Harmonic Balancer went bad May 2009, just under 19,000 miles on my 2004 ST! Left my family and I stranded on I-95 in Philadelphia. Ford has sold a lot of replacements but won't issue recall or TSB. The serpentine jumped off the balancer pully and landed on the rubber mount of the balancer then ate through the sensor.
Jan 21, 2010:
Started up the ST, no problem. Drove one block, stopped at stop sign. Made right turn and acceclerated, then the ST died; 22,000 miles. Just before it lost all power in the engine, I heard what sounded like a turbine quickly decelerating. Now I turn the key, hear the starter clicking, and nothing happens with the engine. Towed to FORD dealership.
FORD service dept. rep called me late yesterday and said it may be attributed to poor installation of harmonic balancer, possibly not torqued correctly; sounded like pasing the buck. He needed permission to pull the front of the engine apart to look inside, I gave him a green light to do so.
He just called today and said the "key way and sprocket" are bad. He said they come in a kit with a new timing chain; parts and labor after a freindly discount: $925. The truck is already there and apart, so I gave them the go ahead to fix it. Normal price would have been about $1100. Sucks to be me!
Strange, they have a "repair kit" to fix this partiular issue, but FORD says there is no problem with the engine! Harmonic balancer goes bad, fix it with new and improved one. Then this happens, fix it with new and improved parts from a "repair kit"! There are no known problems with this engine....more BS from FORD!
Time to call FORD customer service I suppose.
