune up. Then while our son was driving it it dropped 2 cyliders thus drove horrible. When we got it home he put plugs and wires in still onbly ran on 4 cylinders. Put a new coil in and then it wouldnt start at all. Put the old coil back in and it started but still ran on 4 cylinders. Drove it to the part store (2 miles) dropped another 2 cylinders barely made it home. Put another new coil in wouldnt start. About to try a couple other things. He is having the same exact problem with the Thunder-chicken and is about ready to have a big Ford bon fire. He is normally a fairly descent machanic, problem is he always sends me to get parts. LOL!