ATTENTION 97 TO 98 EXPLORER OWNERS 4.0 SOHC.
 

This issue has not turned into a recall!!!!! only a service bulletin to dealers. why? most likely it would cost Ford to much money to fix this problem. Her it goes , most might know? and if you don't call and find out if you qualify, before it costs you alot of money? POSTED EARLIER ON THIS SUBJECT. MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER RECENTLY BROKE DOWN. iT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES THAT HOLD THE CHAIN IN PLACE. MY TRUCK LOST POWER AND STARTED MAKING A BAD RATTLE SOUND. I CREEPED IT UP TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS AND I CONFIRMED AFTER LOOKING AT THIS BOARD AND ANOTHER BOARD...EXPLORERFORUMS.COM WHICH DISCUSSES ALL FOR TRUCK STUFF. ANYWAY THE MECHANIC WA COOL ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A PRINT OUT LETTER THAT FORD CORP SENT OUT TO ALL DEALERS ON THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CALLED A SERVICE BULLETIN. THE LETTER STATES THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM IN 1997 TO 1998 EXPLORERS WITH SOHC ENGINES. THE GUARDS ARE PLASTIC AND WEAR OUT AND BREAK OVER TIME, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAINS TO GET LOOSE AND JUMP THE GEAR, (KINDA LIKE A BIKE CHAIN, FALLING OFF THE SPROCKET) ANYWAY,MAKES A BAD RATTLE SOUND AND YOU LOSE POWER. THE LETTER STATES THAT FORD CORP WILL PAY FOR ANY EXPLORER TO GET FIXED BY THE A DEALER AND PAY FOR A RENTAL IF NEEDED, CAUSE THE PROCEDURE TO FIX IT IS A FEW DAYS AND YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE IF IT'S THE BACK CHAIN THAT IS IN NEED OF REPAIR. THERE ARE TWO CHAINS, THE FRONT AND THE BACK. IF IT'S THE FRONT, I WAS TOLD IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE, BUT MINE IS 4X4 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE THINGS IN THE WAY AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REMOVED. ANYWAY. FORD DID NOT TURN THIS INTO A RECALL, ONLY A SERVICE BULLETIN. I THINK WHY IS BECAUSE IF IT WAS A RECALL IT WOULD BE A HUGE JOB FOR MANY DEALERS AND FORD WOULD LOSE THEIR ASS. I CALLED THE CORP OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES WITH A CERTAIN MILEAGE OR NUMBER OF YEARS RATIO BASED ON THE LETTER BEING SENT OUT WITH YOUR EXPLORER. I UNFORTUNATLEY DID NOT MAKE THE MILEAGE CUT OFF, SO I HAVE TO PAY MYSELF TO GET THIS FIXED..............IT IS A $1,500.00 JOB.................... SUCKS REALLY BAD. SO I AM WRITING TO THOSE WHO HAVE AN EXPLORER AND WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON THIS ISSUE TO FORD AND GET THEIR VEHICLE INTO A DEALER AND GET THIS FIXED IF YOU QUALIFY? IF IT IS TO LATE, YOU WILL PAY LIKE ME!!!! ACT NOW IT'S FREE AND AND YOU GOT PIECE OF MIND....
1 800 325-5621 IT'S THE FRONT CAM CHAIN ASSEMBLY ISSUE OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01M01............I JUST MISSED THE CUT. FORD DOES NOT SHOW GOOD FAITH, TO FIX THIS.