WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs
Well-Known Member
You paid 28K...boy they saw you coming! I guess for that much the Acorns were free?
Dont Buy Sport Trac - or Ford for that matter
- Thread starter Robert Bowers 2
- Start date
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TomT
Well-Known Member
I love my Sport Trac but I only paid 19K for my 02. It is definitely not worth 28K.
Sailmaker,
If you have the tools and the know-how to do it yourself, you can save a bundle of money on replaing the ball joints. However, If you feel you are mechanically challenged or don't care to make those repairs, simply take your vehicle to other indiependent shops for some quotes. I'm sure you will find that the labor rates you pay at a Ford dealership are at least twice what you will pay at any other reputable repair shop in your area.
The best part of doing it yourself or having an independent shop replace the balljoints is that you will find that nearly all aftermarket balljoints are better and cheaper than anything Ford will replace them with.
If you brough you vehicle to the dealer at 33K miles complaining of shaking and they did not make any repairs, you should argue that point with the dealership. They may not do the balljoint repair for free, but they may give you a significant discount. You can also replace the tires and if you still have the shake it would indicate that their original diagnosis was wrong. Agressive tire treads do not cause shaking or vibration, but they usually make more road noise.
You should have challenged them when they told you that line of BS, but you didn't and that told them that they had a nieve truck owner. The service writer probably told you that when you arrived at the service department and never wrote up your complaint and so they never checked out. If they never wrote it down, you don't have any documentation to prove that you had the shaking problem at 33K miles and brought it in for that reason.
Just a rule of thumb to avoid your complaints from being brushed off...
Always insist that they write down your complaints as completely and accurately as possible. Even if the service writer gives you some half-baked excuse for that problem, Tell him to write it down, and if nothing is found to be wrong, still ask him to write down his half-baked excuse as the reason no action was taken, If they write it down on the service order, they cannot deny that you complained. If you accept their excuse and they never write your complaint on the service order, you have no documented evidence that you ever made the complaint.
...Rich
If you have the tools and the know-how to do it yourself, you can save a bundle of money on replaing the ball joints. However, If you feel you are mechanically challenged or don't care to make those repairs, simply take your vehicle to other indiependent shops for some quotes. I'm sure you will find that the labor rates you pay at a Ford dealership are at least twice what you will pay at any other reputable repair shop in your area.
The best part of doing it yourself or having an independent shop replace the balljoints is that you will find that nearly all aftermarket balljoints are better and cheaper than anything Ford will replace them with.
If you brough you vehicle to the dealer at 33K miles complaining of shaking and they did not make any repairs, you should argue that point with the dealership. They may not do the balljoint repair for free, but they may give you a significant discount. You can also replace the tires and if you still have the shake it would indicate that their original diagnosis was wrong. Agressive tire treads do not cause shaking or vibration, but they usually make more road noise.
You should have challenged them when they told you that line of BS, but you didn't and that told them that they had a nieve truck owner. The service writer probably told you that when you arrived at the service department and never wrote up your complaint and so they never checked out. If they never wrote it down, you don't have any documentation to prove that you had the shaking problem at 33K miles and brought it in for that reason.
Just a rule of thumb to avoid your complaints from being brushed off...
Always insist that they write down your complaints as completely and accurately as possible. Even if the service writer gives you some half-baked excuse for that problem, Tell him to write it down, and if nothing is found to be wrong, still ask him to write down his half-baked excuse as the reason no action was taken, If they write it down on the service order, they cannot deny that you complained. If you accept their excuse and they never write your complaint on the service order, you have no documented evidence that you ever made the complaint.
...Rich
michael b
Active Member
I've had mine since 8/00 No major problems after 85k. I do go through ball joints, tie rod ends & wheel bearings about every 6 months due to the big tires & lift. I can swap those items out in almost no time
I just go to Autozone & get the free rental tools, the parts & it's done in a few hours. Resale? I cant feel too sorry for ya, I've spent almost 40k (total) on my ST & I'd guess it would only bring 8-9 grand. And thats for a custom ST (look at my library) BUT, I knew I'd lose my ass when I would get ready to sell anyway
Been a good truck but I wouldnt buy another one. If I wanted to make car payments again I'd look at the Hummer H3 or the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ (I just dont know if I want 550-650 a month car payments again) It is soooo nice not sending off my 555.71 monthly payments (6 years, 0 down) It makes me like my ol' truck even more!!
I just go to Autozone & get the free rental tools, the parts & it's done in a few hours. Resale? I cant feel too sorry for ya, I've spent almost 40k (total) on my ST & I'd guess it would only bring 8-9 grand. And thats for a custom ST (look at my library) BUT, I knew I'd lose my ass when I would get ready to sell anywayBeen a good truck but I wouldnt buy another one. If I wanted to make car payments again I'd look at the Hummer H3 or the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ (I just dont know if I want 550-650 a month car payments again) It is soooo nice not sending off my 555.71 monthly payments (6 years, 0 down) It makes me like my ol' truck even more!!
Travis Tilley
Member
Sport Trac? Whats that? :wacko:
Gary L
Active Member
I was think on getting a 07 but after one of the member here havin engine knocking , and replace it twice and the samething.... after one week of ownership ..men i dont know if i should. :unsure:
DAMN FORD".... WHY THE HELLTHEY CANNOT SOLVED THEY PROBLEM AND BUILD A GOOD VEHICLE
DAMN FORD".... WHY THE HELLTHEY CANNOT SOLVED THEY PROBLEM AND BUILD A GOOD VEHICLE
Jim Burch
Member
My 2001 ST has original ball joints ;original tranny and has over 140,000 miles.. Ford does make good cars and my son has my old 2000 Explorer with 152,000 mile and never replaced ball joints. believe a lot of it is how you drive and maintain it.
Gene Marshall
Active Member
I don't understand why some of you thinks this is a "FORD" problem. I have had 3 Tracs still have one I have a 79 Bronco and an 87 Bronco ll. I have only owned one non-Ford vehicle and It was a 69 GTO. Maybe Rich should take a poll to see how many of us Love our Tracs. That's why I belong to this site because I love mine and pretty much think that the majority of us here feels the same way. If you don't like your Trac get rid of it and start posting all your negatives on your new Chevy,Chrysler,Hummer or what ever site. You can't please everybody. Trac's forever!!!
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2003
- Messages
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- Location
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- What engine do you have?
- V8 engine
- What year is your Sport Trac?
- 2010
- What Generation is your Sport Trac?
- 2n Gen Owner
Joseymac, The ac cycling is Normal, It is part of the fresh air. It will only not do it if all the switches are in the off position...
Most of these web sites are where people bitch and moan about problems...
Remember Ford sells 50K a year, about 11K members here, only about 200 post...
So do the math, Not EVERY st has issues....
also EVERY car depreciates in value, especially with the manufacturers giving new ones away, 05 interest and cheep lease rates...
That is the cause for cars deprecating...
Todd Z
Most of these web sites are where people bitch and moan about problems...
Remember Ford sells 50K a year, about 11K members here, only about 200 post...
So do the math, Not EVERY st has issues....
also EVERY car depreciates in value, especially with the manufacturers giving new ones away, 05 interest and cheep lease rates...
That is the cause for cars deprecating...
Todd Z
