Rob

Got a 02 with the usual howling rear end noise. Did Ford ever come up
with a fix for it or did they just give up? Its out of warranty so I
guess its not a freebie? Also no problems yet with the trans but I hear
it sucks too. No way for the average person to change the fluid? Is
this correct?

Rob

Answering my own question here. I went to the Ford dealer and for the
rear end they will not replace the rear end but rebuild yours at your
expense ($1200 or so) Sometimes they have to do them 2 or 3 times to
make them quiet! As to the transmission the dealer and the owners
manual are at odds. Owners manual says do nothing to the trans for
100,000? miles, dealer says fluid needs to be changed at the severe
service levels mentioned in the manual...
When the trans goes, cost is all on the owner. I see a TSB or two to
fix some small trans probs so I have to research them.

DANIEL M via CarKB.com

Rob wrote:
>Answering my own question here. I went to the Ford dealer and for the
>rear end they will not replace the rear end but rebuild yours at your
>expense ($1200 or so) Sometimes they have to do them 2 or 3 times to
>make them quiet! As to the transmission the dealer and the owners
>manual are at odds. Owners manual says do nothing to the trans for
>100,000? miles, dealer says fluid needs to be changed at the severe
>service levels mentioned in the manual...
>When the trans goes, cost is all on the owner. I see a TSB or two to
>fix some small trans probs so I have to research them.
>
--
It seems I am having the same problem. I have 03 EXPLORER, actully it was
manufactured 10/02, and I have been hearing a scrapping noise from the rear
and took it to a shop to find out the problem. The shop found that the rear
differential is bad and that why I am researching if FORD is doing
something about it.

NCV-VT

I had same or similar problem / issue with '02 at around 53,000 miles. I
learned this is a common problem and dealer had some unpublished program
with Ford. I had to pay about $105; Ford paid the rest per "SSM 18221" on
he work order. I am told the problem relates to the aluminum differential
housing and different heat expansion rates. Seal separated, fluid leaked,
rear end got somewhat fried. The replacements are supposedly heat treated in
advance.

"DANIEL M via CarKB.com" <forum@CarKB.com> wrote in message
news:b71ebad4b3c94b6799e76774fbc4efe0@CarKB.com...
>
>
> Rob wrote:
>>Answering my own question here. I went to the Ford dealer and for the
>>rear end they will not replace the rear end but rebuild yours at your
>>expense ($1200 or so) Sometimes they have to do them 2 or 3 times to
>>make them quiet! As to the transmission the dealer and the owners
>>manual are at odds. Owners manual says do nothing to the trans for
>>100,000? miles, dealer says fluid needs to be changed at the severe
>>service levels mentioned in the manual...
>>When the trans goes, cost is all on the owner. I see a TSB or two to
>>fix some small trans probs so I have to research them.
>>
> --
> It seems I am having the same problem. I have 03 EXPLORER, actully it was
> manufactured 10/02, and I have been hearing a scrapping noise from the
> rear
> and took it to a shop to find out the problem. The shop found that the
> rear
> differential is bad and that why I am researching if FORD is doing
> something about it.

Big Shoe

Interesting bit of information, rings true to me, but don't think that
heat treating will change the thermal expansion differences between
the aluminum housing and the steel shafts.

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 01:38:30 GMT, "NCV-VT" <vreeland@sover.net> wrote:

>I had same or similar problem / issue with '02 at around 53,000 miles. I
>learned this is a common problem and dealer had some unpublished program
>with Ford. I had to pay about $105; Ford paid the rest per "SSM 18221" on
>he work order. I am told the problem relates to the aluminum differential
>housing and different heat expansion rates. Seal separated, fluid leaked,
>rear end got somewhat fried. The replacements are supposedly heat treated in
>advance.
>
>"DANIEL M via CarKB.com" <forum@CarKB.com> wrote in message
>news:b71ebad4b3c94b6799e76774fbc4efe0@CarKB.com...
>>
>>
>> Rob wrote:
>>>Answering my own question here. I went to the Ford dealer and for the
>>>rear end they will not replace the rear end but rebuild yours at your
>>>expense ($1200 or so) Sometimes they have to do them 2 or 3 times to
>>>make them quiet! As to the transmission the dealer and the owners
>>>manual are at odds. Owners manual says do nothing to the trans for
>>>100,000? miles, dealer says fluid needs to be changed at the severe
>>>service levels mentioned in the manual...
>>>When the trans goes, cost is all on the owner. I see a TSB or two to
>>>fix some small trans probs so I have to research them.
>>>
>> --
>> It seems I am having the same problem. I have 03 EXPLORER, actully it was
>> manufactured 10/02, and I have been hearing a scrapping noise from the
>> rear
>> and took it to a shop to find out the problem. The shop found that the
>> rear
>> differential is bad and that why I am researching if FORD is doing
>> something about it.
>