Hello there,
I have a 2003 ford explorer I bought pretty cheap hoping it would last me atleast the year. I had the oil changed and all that stuff at Walmart within the first 24 hours of having the vehicle. I hit a curb about a week later in a snow storm and popped the tire and destroyed the wheel, but had a full size spare in the back I had AAA replace after the storm. I drove it a few times around town after the little accident. When I took the Highway for the first time after the accident about 10 minutes into my trip the explorer started slowing down significantly to a point where I knew I had to pull over, and I lost power steering. There was no smoke, no noise, no real warning besides the slowing down. I had it towed to a buddy of mine who spent hours, days, weeks trying to start the explorer but somehow failed to do so. He said he towed my truck up to his house with his truck and a tow strap while is brother helped by sitting in the driver seat of my vehicle to make sure they didn't collide. This trip was less than a quarter mile up hill. I had it towed to an auto dealership a few weeks later where right off the bat they said they were able to start it (which my friend somehow was never able to) but they started it heard a knocking noise and turned it right off. I was skeptical and upset. I had it towed to a mechanic that a few trusted friends told me about. He told me the tie rod was broken and that seized the engine hence the knocking noise.
Read more: 2003 Ford Explorer with a seized engine, no signs, noise, smoke or warning. Just came to a stop on Highway
