Ford ESP Advice Please

[larkja]

Picked up a 2014 Expedition EL Limited with 95,000 a couple months ago. Decided not to go with the ESP at point of sale since it was so expensive - $3,000 for 24,000 for the Premium Care Plan.

Did some research and through lombardfordwarrantys.com, I can get the following (with a $200 deductible):
- 3 year Premium Care - $1,997
- 2 year Premium Care - $1,487
- 3 year Extra Care - $1,337
- 2 year Extra Care - $1,277

The truck is running like a champ and was purchased at a dealership where the previous owner serviced religiously every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. I don't have receipts, but Carfax shows all the service intervals at the local dealership.

Not too worried about the engine, tranny, etc, but there are a LOT of electronics that make me pause a bit. I drive ~ 10,000 miles per year, no commute.

Suggestions? What have you done and your experience with the Ford ESPs?

Thanks

 

[07navi]

Picked up a 2014 Expedition EL Limited with 95,000 a couple months ago. Decided not to go with the ESP at point of sale since it was so expensive - $3,000 for 24,000 for the Premium Care Plan.

Did some research and through lombardfordwarrantys.com, I can get the following (with a $200 deductible):
- 3 year Premium Care - $1,997
- 2 year Premium Care - $1,487
- 3 year Extra Care - $1,337
- 2 year Extra Care - $1,277

The truck is running like a champ and was purchased at a dealership where the previous owner serviced religiously every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. I don't have receipts, but Carfax shows all the service intervals at the local dealership.

Not too worried about the engine, tranny, etc, but there are a LOT of electronics that make me pause a bit. I drive ~ 10,000 miles per year, no commute.

Suggestions? What have you done and your experience with the Ford ESPs?

Thanks

Nothing.

 

[larkja]

Nothing.

Care to elaborate?

 

[07navi]

Care to elaborate?

I don't believe in those warranties and the general consensus is that they aren't worth it but I was a mechanic and that would make a difference.

 

[larkja]

I don't believe in those warranties and the general consensus is that they aren't worth it but I was a mechanic and that would make a difference.

I do a lot of my own maintenance too - oil, filters, brakes. But there are a lot of electronics. Had a 2003 Expy before this one and donated to charity at 200,000 miles. It ran like a champ with basic maintenance. But, there were a lot of electronic quirks that I could never track down and didn't want to spend the $$$ at the dealership to fix.

Thanks

 

[bloodhound]

Sounds like you have a well serviced truck, which is obviously the key. Take the two grand and set it aside if anything comes up unexpected in the next three years. At 10,000 miles a year, I highly doubt it. Keep in mind these extended warranty programs are very profitable because the vast majority of people who buy them don't end up needing them.

 

[larkja]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll pass for now and will establish an emergency repair fund.

 

[Jamo]

I felt the same as you when I bought my '14 EL LTD w/80K. I was getting hammered with emails from that Lombard for ESP. I looked into it and there was a couple hundred dollar fee to get it inspected, and even then the ESP wasn't a given with them if it failed.

I went with my local Ford dealer (who is also a friend) and he did the inspection for free and I bought the ESP through him...about $1800 for a 4 yr/36K. With my mileage, I'll get the full four years. I've had the truck for over 1.5 years and have already had $1300 worth of ESP work done. I'm happy and it was peace of mind for me too...

 

[07navi]

Funny how we only hear from the people that came out ahead on the warranties.

 

[TDGFordGuy]

Picked up a 2014 Expedition EL Limited with 95,000 a couple months ago. Decided not to go with the ESP at point of sale since it was so expensive - $3,000 for 24,000 for the Premium Care Plan.

Did some research and through lombardfordwarrantys.com, I can get the following (with a $200 deductible):
- 3 year Premium Care - $1,997
- 2 year Premium Care - $1,487
- 3 year Extra Care - $1,337
- 2 year Extra Care - $1,277

The truck is running like a champ and was purchased at a dealership where the previous owner serviced religiously every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. I don't have receipts, but Carfax shows all the service intervals at the local dealership.

Not too worried about the engine, tranny, etc, but there are a LOT of electronics that make me pause a bit. I drive ~ 10,000 miles per year, no commute.

Suggestions? What have you done and your experience with the Ford ESPs?

Thanks

I bought one of these from Lombard ford ($2k) for my 2004 Excursion 4x4 with the 6.0. It was worth every penny for that vehicle. Once ULSD was introduced across the nation, my engine took a complete dump. EGR problems, turbo clogging, oil and injector leaks, etc. All was covered under the 100,000 mile warranty.

ESP for a Expedition? Does it cover things like your cam phasers and timing chain guides & tensioners or are those "wear items"? The radio & sync modules are problems in most vehicles (if you want to stay stock when they fail). Otherwise, a good OBDII diagnostic tool (I have used FORscan) and a couple hours on youtube, you can diagnos most electronic sensor issues. Most are reletively "easy" to change out, depending on your mechanical and technical skill levels.

Does the ESP cover the A/C components? I have had 2 3rd gens with piss poor A/C and the local mom&pop shops couldn't fix them.

 

[Jamo]

I'm not sure on the "wear items" on the engine, but it does cover major engine and transmission problems. With my ESP ending at less that 120K, I would hope none of that stuff needs fixing...but probably will just after ESP. My A/C was covered under mine, I had the line to the rear A/C blow and they fixed it. They replaced the entire line, as opposed to patching in a section which I did not want. As I said, peace of mind was part of my reasoning...

 

[Trainmaster]

Even the lowest priced basic powertrain warranty covers all "internally lubricated" engine and transmission parts. So all the turbo, phasers, chains and guides would be covered. You'd need a more complete warranty for the A/C, alternator, starter, electronic modules and things like that.

Lombard Ford has all the documents on line that show the inclusions/exclusions of each warranty.

 

[07navi]

I'm not sure on the "wear items" on the engine, but it does cover major engine and transmission problems. With my ESP ending at less that 120K, I would hope none of that stuff needs fixing...but probably will just after ESP. My A/C was covered under mine, I had the line to the rear A/C blow and they fixed it. They replaced the entire line, as opposed to patching in a section which I did not want. As I said, peace of mind was part of my reasoning...

I put a splice in my rear line and it was still good 6 years later when I sold it. $12 part.

 

[Expedition Dave]

All ESP is insurance for what Ford no longer insures you vehicle. More come out at a loss than ahead, b/c that is the nature of most of these warranties, which is why they stay in business.
Ford makes a generally good product, but you never truly know, no matter how well your vehicle is maintained--especially if you want to own it past 100K.

As always with the law of entropy, YMMV

 

[iamthedavem]

I don't buy them and agree with Bloodhound's advice, just set the money aside. Maybe you can make a few bucks on interest and if nothing bad happens you can use that money to help buy a new vehicle later on. If you really feel unlucky, maybe you should buy it but I think most people probably don't get their money's worth.

 

[CaptainKrunch]

Extended warranties are for those that are bad at math and finances in general

 

[Trainmaster]

Extended warranties are for those that are bad at math and finances in general

They're also great when you hear the motor start ticking, the timing chain rattling or the tranny slipping and you can still buy one.

 

[Armin]

I did buy it for my 2017 and never used it so far and hence I'm very happy.

These are like fire insurance. You hope you never need them, and typically never will, but if I do have a serious fire you will regret deeply you didn't buy it

I bought it for the big things, plus the small things where a mechanic is going to spend ours diagnosing it. If you are a mechanic yourself the latter is probably less off an issue, but most of us are not car experts, or perhaps we are, but are too busy in our private life to spend evenings on diagnosing an issue. Dropping the vehicle off, and driving a rental until they figured it out is worth something.

On average you will lose money compared to just saving. So in the end it is a subjective value choice not about saving money but about risk and convenience

I would always buy it from Ford if you consider a warranty. On my previous Explorer I had a cheap 3rd party warranty and the only time I needed they were hiding behind call centers with long waits, slow to respond, asking unreasonable paperwork, etc. So when I bought it for my 2017 again, I really made sure this was going to be a "No hassle just, drop of at the dealer and I wouldn't be the one making phone calls" type of product. Else I'd pass too.

 

[inmanlanier]

Credit unions generally have the best pricing on 'extended warranties'. I quoted the term because technically it's re-insurance, so depending on what state you're in you may have protection via the insurance commissioner's office to boot. Purportedly in well regulated states, the industry has matured to where likelihood of getting screwed is much lower than in the day - just make sure you read the fine print. I did not get it on my 1012 Expedition or Jag F type R. I have it on my Hyundai Genesis 5.0 for the reason you are concerned - electronics - in that car I got a $1230 policy for many miles and many years - to me worth the expense. I've already had some benefit there. For the expedition I was trusting enough of the vehicle and lower repair costs, limited high tech expensive items, etc. to believe I'll win the crap shoot by not paying for a policy. The Jag was just too much money for the limited benefit IMHO (not many miles nor years) and co-pay for all repairs, so I'm gambling. If I lose my gamble, I can be out some serious change for a head unit or other electronic item.