Blown Engine Desperate For Help

[Sharon]

I'm Desperate Can Anyone Help?
Our 1998 Ford Explorer, 4.0 liter EFI SOHC, has been sitting for two weeks at the dealership with a blown engine that Ford will not repair even though we purchased the extended service plan and it is still under warranty ($4,350.00 minimum to replace engine.)

One week prior to the blow-up, the A/C system was repaired under warranty to the tune of $800.00 and then proceeded to not work again by the following Friday. While on the way to work on the next Monday the truck's temperature gauge light came on (no check engine light) and immediately the engine lost power. Luckily it was 5:00 am so losing power at 70 mph didn't kill my husband. The dealership didn't know what went first the head gasket or the thermostat. Upon removing the thermostat they discovered it was clogged with this dark gray thick residue that is soft enough to smush between two fingers, but the radiator cap is clean.

Service tech said someone had put "stop leak or something" in the cooling system and they would not cover it. The thermostat has already been replaced a year 1/2 ago because it was not working and the system was flushed and refilled at a "blue oval dealer." A different service manager friend of ours said the antifreeze has broken down and the additives clogged the thermostat. The truck has had all necessary maintenance performed on schedule and has been into the dealer over 17 times for various problems.

Has anyone ever seen this before and do you know of any information that I can access to prove to Ford this is their problem and they need to fix it? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

1998, Ford, Explorer
4.0 liter EFI SOHC
Automatic transmission
70,000 miles
Fuel Injection
ABS brakes
P/S - A/C - Cruise control
Rack and pinion steering

 

[RedBeard]

Yikes... I'm sorry all that had to happen.

I would simply call all the news stations in your area and tell them that Ford is making up stories to get out of honoring the warranty. Then I would invite the news to meet you in front of the dealer. I would tow the truck to just outside of their property (don't trespass!) and park it there with a big sign that says:

"Ford will not honor their warranty and they called me a liar".

-RB

But, that's just me.

 

[ChuckyD]

I would:
1) Do what redbeard said. Good Publicity is great; Bad publicity can hurt anyone, but could probably hurt a car dealership even more! Im sure they won't want any part of that!

2) Maybe seek some legal advice

3) Call Ford Motor Company

4) Call the Better Business Bureau

5) Get in touch with the Dealership owner

6) Research any Lemon Laws in your state

For starters!

 

[aldive]

Your best chance for "help" will be through Ford. Contact their regional office. They have specialists to deal with just such problems.

Also consult with your attorney.

Keep us posted on your saga.... good luck.

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by ChuckyD
I would:
1) Do what redbeard said. Good Publicity is great; Bad publicity can hurt anyone, but could probably hurt a car dealership even more! Im sure they won't want any part of that!

2) Maybe seek some legal advice

3) Call Ford Motor Company

4) Call the Better Business Bureau

5) Get in touch with the Dealership owner

6) Research any Lemon Laws in your state

For starters!

Just what I was thinking call the BBB, a lwayer, and sometimes a letter to the upper management carbon copied to the Attorney General (make sure the management knows it was cced) can make them change there mind. Maybe a letter writen to the BBB, Management, and Attourney Gen will get their attention. Dealerships are the worst! No offense to anyone at that works for one, but they really take advantage of people.


Good luck.

 

[aldive]

Remember joney getsa ya more fliews than salt.

Before you let the big dog lose, consider a more friendly tact' call the Ford Regional office' ask for their help, don't demand anything ( at this point,),

 

[Sharon]

Thanks for the support

Thanks for the ideas.
Talked with the dealership owner and gave her the real scoop and what they were in for if they didn't find someone at Ford to give up this unsubstantiated guess. She didn't understand their stubbornness either but gave the "I'm the middleman" line too. I promptly reminded her that that was her choice. I suggested that she make some strategic phone calls herself because I didn't believe she wished to be in the middle of a very public battle. My father is a retired Ford lifer with 34yrs in mgt., my grandfather worked with HF and HFII, and my sis is the widow of the late Gene Bordinat of Mustang fame, VP of design, and even had the Bordinat Cougar named after him. All these photos would make a great news story don't you think.

Plus this is the 2nd lemon we have had from Ford in the past 8 yrs. I had a Villager that puts this story to shame. New transmission as soon as the warranty was up, constant electrical problems the could not fix and blamed on my cd player, side window fell off while I was driving my kids, ABS system turned itself on while stopped and lurched me into the intersections at stop lights, they never could find the problem, but I did. The ABS module was not shielded properly and it would become possessed under high power tension lines, Service tech didn't believe me until I made him drive it under one while I was in the car. After a loud "oh ****" he called in the Ford techs who didn't belive him, who then called in the Bosch guys who didn't know why but wanted the module but also wanted me to pay for it. Not that stupid! They want it they pay for it. After that the final straw was the plastic gas tank leaked fuel. 2 different fuelhoses has already been replaced under recalls but the problem was the tank was cracked on top and they wouldn't fix it even though Ford had already dropped the tank twice. Somehow I cracked the tank ON TOP! Needless to say I could not in good conscience sell this to another family with children in it so we sent it down to the bros farm in Tenn to hall hay.
Made the mistake of not getting the extended warranty and didn't have enough info to fight. Oh and by the way all of the electrical problems seemed to disappear after the new module was put in.

I'm alot smarter and more stubborn now!!!
Have the extended warranty, Have all the receipts from the 20+ trips to the dealer, Have the thermostat/antifreeze sample/radiator cap for the truck, have the lab info of where the other dealership sent off the sample to be tested, have the TSB's, Have the Oasis files, Have the addresses of Bill Jr and the Board, Have a brain, and have my Grandfathers stubbornness!

I appreciate the support and will keep you posted. New Zone rep is to call me ASAP after re-reviewing the facts. Thanks!

 

[taxx]

Sounds like you are set for a winning battle! Best of luck to ya

 

[ChuckyD]

Any updates on your situation???

 

[Sharon]

Still fighting with Ford after almost 4 weeks. We sent the coolant off to be tested ourselves. No results yet. Now they want our maintenance records. Surely not to prove us right. Sooooooooooo tired of all of this but not going to give up. Every tech I have talked to says we are getting ******* by Ford. Radiator tech thinks the thermostat sealed shut because the housing or hoses melted. Gallon of coolant seperates after it sits. About 1.5 inches of grey sludge settles to the bottom. Keeping my fingers crossed for a definite test result soon.