Seconf Explorer in a row 2011 & 2014 to need a new timing belt..$3500, Very frustrrsted

 

Don't know how much help we could be just yet, but could you provide year miles and engine size and some maintenance history ? That figure couldn't be just for replacing a belt and tensioners etc, what really happened?

 

2014 Explorer Sport..oil changes every 5-8000 miles at a Ford dealer. 75.000 miles engine list came on..drove about another 1,000 miles and the engine tried stalling out..took straight to the dealer. 2011 Exploer had 110,000 miles when it happened also serviced at the dealer on regular intervals. Same thing..belt needed replacing. Never had any other SUV's do this.

 

We try as much as reasonably possible to adhere to the maintenance schedule suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, however, different people see regular maintenance as on time oil changes , but there is more to regular maintenance than that. If your servicing dealership doesn't bring the recommended services to your attention , it might be a good idea to have things like timing belts changed sooner. The cost for an earlier timing belt change is considerably less than the repairs required if it breaks and does engine damage. The extra time and mileage can come as an unexpected big expense.

 

I'm sorry but at 75,000 miles I don't care what maintenance done, it is not right...Even more reason to look at a different manufacturer.

 

Timing belt replacement is in the area of 60,000 miles, 75,000 is pushing it , don't you think !

 

At $3500 for replacing?? Do you think that may be a design flaw?? **** poor engineering. I have been driving for 50 years and have never have ot replave a timing belt in my life.. JUst lucky???

 

You did not state what that $3500.00 was really for. That amount has to be to repair the damage caused by having waited too long.

If they used timing belts that far back , you certainly would have been aware of the need to replace them before they get worn and break.
The $$$ involved in using timing belts vs chains throws the cost on the customer AND don't always blame the engineer, he/she probably designed it with a chain system, but the "bean counter" is always looking to cut production costs and guess who wins.