Cheers, all!!
My sister purchased a 2002 Ford Explorer in 2002 which at the time only had approximately 32,000 or so miles give or take a thousand or so. Recently, we began to have engine check warnings and then without symptoms, noticed a sluggishness to the shifting mechanism. It would not go into second gear as it used to. It would take a while and then shift. I have some experience with basic vehicle maintenance and went to check transmission fluid, gear case levels and such. only, when we lifted the hood there was no dip stick to check transmission fluid levels!! Of course we had to take it to our guy to get a check up and he informed us that that particular model mimicked some German idea from another time period and some genius at Ford decided to incorporate this dumb idea into the 2002 XLT model. What an inconvenience. At any rate, found out it was the transmission solenoid which was faulty and he thought that should have fixed it. NOT. after a $500 job he then tells us that it would cost an extra $1400 more because the second gear plate was damaged and inoperable. Now she can only drive it cautiously in short distances and has to shift into 3rd gear when driving then back down to drive once we know it has shifted past 2nd into 3r for sure.

Now, we are needing to get rid of this abomination and she has her eye set on the Envoy. my question is, is the Envoy owner able to perform basic maintenance procedures like, oil and transmission checks and changes, timing belts etc.? We would prefer a vehicle which we can keep track of certain maintenance issues ourselves for the most part and of course putting it in the shop as needed. Also, does anyone know which SUV models now have more economical fuel reviews. I heard this was an issue some manufacturers were currently working to achieve with the newer vehicles, fuel economy.

Anyway, sorry for the book!! r

Cheers!