Easy Ford Explorer Electrical Problem Fix That Will Save You Thousands

When It’s Not A Scam, But Bad Service

While we discuss the importance of recognizing and avoiding car repair scams, it bears mentioning that sometimes a scam is not a scam, but is just a case of bad service from a garage.

And by that,I am referring to the old medical diagnosis adage of “When You Hear Hooves, Think Horses and Not Zebras.” In other words, whenever diagnosing a problem, whether it be medical or automotive there is the temptation to jump to the more exotic (and big ticket) causes. And, it’s not just mechanics, but car owners as well who tend to expect (and believe) the worst when something goes wrong with their car---without first applying some commonsense first-things-first diagnostics.

Case in Point: Power Steering Misdiagnosis

In a recent episode of Rainman Ray’s Repairs, Ray is working on a Ford Explorer for an oil change and the diagnosis of why the owner is experiencing intermittent power steering problems. The owner had gone earlier to another garage and was given an estimate of $2,400 toward replacing his power steering unit.

In the video, Ray demonstrates the importance of understanding that many problems with any vehicle can be due to something as simple as not getting enough current from the battery to keep all systems---electrical and mechanical---operating properly. Therefore, not just mechanics, but vehicle owners as well should always check the condition of the vehicle battery before progressing any further with most repairs. Especially if an owner wants to avoid being scammed with a bogus repair estimate.

That said, here is the video in its entirety that serves the purpose of reinforcing a first-things-first diagnostic approach; and, demonstrates how to change the type of positive battery terminal clamp found in more modern vehicles than the older style that is typically shown in battery maintenance videos.

The First Step in Every Electrical Diagnosis Ford Explorer Power Steering

And finally...

For additional articles about car maintenance and repair, be sure to check out these useful articles that discusses “Car Battery Maintenance, Testing, and Replacement With This Ultimate Guide” and, “It’s This Easy to Pick the Lock on a Ford Explorer.”

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Timothy Boyer is Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.