My Ford Flex Story | When is it time to let it go?

Because the days are nearing an end for my Flex, and I am not sure how much longer she will be road ready.
Here, I tell the story of how and why I bought my Flex. And why I hold my Flex near and dear to my heart.
Thus, the decision is this- sell it now while the market in sky high or wrap it up and store it. Driving it only on occasion.
#Fordflex #ohio
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Edited by- Me
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[@jerrybishop9515]

I have a 2010 limited EB and the rockers are just as bad or worse on mine (thank you New England winters). I always wanted to learn how to weld long before I got this. I had my fair share of rusted cars in the past. I have a conversion van that needed body work so I just decided I would learn how to weld. I got a harbor freight welder and watched viseos. You can look around it to see where I started and where I finished on it. I have used it on the van and my wrangler. So here I am, fall 22 and we needed to change a tire. the jack went through the pinch weld. Working in my side yard (I do not have a garage) I am in the progress of rebuilding the rockers. So far I have worked on the inner frame rail, outer frame rail and the door hinge support. Next is the rocker itself. All is fabricated with a claw hammer, home vise, 3 pound sledge and a ton of vice grips. Still using the HF welder and various ryobi power tools to cut metal and drill holes. In case you are interested in doing this I used 14GA sheet steel for the inner (way too heavy but real sturdy) 18ga for outer frame and door hinge support (appropriate sized metal) and 20ga outer rocker (appropriate size). I am also ditching the trim for the door I say if I can do it anyone can BTW I have had fords for a long time so body work comes with the territory. Good luck Jerry

[@EcoBelkin]

I had actually pondered that in Spring of 2023 through the fall of 2023. I wanted to teach myself how to weld using a harbor freight welder and actually go through and repair the flex and make an episodic content of me learning to weld and fixing flex.

[@elijahscott75]

Like any good looking historical car or vintage car, you got to start somewhere. Store in garage and keep searching. Keep away from the winter salt or dirt roads. Drive it once in awhile. Keep the washes going and the paint looking good still. If that’s the car you want to keep looking good and have forever then drive the smaller car for now and just maintain and upkeep the flex with what you can.

[@ripdog1981]

I'm right there with you. 2011 SEL about about to hit 200k miles. Hopefully she keeps on going until these car prices come back down to earth.

[@peregrine116]

I got a 2010 Limited (218k km - 135k miles). Just got my rocker panels and pillars repaired. Don't know how I missed the PTU and RDU issues on the net, but I did. The RDU is leaking at the axle seal, so I'm changing the oil with Red Line and adding a seal additive. That should lengthen its life. I have had no issues with the PTU, but after watching all the videos of PTU failures, I hope I'm not too late installing a drain plug and changing the oil to Red Line and a seal additive. I did catch the trans oil issue so that was done. If these fixes fail to prolong the life of the Flex, I'm afraid she will become a 'cars for kids'. This is my point. This is the most useful car I have ever owned (62 yrs), and I am looking at buying another. I'm just waiting for the craziness to abide and the prices to drop. Unless you can AFFORD to be sentimental, at one point, ya got to cut your losses and let'em go.

[@bradhaughton6698]

I like how the dog walk in the frame and out of frame like it's like a sad Ending Story

[@Toeslam10]

I'm there with You Too. 175k on my 2012 Titanium turbo Flex. 2nd trans (shuttering ) with TCC or torque coverter problem, replaced firewall side turbo, Next gotta rebuild the front end....YES IM KEEPING MY FLEX 🤩👍🏽

[@alexflosho]

2010 Limited EB… only the water pump. Crazy how the same car can be so reliable for some and so unreliable for others.

[@jackadie3932]

2014 170000 miles. Still looks and feels new. Never gonna part with it, too many memories. Also have a 1967 Austin Healey 3000, a 1972 MB 350SL, 2008 Porsche Cayman, and a couple of Jeeps that I’ve owned since new. Most have lasted longer than my marriage 😊

[@EcoBelkin]

Ohhh a Austin Healey. A rare car and very collectable.

[@randomuser2468]

Ford Flex for life!

[@leogje4141]

I own an 09 Ford flex limited with a 168,000 mi on it minimal amount of rust mechanically sound I plan to keep it for a while if I was you knowing how I love my car and how much you love your car I think I would work on it little by little and keep it

[@simms196]

I maintain a half dozen delivery vehicles & sometimes end up covering a 12 hour shift for a driver who calls in sick. My absolute favorite car is the burgundy 09 Flex AWD. It handles the snowy mountain passes like a boss & is such a smooth ride. 4 years ago it had 40k miles & now it has 180k. It's been meticulously maintained has zero rust (WA state car) & the only mechanical issue so far was some front end work, control arm & struts, also just recently needed engine cooling fan assembly, 1 fan would run continuously even at cold start. But whenever the cost of repair (an engine) exceeds the value of the car the company will take it out of svc & who knows what will happen after that. It will be a sad day though. I hate to see a great car die

[@syedabbas7028]

I would definitely keep it .. thanks for telling your srory..

[@CP-mj8wd]

I'm keeping my 2011 flex till its done. It has the trailer tow package which has come in handy. I've driven several Ford flexes over the years was impressed with all of them. You may want to try and get a newer one that's completely loaded. I've been using that spray you were talking about, not really sure it's working but I use silver spray paint just so the rust isn't so obvious. Silly probably. Ford should ha e improved the Flex but I hear the sales just weren't there. Too bad.........

[@hometowntv1367]

Great "heart-felt" video! I was in the same situation with my MKT a few months back but I traded it in on another vehicle (Lincoln MKS) and I didn't look back. Actually it was a relief. I currently own a 2010 Ford Flex EB with 142,000 miles. It was a repo from a bank and has engine issues (timing chain) BUT.. I got it for $1,000!! So after I fix the engine I will only have $3,500 invested in a vehicle worth 10 gran. In other words at the end of the day, it's just a vehicle. Sell it! You'll find another one in better condition and build new memories! It will save you more money than rebuilding what you have. Good luck! I'm looking forward to an update

[@themaintenanceman1]

Great video! Great sentiment. I feel it. I have the same love for my Kia borrego just cause it’s a rare car you don’t see many of. That being said I am constantly fixing it now. Nothing major but nickel and dimeing me and I need something that just works. Also it’s harder and harder to get parts so I think as much as it pains me im going to probably part ways with it sometime in the next year or 2. It’s almost 15 yrs old so it’s had a good run

[@EcoBelkin]

Yes I've noticed in the last year or so that acquiring parts from my flex has become more of a challenge. Tempted to buy a wrecked flex from a salvage yard and park it in my yard and I have a full supply of used parts.

[@themaintenanceman1]

@@EcoBelkin I admire your love for the Flex. I actually see a lot of them around me on the road. Sorry that your fighting the dreaded rust.

[@slavonem]

Не спрашивай, делай так как считаешь нужно.

[@Jeschitown]

I have a 2011 limited I've only owned for a year with 87k pretty clean, engine runs good,except like yours I had really bad rusted out rocker arms. With the lower mileage I decided to bite the bullet and get it repaired. I looked online like marketplace and found someone who did local body worked I paid like 2k for the work but from what I can looks good repair job. So I look at it as an investment for resale down the road. I'm about 6800$ Total investment but I should get close to that if and when I sell it. But I tell you what I love my flex lol we going on long camping road trip this summer and I can't wait to use this flex for what I intended for. Also my wife loves it lmao. I love the color on yours. I say repair it and fall in love all over again. The prices on new and used cars is stupid right now. I left off those side plastic weather channels I think road debris and salt up north here at least just gets captured in the railing and rust out these cars quickly.

[@EcoBelkin]

I am keeping it and do want to repair it. The issue is mine is more then the outer rockers- it's the inner support as well. And rust is moving to the floor pan.

[@Jeschitown]

@@EcoBelkin mine was like that too same thing happened to me. I didn't think it was that bad initially but unfortunately it was. The rest of the car is decent shape. Again I say look for someone online who does it on the side work. I'm sure they could give you a better price. Then after that ride it till the wheels fall off lol or sell it down the road and maybe get another one that's my plan at least. It's really hard not to fall in love with these flexes I really enjoy myself when I drive it don't matter where to. Sometimes I make any excuse just to drive her lmao. Hell I still get compliments on it believe it or not I keep her clean. I do think one day these will appreciate in value Ford did good in the design the quality is decent not great tho. Btw I've. learned a lot from your videos appreciate it

[@Jeschitown]

@@EcoBelkin honestly what I would do if I were you and you set on keeping and fixing the flex. I would sell the BMW on the what the dealer is offering you, and buy a nice used pick up truck like a small ranger of Ridgeline for around 10k That way you can make a quick big turn around profit, invest, and be payment free, and well on your way to fixing the flex with time on your hands and fix up as time and budget permits. I'd recommend the junkyard for a lot of good used parts for the flex and save money that way. Make a list a prioritize it as needed. You can do it man just plan it out and stick with the plan.

[@madlee2040]

Love my 2009 SE 260k and still kicking (my daily). Trying to hit at least another 100K.

[@damionperry1632]

Hey what's going on brother? So I have an 09 myself and I've done a bunch of front-end work on it over the last 3 months and I wanted to reach out to you and see if you might have some insight on an issue I'm having. So just a little breakdown, about 3 months ago I did a full brake job on the flex all new rotors pads calipers and hardware. And then about a month ago I had replaced all four tires and had a four-way alignment. About a week ago I noticed that while I was driving at low speeds I was hearing like a constant high pitched squealing coming from the front driver side when traveling at 30mph or less. I also noticed that the sound maintained when turning left but if I turn the steering wheel to the right the sound would go away same thing as if I were to accelerate past 30 or 35 mph that the sound would go away as well. Now based on my many years of backyard mechanic experience I deduce that it was most likely a wheel hub assembly or a CV axle. Now with it being cold or outside I didn't really want to rip the whole front end apart to replace the two parts so I took it to a shop that my buddy works at. Now it has been at the shop since yesterday. I didn't receive a diagnosis yesterday because I brought it in at last minute instead of scheduling to have it dropped off and then I called them a little bit earlier today. So what I'm hearing from them which makes no sense to me is that they don't think it's a wheel bearing / hub assembly issue nor do they think it's a CV axle issue. They are now trying to push forward and say that it is potentially a transmission issue. More directly a valve body issue. Mind you I haven't had any real issues with the 6f50 transmission and flex only has 129,000 mi on it. In your many years of owning your flex have you had any similar issues as I'm experiencing or have you found anything in any forums whether it be Ford or flex forums that report any issues with the transmission after displaying the same signs that my flex is experiencing? Now I see you have pretty much done all the work required of your flex yourself just like I do and I can't seem to wrap my head around this issue without going ahead and just replacing both the CV axle and the wheel bearing/hub assembly, in hopes that it solves the issue or dropping the trans pan and inspecting. Any insight or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@EcoBelkin]

When I 1st started reading your comment I was under the impression that would be a hub or the universal joint of the CV axel- based on description of noise and variables. Now I am not any kind of certified mechanic. In theory if the shop is saying a valve body in the transmission, Maybe it could be one of the valve bodies between 2nd and 3rd gear cause I believe above 35MPH you're pushing 3rd gear and Or the end of 2nd going into 3rd gear and that may be why above 35MPH you hear the noise go away,in theory. You could get a little go pro and record while driving or mecanix stethoscope and put it on a lift and put it in drive carefully to get the tires rotating and try to pinpoint where that sound is coming from. If it's all will drive could be the PT as well.

[@daxd8358]

Let us know what you decided 2013 limited 167k miles and love the car

[@timriley881]

I been looking for the manual. 2015 ford flex na limited. All I can find is cd or dvd

[@wilsonsawmiller7684]

Love my 2009 with 200 070 miles ,when I have to I guess ill go into debt. Probably a flex again

[@el_chapo_818pubg7]

I would keep it and repair it little by little

[@Specmauto]

I would say drive it until it’s deemed 100% unsafe or if you love the car that much pay the money to fix the rust problems. Body shops do these types of repairs. Or if you just want to drive it until it gets to the grave, find a newer low mileage flex with no rust and do your dang best at rust proofing the car and religiously pressure washing the undercarriage. That’s what I do with my car. My car is a 2010 and the underneath looks brand new at 243k miles

[@Specmauto]

To add to my comment I’m sure with 2022 overinflated car prices restoring the unibody would be cheaper than buying a car 😂

[@EcoBelkin]

Paying a shop to do the work is not he issue- finding a shop that wants to do the work is the issue. Most shops only do collision and only deal with insurance.

[@Ford_Guys_Videos]

Please keep it, and fix all the mechanical problems. Then start saving up to repair the rust. Don’t drive it in the winter simply because it will rust faster.

[@EcoBelkin]

That's is the plan. Just not sure how much time I have left before the inner rockers are completely gone

[@CarGuy-wv5mm]

on our Dodge Grand Caravan, the inner rockers are gone. Well, honestly I think you could fabricate a new inner section. When they manufacture vehicles in the factory they have a section for it.

[@aksh9300]

If you want to work on it, keep it. If not, let it go.

[@masonbradford]

Keep until you can’t

[@daxd8358]

Time to sell ! Now ! Collect the money friend

[@benjaminj3767]

promosm 👇