new 5/24/02
1. VIN#s: IFALP54N3TA260017
2. Date of malfunction: 12-28-01
3. Where did the malfunction take place (highway, city streets, driveway,
parking lot, etc.): Parking Lot
4. Odometer reading at time of malfunction: 124,235
5. How fast were you traveling? 0 mph (car was at idle)
6. Were you accelerating or staying at a constant speed? Constant speed
(idle)
7. Estimated date of purchase, new or used? 10/10/01
8. Estimated Odometer reading at time of purchase: 122,000
9. Full Name, address, and a good phone # to reach you at during the day and
night.
Scott A. Waters
10. Brief description of the time of events leading towards the malfunction.
(what did you hear and see before, during, and after the malfunction): First
noticed a ticking noise coming from engine compartment. This had started very
slight and not noticeable to anyone who had no idea what may lie ahead. I had
not been driving the car anything more than normal. After a week or two of
listening and trying to get some feedback from others on the list I tried to
diagnosis the problem and hope it wasn't the camshaft. Finally after listening
to the video MPEG off the V8SHO.com website I was able to determine that my
engine in fact was having the camshaft problem. For the next few days I tried
desperately to find some one capable of not only dismantling the engine, but
then able to weld the sprocket to the cam. Finally on Friday December 28th, 2001
while my car was idling in the parking lot of my apartment complex, the car stop
running. Simply opt it lost all power and died on the spot. After trying to
restart the engine I was able to get it to slightly chug and it sounded as if it
was only firing on half the cylinders. I turned off the car and pushed it into
my carport.
I had the car towed to the local Ford dealership and had Ian Weber of Signature
Ford, Owosso have a mechanic make a diagnosis. He said that it was most likely
the cams but had no idea unless they fully opened the entire valve cover, but he
was 99% sure that was the problem. I could not afford the $1,500 labor rate and
that was without any parts! which he said would be another couple of thousand.
So i had the car towed back to my place and called a local mechanic to see if
her could do the work. Yes he could, and after him looking into it further he
stated I would be better off finding another engine that was not damaged. So I
called a fellow SHO'er who had a used V8 motor with 100,000 mile on it for sale.
I had to drive 10 plus hours total to pick up the engine and make the round
trip. Total cost of the used engine was $900, but it had NO accessories or even
the valve covers.
My mechanic pulled the damaged motor and replaced it with the motor we could
only hope would work. Luckily the motor worked fine. Yet I was now out some
$1,000 for labor and another $1,200 for the motor and misc parts! So the total
amount of time and money used while I was without my car was almost
5 weeks and some $2,200's! And I was one of the lucky ones at that amount!!!
I can document both the estimated cost, suspected repair and the cost of my used
motor and labor charges.
11. Customer service phone # you called and the name of the person you talked
to. (if you can remember)
I am logged into the FORD system for my complaint somewhere. I do not remember
who, when or where.
12. Did you feel satisfied with the answers customer service provided?
Explain.
In all honest no. I felt like because I own a V8 SHO and they rarely work on
them, they did not want to deal with my car.
13. Which dealership did you take your vehicle in for service?
Signature Ford
Owosso, Mi 48867
(989) 725-2888
14. What was the cause of failure determined by the dealer?
They thought bad cam and/or damaged to the valve(s)
15. What was the cause of failure determined by you?
This is a faulty design. Period. I'm glad it didn't give out on me while I was
running down the highway at 90+. Could have killed someone!!!!!!!!
16. How much was your statement? (I hope you kept your receipt)
Repair was quoted at 19.1 labor hours at $75 per hour. That is without parts! I
have the receipt.
17. What can FOMOCO do to make you a satisfied Ford owner?
They can take responsibility for their design flaw, pay my bill in full and
issue a recall for the V8 3.4l 32 valve motor that was put in the 1996-1999
Taurus SHO 's so that my investment (both initial and subsequent) might retain
*some* value down the road. It's just a matter of time before some poor soul is
performing a WOT maneuver and has a catastrophic failure at high speed and kills
himself and/or other's around him.