2012 FORD EXPLORER Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR WHICH PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM DEFROSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. UPDATED 01/26/16.*JB

ON DECEMBER 27TH 2014 I PURCHASED A USED 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 42,990 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED UNDER ACCELERATING, YOU CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. ANY HARDER THAN 50% ACCELERATION AND WITH THE REAR AC ON, IT IS AN ALMOST INSTANT SMELL. AFTER A FEW ROADS TRIPS IT IS PREDICTABLE AND WE TRY TO AVOID REPEATING THE ISSUE. IT HAS NOT BEEN TO OUR LCAL DEALER BECAUSE THEY "HAVEN'T HEARD" OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE (CALLED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS). I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THE CAR, PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, MY $100 EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE, AND GET THE, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE CAN BE FROM." I HAVE HEARD AND READ ALLOT OF SEMI FIXES, BUT WISH I COULD GET A STRAIT ANSWER BEFORE TAKING TO THE DEALER FIRST. *TR

INVESTIGATION OF INTERMITTENT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT EVENTUALLY LED TO A DETERMINATION OF A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE PULLING FUEL INTO THE EVAP CANISTER. TECHNICIAN SAID HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS THIS IS A FUEL LEAK AND UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED SAFETY ISSUE, CITES 1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN SEEN, AND NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. PAPERWORK PROVIDED CITES "A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VACUUM TO BE PLACED ON FUEL TANK, DRAWING FUEL/AIR FROM THE FUEL TANK THROUGH THE EVAP SYSTEM AND INTO ENGINE. THIS CAN CAUSE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS RICH/LEAN CONCERN." *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2013, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH WHEN A WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING TO A STOP. THE GAS WOULD NOT WORK DURING THIS TIME AND I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT DID RESTART WITHOUT PROBLEMS, BUT DID IT AGAIN A LITTLE LATER. I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE I LEASED THE CAR FROM. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT COULD NOT GET CODES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES IN OCTOBER. BOTH TIMES WERE AT NIGHT OVER A WEEKEND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. AGAIN, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT RESET THE "SYSTEM" AND I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN IF...

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY BECAME VERY HARD TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE APPEARED TO LOSE POWER. INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING JERKED. THE LIGHTS SAID "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" AND "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT". I HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE TO LEFT TURNS TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TOOK ALL THE STRENGTH I HAD IN BOTH ARMS. MY TURN SIGNALS WOULD ALSO NOT WORK. I EVEN TRIED TURNING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE KNOB, AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING ON THAT AS WELL AND NOTHING WOULD LIGHT UP OR SHOW UP ON THE DASH SCREEN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE I PULLED OUT MY OWNERS MANUAL TO LOOK UP INFORMATION ON THESE INDICATORS. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE INDICATOR...