what should i do about this lemon

Ok my husband and I just bought a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT about 2 months ago and have had nothing but problems. Now we bought it from a Pontiac dealer keep this in mind. Two days after we bought it the engine and transmission started banging really hard. Took it back they looked at it and had no idea what it was, so they send it out to a Ford Dealer. Turned out to be the transfer case and that it had bad brakes on it all the way around it. The brakes were fixed by the Pontiac dealership and the transfer case by the Ford dealership. Now two weeks go by and the transmission bangs when it shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd take it back to Pontiac dealership they said the computer has to get use to the new transfer case. Two weeks later same problem and a new one the defroster and the ac (not the max ac) are blowing out hot air. They sent the car back to Ford dealership. Came back that there are two different size tires on the truck and that there was a vacuum leak. The Pontiac dealership changed the tires and said they fixed the vacuum leak. A couple days later trying to put up third row seat the band on the left side of lever breaks sit is stuck in down position call dealership they refuse to fix it not under warranty still complained about transmission was told to bring it in. Take it in to the Pontiac dealership and they took it for a test drive said there's nothing wrong with it that's how a four wheel drive drives sometimes its very sensitive. A couple of weeks go by and my service engine soon light comes on, my transmission is still slippng, my defroster and ac blowing hot air, and the tires they replaced them with are all starting to bubble. So my husband decides to take it to Auto Zone they diagnose it as the egr valve and said the treads or bands were broke in all the tires. Furious my husband goes to the Pontiac dealership and explains all the problems, they tell us to call the Ford dealership ourselfs and that the car is no longer under warranty and to call the manufactuer of the tires. Now anyone have any suggestions on what I should do about my 2002 Hulk of Crap sitting in my driveway? And does anyone know if it could have been the EGR valve causing the defroster and ac to spit out hot air?

Dang, you might wanna unload that one. You could get a mercedes off the dealership floor and have trouble with it but thats alot going wrong. My guess is it was tortured by its previous owner, try contacting them and see just what kind of vehicle it was for them. I have a 1995 Explorer XLT and love it, it's the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned. Try to look into ANY used vehicle you buy before shelling out the dough, Here (KY) it is the law that a used car dealer MUST furnish the previous owner(s) names and telephone numbers if you request. Also does your state have a "lemon law" ? check into it.

Better luck next time :(

I'm sorry to hear that. As for the A/C and heater, i'm actually dealing with the same problem. It blows only hot air except on max A/C but the cold air fights the hot air. I figured out that it's a blend door problem. The only thing i'm not sure about is that i don't know if the blend door problem was big with the 2002's or if they fixed that problem by then. I have a 98. My actuator is bad i believe and that's what's causing it, but if you do a search on google for blend door actuator problem you will find ways to fix it yourself if you want. i hope this helps.

- E

Ok my husband and I just bought a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT about 2 months ago and have had nothing but problems. Now we bought it from a Pontiac dealer keep this in mind. Two days after we bought it the engine and transmission started banging really hard. Took it back they looked at it and had no idea what it was, so they send it out to a Ford Dealer. Turned out to be the transfer case and that it had bad brakes on it all the way around it. The brakes were fixed by the Pontiac dealership and the transfer case by the Ford dealership. Now two weeks go by and the transmission bangs when it shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd take it back to Pontiac dealership they said the computer has to get use to the new transfer case. Two weeks later same problem and a new one the defroster and the ac (not the max ac) are blowing out hot air. They sent the car back to Ford dealership. Came back that there are two different size tires on the truck and that there was a vacuum leak. The Pontiac dealership changed the tires and said they fixed the vacuum leak. A couple days later trying to put up third row seat the band on the left side of lever breaks sit is stuck in down position call dealership they refuse to fix it not under warranty still complained about transmission was told to bring it in. Take it in to the Pontiac dealership and they took it for a test drive said there's nothing wrong with it that's how a four wheel drive drives sometimes its very sensitive. A couple of weeks go by and my service engine soon light comes on, my transmission is still slippng, my defroster and ac blowing hot air, and the tires they replaced them with are all starting to bubble. So my husband decides to take it to Auto Zone they diagnose it as the egr valve and said the treads or bands were broke in all the tires. Furious my husband goes to the Pontiac dealership and explains all the problems, they tell us to call the Ford dealership ourselfs and that the car is no longer under warranty and to call the manufactuer of the tires. Now anyone have any suggestions on what I should do about my 2002 Hulk of Crap sitting in my driveway? And does anyone know if it could have been the EGR valve causing the defroster and ac to spit out hot air?

Take the car back to the dealership you bought it from, tell them they sold you a car with major problems that in your opinion they failed to disclose to you, and tell them you want another car. You will only accept FULL credit for your purchase price towards another vehicle. Tell them you like them, but this is unacceptable and you know they wouldn't want to sell a car to someone with all those problems. (Mix some nice in). But also tell you are ready to sue if they don't exchange vehicles.

Talk to a lawyer in your state before you go in so you know where you stand legally. It is not a good idea to try to push a dealership around without knowing your legal rights - you will lose.

The idea here is that you are appealing to their sense of fair play with their customers and their desire to do the right thing and treat their customers well, and it will be easier for everyone if they axchange vehicles cause otherwise you have no choice but to get tough. You know THEY wouldn't want to be treated this way.

Good luck!

Talk to some of your local professional mechs, but as far as I know is a 4 wheel / all wheel drive vehicle has to have the same size tires on it or it could do major damage to drive system. I'll go as far as saying you should replace all 4 tires at the same time for this reason. Check it out...could be some extra ammo for you when you speak to the dealer who sold you a vehicle with different size tires.