new 3/24/03
We would like some information so we can share it with our lawyers and a narrative so we can post it here on V8SHO.
For those that had engine failure: Answer all the questions the best you can.
1. VIN#s 1FALP54N4TA243620
2. Date of malfunction – Feb 17, 2003
3. Where did the malfunction take place (highway, city streets, driveway,
parking lot, etc.) – Own driveway
4. Odometer reading at time of malfunction – 76,319
5. How fast were you traveling? 5 miles / hour
6. Were you accelerating or staying at a constant speed? Just pulled in,
stopped and started.
7. Estimated date of purchase, new or used? Bought used 2/21/98
8. Estimated Odometer reading at time of purchase – 17,396
9. Full Name, address, and a good phone# to reach you at during the day and
night.
Kerri A Ehrengren
10. Brief description of the time of events leading towards the malfunction.
(what did you hear and see before, during, and after the malfunction)
There may have been some engine noise before the complete failure. When failed, car did not run on all cylinders. Took it to service station. Their diagnose “Car running on 4 cylinders. The intake cam on the front cylinder has stopped turning, the drove sprocket has come loose. Checked compression and found leaking through the valves” Service station had no tools to continue diagnose and repair. Towed car to Ford Dealer Jack Safro Ford, 1000 East Summit Ave. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Phone 1-262 567 5574. Person contacted Don.
11. Customer service phone # you called and the name of the person you talked to. (if you can remember) Don, see above.
12. Did you feel satisfied with the answers customer service provided? Explain. No, Don told me this was the first time he ever had seen this problem. He had worked at another dealership previously and never experienced this before.
13. Which dealership did you take your vehicle in for service? (name, address, phone#) - Ford Dealer Jack Safro Ford, 1000 East Summit Ave. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Phone 1-262 567 5574.
14. What was the cause of failure determined by the dealer? –“Found Cam gear moved on camshaft causing valves to contact piston – needs to have engine overhauled or replaced. Estimate 15,000 USD for overhaul or over 6,000 for used engine installed – Owner declined repairs”
15. What was the cause of failure determined by you? Same as explanation above – first service station advised me to your web site.
16. How much was your statement? (I hope you kept your receipt) For diagnostics and towing $285.83 from first service station, and $100.21 for diagnostics from Ford dealer, declined repair, due to blue book value listed at $5,000. I have receipts with the diagnosis printed.
17. What can FOMOCO do to make you a satisfied Ford owner? Reimburse me for the car and the diagnosis by the service station and dealer- total $5,386.
Again this is a numbers game, Ford states this is rare and many failures are taken car of under warranty. If this happened to you, it is not so rare, may be very expensive and may not have been a case study of Ford's generosity. Either way you could help your self and other SHO owners by sharing your experience with us. - The more the better.