2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

SPARK PLUGS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO A SKIP UNDER LOAD. HOWEVER, FORD HAS USED SOME UNUSUAL SPARK PLUG THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR END USERS TO EITHER CHANGE THEMSELVES OR EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE CHANGED BY FORD. FORD SERVICE QUOTE IS $300.00 TO HAVE CHANGED. THIS IS A TERRIBLE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SCREW UP THAT IS RIDICULOUS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A POOR DESIGN AND NOT KEEP CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR MISTAKE. *TR

I HAD MISFIRES ON CYLINDER 7, TRIED TO REPLACE PLUGS HAD FOUR BREAK IN MANIFOLD, FOUND THAT SPECIALITY TOOL HAD TO BE BOUGHT TO REPLACE PLUGS THAT BREAK, ALSO FOUND THAT FORD SERVICE WAS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH PLUGS AND THEY CHARGE EXTRA TO REMOVE AND REPLACE BROKEN PLUGS. FORD ENGINEERED A FAULTY PRODUCT AND BECAUSE THE NTSB HAS NOT SLAPPED THEIR HANDS THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY AMENDS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR REPLACEMENT OF PLUGS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE THEM REPLACE THE PLUGS FOR A NON DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

PURCHASED 2007 EXPL SP TRAC IN APRIL 2008 FROM ACADEMY FORD LAUREL, MD (19K MI). RADIATOR LEAK AND REPLACEMENT IN MAY 2011 (38.5K MI). RADIATOR LEAKING AGAIN AT 59K MI. *TR

RADIATOR IS LEAKING COOLANT. COOLANT LEAKS THE FROM ALUMINUM CORE, POOLS UP AT THE BOTTOM IN THE PLASTIC AND DRIPS OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. TALKED TO FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS (WHICH I REALIZE DOES NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY) AND THAT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS MADE, THE FAN THAT COOLS THE RADIATOR WAS NOT PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY. IT WOULDN'T RUN WHEN IT NECESSARILY NEEDED TO OR FOR AS LONG AS IT NEEDED TO WHICH IS CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO OVERHEAT AND THE ALUMINUM TO SEPARATE AT THE SEAM...THUS CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK AND LEADING TO THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY FIX WAS JUST TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR WITH AN "UPDATED" RADIATOR AND HAVE THE PROGRAMMING UPDATED FOR THE FAN TO FUNCTION LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. (NOT SURE...