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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Explorer / February 2006

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'02 Explorer 3.73LS differential whine

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4.0L - 06 Feb 2006 18:33 GMT
The 3.73LS differential in my 2-wheel drive Explorer started whining at
about 60 MPH before the original warranty expired, so I took it in for
repair.  The differential was rebuilt (ring and pinion, etc.) and the
noise was gone.  Unfortunately, the whine noise returned within 1000
miles.  I got busy with other things and neglected to return the
vehicle until 14 months passed.  The 12/12 repair warranty had lapsed,
so now I'm stuck with an $850.00 cost (25% discount for repeat
failure).  My question is, do any of you who might've experienced this
problem know if the replacement parts are any better than the
originals?  In otherwords, is this problem likely to return again soon?
And, if it does, am I out of luck after the 12/12 warranty lapses?

4.0L
351CJ - 06 Feb 2006 21:27 GMT
> The 3.73LS differential in my 2-wheel drive Explorer started whining at
> about 60 MPH before the original warranty expired, so I took it in for
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> 4.0L

Sounds like the repair may not have been done correctly.  If the gears are
not set up properly they begin to chew themselves up right away.

If you are going to have the work done again, MAKE DAMN sure that the person
doing the work is very experienced  and good at setting up rear-end gears.
R&B - 09 Feb 2006 02:52 GMT
This is an inherent design problem with many Fords. I have a 2002 F-150 with
the same thing. Took it to the dealer, under warranty, who inspected it and
said everything was OK. But it still whines 30K later. My wife's 2004 Sport
Trac has the same problem. This is one reason why Ford is loosing market
share to Toyota and everyone else. They won't do what they need to do to put
these kind of problems to bed.
Ron

> The 3.73LS differential in my 2-wheel drive Explorer started whining at
> about 60 MPH before the original warranty expired, so I took it in for
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> 4.0L
C. E. White - 17 Feb 2006 17:32 GMT
> This is an inherent design problem with many Fords. I have a 2002 F-150 with
> the same thing. Took it to the dealer, under warranty, who inspected it and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> these kind of problems to bed.
> Ron

Have you actually driven a Toyota lately? I test drove four new Tundras. All
four made piston slap like noises when started for the first time and two of
the four howled like heck from the rear. I was not sure wheter it was tires
or rear axle, but it was louder than any Ford I have been around since my
Father stopped using Unico mud grips on his pick-ups. Toyota inflicts some
real crap on the world, yet everyone seems to set them up as some sort of
world class standard. Oh what a feeling. Moving forward. Why is that Toyota
is not loosing market share becasue of - defective ball joints, engine
sludge, obsolete engine designs that require routine valve adjustment, Prius
software glitches, Corolla suspension collaspes, smelly catalytic
convertors, etc., etc., etc.......

Ford has issued new rear axle parts for the whining rear axles (see TSB
05-12-6). Supposedly this is the final for all time fix. I guess I have been
lucky, I have never had the problem (multiple Ford trucks and SUVs with
3.73:1 rear axles over the last 10 years). One co-worker had the whine
problem big time with an F150 Supercrew. He moved on to a Honda Pilot and is
happier now. However, he never gave the dealer a chance to fix the problem
with the new parts- he just bitched and moaned about it (or should I say
whined).

Ed
R&B - 18 Feb 2006 00:16 GMT
Let's see the question was, "Why won't Ford do what they need to do to put
these kinds of problems to bed." This is not a one year problem, but an
ongoing problem, and I have two vehicles to prove it. They have known about
this problem for a long time, but would rather band-aid it than study what
the problem really is. You have to look at the data, not personal opinions,
about Toyota's quality. I'll bet you won't find a new one with a whining
rear end. Both of my vehicles have 4-wheel drive, and 3:73 gears. They both
whine.
Ron

>> This is an inherent design problem with many Fords. I have a 2002 F-150
> with
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Ed
Craig - 12 Feb 2006 05:26 GMT
I have had mine replaced 4 times.

Each time the whine returned quicker - the last time within 3 days and 150
miles of the repair.
I have all the upgraded parts.
The dealer is not allowed to rebuild mine again - and it is not only mine
that is starting to have the problem reacurr withe the "new and upgraded
parts " that were supposed to finally Fix it.

I have talked to Ford customer service - they are "aware of the problem" and
told me to keep checking for a resolution with my dealer.

I checked back again on Friday - they said I should hear from Ford within a
couple weeks.

Good Luck.

> The 3.73LS differential in my 2-wheel drive Explorer started whining at
> about 60 MPH before the original warranty expired, so I took it in for
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> 4.0L
Richard O'Keefe - 13 Feb 2006 23:34 GMT
I've had the clutch packs replaced twice in my 03. The dealer says that the
3.73 has had some problems. I had the 3.73 LS in my 92 and it was fine. My
symptom is a grinding noise from the differential when going around a corner
right after startup.

Dick O'Keefe

> The 3.73LS differential in my 2-wheel drive Explorer started whining at
> about 60 MPH before the original warranty expired, so I took it in for
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> 4.0L
 
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