General => Lounge => Topic started by: MY83T on September 26, 2012, 12:03:07 AM
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on September 26, 2012, 12:03:07 AM
So my wifes Ford Edge lease is up, and i dont want to lease again. I was looking to cut expenses, so i am eyeballing the 2007 Freestyle crossover from Ford. I checked out a local one at a dealer and its a Limited, (loaded) model. DVD system for the kiddies, Nav system and 3rd row seating for 7 passenger seating. Its like one part wagon, one part Mini-van and one part SUV. Very nice looking car, and one of the nicest interiors i have seen on a Ford. Anyone here own one or have experience with them? I read all the obvious internet reviews, and i was looking for some thoughts from you all. They retail used for around 10-12K with 70-100K on the clock. Its a lot of car for the money.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on September 26, 2012, 06:29:34 AM
Make sure the car has its maintenance records for the transmission. Whether it has CVT or 6-speed, both trans' are fussy about maintenance, and they'll always burn the rear brakes faster than the front. Steer away from AWD unless you really need it.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: BCA on September 26, 2012, 09:43:12 AM
No direct experience, but by wife's best friend has 2005 that she bought new and she still has it and loves it. My neighbor had a 2005 model and must have really liked it because he just traded it in to get a 2008 model (Taurus X) a couple of weeks ago. His '05 had the CVT transmission and he had me drive it one day to "experience" it. My first impression of the CVT tranny was mixed and I think it would take some getting used to it.
I have a love/hate relationship with the built-in Ford navigations. Both my LS and my wife's Mountaineer have the factory nav's. I love the convenience of having them being built-in, and not having to have our TomTom suction-cupped to the window (I don't like clutter in my car). But there are two things that bug me about them. You cannot input much at all into the nav while the car is moving so for most things you have to be completely stopped. If you want to update to the latest map data, the update disc will cost you $200.00. I can understand a $50-$75 update, but $200 is just too steep IMHO.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on September 26, 2012, 09:57:24 AM
If you get one with heated seats, stock up on lower seat heater elements and hog rings. I make so much money replacing them it's not even funny. Diag and repair pays me 4 hours (by the service labor time standards book) , it takes me 35 minutes.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: 86T-bird on September 26, 2012, 02:57:47 PM
If you've read the internet reviews on the longevity of the CVT trans and the cost of replacement, you've probably found the answer already.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on September 26, 2012, 04:09:06 PM
Don't neglect it and don't put red fluid in it, and you usually won't have problems.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on September 26, 2012, 09:13:53 PM
thanks guys, i appreciate the input and advice.......this forum is the best.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on September 28, 2012, 02:43:36 AM
here are some pics of the car: Its a fully loaded Limited model with Nav system and DVD entertainment system for the family.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: ramair351 on September 28, 2012, 10:31:47 PM
i like them, but will hold out for a taurus X version eventually. 3.5 engine and a 6 speed rather than the cvt
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on September 28, 2012, 10:43:23 PM
Quote from: ramair351;399401
i like them, but will hold out for a taurus X version eventually. 3.5 engine and a 6 speed rather than the cvt
the price difference for a 2008/9 Taurus X with comparable equipment is 5-7K more costly, and it would be nice to have a later version, but the only equipment difference is the intro of Ford's Sync bluetooth. Aside from the engine and tranny changes.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on September 29, 2012, 02:43:44 AM
The trans difference is less than you think. Freestyle had both a CVT and a 6 speed. The early 6 speeds were the aisin 6-speed, and we don't like those. The Taurus X loses the CVT (a pity if you ask me, the CVT made the 3.0 seem bigger and use less fuel) and switches to the 6F50 Trans, a better unit overall at least in the Taurus and Taurus X. The units in 10 and newer Fusion and Escape are plagued with internal seal problems, which I've been told is a factory assembly issue, not a design problem.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 30, 2012, 09:39:20 PM
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;399411
6F50 Trans, a better unit overall at least in the Taurus and Taurus X. The units in 10 and newer Fusion and Escape are plagued with internal seal problems, which I've been told is a factory assembly issue, not a design problem.
Poo. My parents just bought a 2012 Fusion. I thought the 6 speed auto was pretty reliable.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: 84TBirdTurbo42 on September 30, 2012, 09:51:14 PM
seems in my part of the country that the trans issues with the fusions seem to be worked out by 12. We have some reprograms for the tcm's and what not. but. overall seems to be better.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 30, 2012, 10:01:52 PM
So far it's been fine. Hopefully it stays that way :).
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on October 01, 2012, 08:00:55 AM
TCM reprogram didn't fix it, only delayed and made it seem better for a while. Fortunately, most of them fail inside the warranty
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: 84TBirdTurbo42 on October 01, 2012, 08:48:45 PM
umm, ok. i guess you dont know. i work at a ford dealer also.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on October 01, 2012, 09:03:00 PM
I've seen the seal, I've heard the explanation. Its a manpower problem, seals don't tear or rip themselves. Strategies can't do that, and we've seen it too many times for it to be a separate problem. They leak internally, and burn up. There's an updated piston, which is supposed to be the fix.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on October 01, 2012, 09:09:55 PM
So Ford tech's whats the consensus about repairs/issues on my Freestyle? What are the most common issues you have seen? Also, do you guys know if the wiring for the headliner mounted DVD player is present in these cars if i want to add a stock unit? I have the factory Nav unit if that matters.
This is what i discovered so far: this is from a Freestyle Forum:
I have it working with the stock audiophile stereo. First I purchased a 2005 Freestyle DVD off of ebay (important because each player is wired different depending upon the car it is going into). I also bought a wiring diagram book for a 2005 Freestyle. Using that, I found the two connectors in the pillars and spliced into those wires. The 12V + and the CAN BUS +/- wires were in the passenger side A pillar. The stereo L/R inputs and 12V ground were in the passenger side D pillar.
OK, pinouts for the 16 Pin Connector in the passenger A Pillar (about half way up, the plastic cover just unsnaps):
Pin 4 & 11 = White/Black = Medium Speed Bus + Pin 5 & 12 = Black/Yellow = Medium Speed Bus - Pin 6 = Light Green = 12 Volt + Always On
6 Pin Connector near the top of the passenger D Pillar (just under the roof liner near the rear hatch; one screw and pull the plastic cover):
Pin 1 = Bare Wire = Left & Right Aux Input Channel Shields Pin 2 = White = Left Aux Input Channel + Pin 3 = Light Green = Left Aux Input Channel - Pin 4 = Red = Right Aux Input Channel + Pin 5 = Black = Right Aux Input Channel - Pin 6 = Black/Orange = 12 Volt - (Ground)
Once I hooked up the DVD, when I press the AUX button on the audiophile headunit, it says DVD/CD and allows the DVD to function.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: 84TBirdTurbo42 on October 01, 2012, 10:15:42 PM
i'm not doubting you at all, i was just saying it seems the 12's seem to have held up better so far.... alot of the issues we get seems to be a man power issue at this point. i cant tell you how many 2.3/2.5/2.0 crank seals/timing cover gaskets i've done lately.
as far as adding a factory dvd, i have no idea. never had a freestyle apart in that area to know. i havent really worked on a whole hell of alot of them, they didnt sell well around here, the taurus x seemed to fair a little better in sales. the cvt's are hit and miss. i've seen a few puke out rack and pinions. strut bearings will make some noise once they get in them.
i cant remember if there was a tsb/ssm on this, but the cars have a rack limiter that is placed between the knuckle and caliper bracket, keep that lubed with brake grease. that will help with noise. other then the obvious, keeping the caliper slides clean/brakes free. i cant really say ive seen anything to crazy.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on October 01, 2012, 11:40:49 PM
As you've discovered, the DVD player is a module on the Ms-can, in some configurations, the acm will play nice, in others, not So much. I also can't speak to whether the harness will be in the headliner. If not you CAN build it, but they are sensitive to shielding, so be sure to shield the low levels. In some cases you'll need the acm programmed with different as-built data, and then you're spoofing, which can get a bit murky. Still, it can be done, it HAS been done. The potential obstacle is the mounting, which i'm almost certain is NOT there.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: MY83T on October 02, 2012, 12:04:55 AM
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;399618
As you've discovered, the DVD player is a module on the Ms-can, in some configurations, the acm will play nice, in others, not So much. I also can't speak to whether the harness will be in the headliner. If not you CAN build it, but they are sensitive to shielding, so be sure to shield the low levels. In some cases you'll need the acm programmed with different as-built data, and then you're spoofing, which can get a bit murky. Still, it can be done, it HAS been done. The potential obstacle is the mounting, which i'm almost certain is NOT there.
this is from the Freestyle forum: These shots are a factory installed player.
Title: 2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover (looking for opinions)
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on October 02, 2012, 08:12:58 AM
It's that cast mount you won't have. You can get it and figure out how to attach it. You'll probably have to build the harness, too, because buying one is probably not an option. they hot glue them down to the headliner which will cause any used one to be nearly destroyed in the removal. In the end, you're probably better off getting a used headliner, that way you get the harness and the hole is already cut. You may even be able to get the mount at the same time.