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"...according to a J.D. Power and Associates online survey released Wednesday. Among the 10 crossovers evaluated, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Cadillac SRX rated highest in style, especially among women. The Subaru B9 Tribeca was a styling hit among men but a miss for women. The Ford Freestyle received good marks for functionality but low marks for appearance. Perceptions about a crossover’s image appear to be closely linked to purchase decisions and are key factors in crossover sales — more so than factors such as fuel-efficiency and smaller packaging — Power said"
ANYHOW, I was thinking of getting a personalized plate either:
FrestyAL
of
SUVagon
or ???
What do y'all think?
btw, the Kelly books you see in the dealer have different prices from what you see online.
What is the "Kelley Blue Book" Price? and this salesperson's post may be of interest.
Definitely FrestyAL - congrats on the new ride!
Steve, Host
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TSB 05-26-8 PAINT DEGRADATION TO BODY SIDE
Publication Date: December 19, 2005
FORD: 2005-2006 Five Hundred
MERCURY: 2005-2006 Montego
ISSUE:
Some 2005-2006 Five Hundred/Montego vehicles driven in certain conditions may exhibit abrasion on the paint finish at the dog leg area of the rear quarter panel. The abrasion results from the lack of moldings and wheel cuffs to prevent small debris in the front tires from striking a limited portion of the lower quarter of the vehicle. In severe cases, the abrasion may result in the removal of the paint finish down to the bare metal at the dog leg area (Figure 1).
ACTION:
Repair paint on affected areas using standard labor times and procedures, then install door body side moldings and mud spats.
NOTE: PER THE WARRANTY & POLICY MANUAL, PAINT DAMAGE CAUSED BY CONDITIONS SUCH AS CHIPS, SCRATCHES, DENTS, DINGS, ROAD SALT, STONE CHIPS OR OTHER ACTS OF NATURE, ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, PAINT ABRASION AT THE DOG LEG AREA IS A UNIQUE CONDITION ON THE FIVE HUNDRED AND MONTEGO. AS A RESULT, REPAIRS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BASIC WARRANTY COVERAGE.
NOTE: PAINT STRIPPING LABOR OPERATIONS ARE NOT TO BE CLAIMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS REPAIR.
NOTE: PRIOR TO INSTALLING DOOR MOLDINGS, PAINT TO MATCH EXTERIOR VEHICLE BODY COLOR (BASE COLOR COAT/CLEAR COAT).
Figure 1 - Article 05-26-8
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
FRONT MUD SPAT INSTALLATION
Raise vehicle on hoist. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 100-02.
Remove front wheel. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 204-04.
Remove the two (2) push pins that attach the splash shield to the fender.
Remove the scrivet (screw/rivet) that attaches the splash shield to the rocker molding.
Align new mud spat to fender/rocker molding using wheel spat holes (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Article 05-26-8
Insert two (2) scrivets through holes to attach mud spat to fender.
NOTE: ONE (1) HOLE, LOWER OUTBOARD CORNER OF WHEEL SPAT, IS BLOCKED AND REQUIRES A HOLE TO BE DRILLED THROUGH THE SPLASH SHIELD AND ROCKER.
Drill a 19/64" (7.5 mm) hole through the splash shield and rocker at the lower corner of the wheel spat.
NOTE: THE SIZE OF THE LOWER INBOARD HOLE NEEDS TO BE INCREASED.
Use the same 19/64" (7.5 mm) drill to increase the size of the lower inboard hole.
Insert two (2) scrivets through drilled holes.
Install front wheel.
Repeat process for other side of vehicle.
REAR MUD SPAT INSTALLATION
Remove rear wheel.
Remove the two (2) lower screws that attach the rear fascia to the rear splash shield.
Temporarily attach new mud spat with screws at the rear fascia by aligning the mud spat to rear fascia holes (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Article 05-26-8
NOTE: A HOLE IS NEEDED IN THE REAR FASCIA BETWEEN THE TWO (2) ATTACHED SCREWS.
Drill a 15/64" (6 mm) hole through the rear fascia and splash shield.
Remove the mud spat.
Was vehicle built before 9/29/2005?
On vehicles built before 9/29/2005, remove and discard the rear splash shield by removing the screw and scrivets/rivets that attach the rear splash shield to the rear fascia and rear member. Install a new rear splash shield by attaching the shield to the rear member using scrivets and to the upper most hole in the rear fascia using a screw.
On vehicles built 9/29/2005 or later add new J-Clip to existing hole in splash shield.
Reinstall mud spat by aligning the holes in the rear fascia to the wheel spat and rear splash shield. Three (3) screws will attach the mud spat, rear fascia, and splash shield. One (1) screw will attach the mud spat and the splash shield.
Install rear wheel.
Repeat process for other side of vehicle.
FRONT DOOR LOWER BODY SIDE MOLDING INSTALLATION
Clean door surface from bottom edge approximately 6" (15 cm) up with a alcohol wipe.
Remove upper tape strip cover using pull-tab provided.
Align lower (thin) edge of molding to lower edge of door (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Article 05-26-8
Align rear edge of molding to the edge of door (Figure 5).
Figure 5 - Article 05-26-8
Roll the molding upward and run your hands along the full length of the molding while applying steady pressure toward the vehicle to ensure good adhesion of the tape.
Locate lower tape pull-tab and remove.
Attach lower molding to vehicle and run your hands along the full length of the molding while applying steady pressure toward the vehicle to ensure good adhesion of the tape.
Repeat process for other side of vehicle.
REAR DOOR LOWER BODY SIDE MOLDING INSTALLATION
Clean door surface from bottom edge approximately 6" (15 cm) up with a alcohol wipe.
Remove upper tape strip cover using pull-tab provide.
Align lower (thin) edge of molding to lower edge of door (Figure 4).
Align rear edge of molding to rear edge of door (Figure 5).
Roll the molding upward and run your hands along the full length of the molding while applying steady pressure toward the vehicle to ensure good adhesion of the tape.
Locate lower tape pull-tab and remove.
Attach lower molding to vehicle and run your hands along the full length of the molding while applying steady pressure toward the vehicle to ensure good adhesion of the tape.
Repeat process for other side of vehicle.
Lower vehicle off hoist.
PART NUMBER PART NAME
6G1Z-5425556-APTM Rear Door Molding - Right/Passenger Side
6G1Z-5425557-APTM Rear Door Molding - Left/Driver Side
6G1Z-5420878-APTM Front Door Molding - Right/Passenger Side
6G1Z-5420879-APTM Front Door Molding - Left/Driver Side
6G1Z-16A586-AA Front Mud Spat - Right/Passenger Side
6G1Z-16A586-AB Front Mud Spat - Left/Driver Side
6G1Z-16A550-AA Rear Mud Spat - Right/Passenger Side
6G1Z-16A550-AB Rear Mud Spat - Left/Driver Side
6G1Z-5428370-A Rear Splash Shield- Right/Passenger Side
6G1Z-5428371-A Rear Splash Shield - Left/Driver Side
N811283-S Scrivet
W706805-S901 Screw
W704277-S438 J-Clip
WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
052608A 2005-2006 Five Hundred, Montego: Paint 4 Door Moldings From Kit (Not To Be Used With P101) 1.1 Hrs.
052608B 2005-2006 Five Hundred, Montego: Install Door Moldings And Mud Spats 1.0 Hr.
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
5427840 D4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information that could assist in proper vehicle servic
Typically, behind the front passanger seat is considered safer than behind the driver's seat -- due to accident data, I believe. The 3rd row position may be even safer since there's no front seat to fall back on it -- but this is just my speculation.
Thanks!
Thanks!
PIC: http://ford.autowebaccessories.com/store/prod831_963_9050.php
I think this may be part of the reason many dealers are reluctant to do warranty work.
I also finished my Master's degree. Now I can post more often .
Questions:
* Is Freebie as-we-know-it still slated to oblivion in 2007?
* Will it ever receive the Duratec 35, aka Cyclone? (Some estimates put it as I estimated, about equal horse & torque. Only that it could be 250 vs. 200 now. I didn't guess the number though.)
I believe Ford is putting itself on a corner by concentrating so much into SUVs. Katrina changed a lot of perceptions, making MPG a bigger factor. Also, I don't think investing on a brand new "Pathfinder-size" SUV (Edge) makes sense for a company seen as troubled in the investment world. It's far cheaper (and keeps market diversity) to put Cyclones on Freebies.
Just two cents.
Sam
The news from the Detroit Show is all about the Edge; I suppose that's understandable since Detroit loves to preview new models.
The glow from Detroit (Inside Line)
Steve, Host
The San Francisco Bay Area is being innundated with Fusion ads. They look pretty cute--I'm just not ready to start driving a high chair. Got a second grandchild coming in July, so I get to figure out how to put 2 carseats in my Freestyle. I've put 30,000 miles on it since I purchased in Jan. 05. I always get a new car in a couple of years, but with the excess mileage I have on this one, and the fact that they probably won't be around much longer, I'm sure hoping I can get lotsa more trouble-free miles on this one. I won't go back to Explorers or Expeditions--feels like a step backward for me.
I can't figure out what Ford is doing, actually. They've got such a great car in the Freestyle, yet no ads--it's like they don't even exist. I know that Explorers are licenses to print money for them so I guess that's what they have to do, but why put money in developing a new model if you're aren't going to try and sell it? Oh well. I guess that's why I'm in public education and not the automotive industry.
Happy New Year everybody,
Andrea (Freestylegal, not to be confused with FrestyAL
as i was waiting for the installation, I spoke with a service manager and a technician. they both are under the impression that discontinuing the freebie is happening.
They said some of their ford suppliers and such told them.
I agree with what many have written. i love my freebie (so far , i have 8K miles and yet to drive in snow). I have had an Acura, lexus and jeep as my last 3 cars. I have to say that my favorite so far is my Freebie. i think that ford needs to look deep into this.
What does freebie offer.
1. plenty of space
2. real decent gas mileage
3. nice ride
4. versatility
5. nice looking
6. nice trunk space, even with last row of seats.
7. comfy seat in the back row.
Good read in our local paper today which states the Freestyle is underrated and not to overlook this Cinderella when considering your next auto purchase.Ford seems to have given upon its new crossover,the Freestyle,even before the end of its first season.Too bad, because one could argue the Freestyle is essentially a half-price version of Volvo's highly regarded XC90, based on the same Volvo platform,same optional Haldex AWD system. More 3rd row room than Honda's Pilot, Yota's Highlander and Ford's own Explorer.
After some consultation with a psychic to determine what lies ahead in the auto world in 2006, her crystal ball predictions:
Ford is stymied in carrying out its ongoing mission in using the letters F & E in all its SUVs, which could result in extremely dubious names, eg, Ford Fiasco, Ford Ex-Wife. Furthermore, pony car enthusiasts will be outraged if Ford changes the Mustang name to Funstang to maintain brand consistency.
*Daimler Chrysler is alarmed to discover more than 50% of Dodge Chargers sold south of the Mason-Dixon line are spray-painted orange . As well,owners will also affix a "01" to the vehicle's front door.
*Best new option of 2006: as gridlock continues unabated, several auto mfrs begin offering vehicles with in-dash microwave ovens so breakfast can be zapped on the way to work, while dinner can be warmed up on the way home.
* Worst option of 2006: scratch n' sniff dashboards to do away with those little pine tree air fresheners.
* Failing yet to unionize workers at Ontario's Honda and Yota car assembly plants, the CAW attempts to organize the crash test dummies instead. In a close vote ,the dummies turn down the CAW.
* Chrysler announces the postponement of its latest retro car,the 2007 Cordoba as pitchman Ricardo Montalban holds out for more money.Complicating matters, it's later discovered there is a global shortage of Corinthian leather.
* And lastly, in a bid to lower the average mean age of Buick buyers, GM will no longer accommodate landau roofs.The strategy pays off as the average Buick driver age plunges from "six feet under" to merely "one foot in the grave"
Happy New Year to all.
* The Freestyle follow-on, the Ford Edge, gets renamed the "Restyle".
* To provide a comparable driving experience to the CVT transmission, Ford and GM in 2006 begin development of the 1000 speed automatic transmission.
* A Freestyle customizing industry rises in 2006 to satisfy the demand for 20" rims, convertible top Freestyles with targa bars, iPod docks, and 3.5L V-6 installations.
* In 2006, the Dearborn Organization for the Hopeless (DOH!) is formed to refresh and hone the skills of those in need of solid marketing and promotional strategies for innovative vehicles.
:shades:
I tried to attach photos by pasting from a word document. It doesn't look like they transferred. LITTLE HELP!
Steve, Host
Didn't you DRIVE it before you leased it? That should answer your question about it being underpowered or not. It's only going to feel underpowered if you need to TOW something, really.
I wouldn't worry about whether or not it becomes "forgotten" or not. What matters is whether you LIKE it or not . . right?
Steve, Host
thanks!!
Ford abruptly halts production of Freestyles with the CVT and suddenly pushes the availability of the new Ford Edge with the 3.5 eng. and the new 6-speed tranny.Now someone who REALLY wants a CVT (with a lot of difficulty)is willing to buy me the new Edge as a straight swap for my almost new Freestyle Ltd AWD. Should I go for it?
Probably NOT !
My reason: Am I nuts? No ! I'm a practical guy and happy with our current Freestyle. The Edge looks good on paper but it's smaller and built on a cheaper CD3 platform. The new powertrain, with more planned power, is new yet unproven in real world use for full reliability. I would expect a good number of modifications over time before this is achieved just as the Duratec 3.0 L went through to become bulletproof.
It can also be argued about the CVT as being new in NA, but successfully used in other countries and suited for smaller engines.As well, the Nissan Murano owners appear to be a happy bunch.Maybe the CVT looks like it's a little ahead of it's time here and I'm willing to bet Ford has a trump card to be played in the near future and market the CVT as a premium product in limited production models as demand warrants.Ford is now the dominant auto mfr with CVTs.
Ford has built over 200K of the Chicago D3 cars to date and I would hazard to guess well over 50% come with the CVT. This is the critical mass of units on the road today that Ford can distill real world performance info to further develop the technology and then unleash it as the new improved Generation II product.
The key to all this is to FULLY support current owners and as new important TSBs are discovered, to notify owners under warranty, and or beyond this with just a nominal charge for this service to bring everything up to speed and maintain a growing base of satisfied customers and regain some credibility.You regain market share with better service.
Can't remember what I drank last night to think so crazy. Now flame away.
:P
Well, it's not meant to be a Corvette, nor a Chrysler 300C with the Hemi.
But it's got enough "get up and go" to keep you out of trouble.
Now, you'll have to endure some high revs and some noise when you REALLY want to "haul a**" . . . but the vehicle is quite capable of merging safely, etc.
You won't win any drag races with it if your opponent is determined to win (in a 300C/Hemi, Corvette, etc). But you'll be surprised just how often you can beat even a Corvette . . . because most of those drivers aren't really pushing the car to begin with.
I agree completely. And you'll have to pry my cold dead fingers off my CVT to get it.
I wouldn't worry too much, though, about the new 3.5 in terms of reliability.
Wasn't '96 the first year for the Duratec 3.0? I had that in my '96 Taurus wagon (and my '02 Taurus sedan), and had no problems at all with them.
I think the CVT is definitely here to stay (though perhaps not the one in the Freesylte). Why do I say this? Because hybrids are probably the wave of the future, and those require a transmission like a CVT in order to work. They've got to work in reverse as a generator.
You're right, and there are so many variants of this engine.Ford had spent a lot of time tinkering with this engine.
Pulled this info from Wikipedia..
Duratec 30
__________
The 3.0 L Duratec 30 or Mazda AJ was introduced in 1996 as a replacement for the 232 in³ (3.8 L) Essex V6 in the Taurus/Sable. It has 2967 cc of displacement and produces between 200 and 240 horsepower (150 and 180 kW). The same basic engine is used in the Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS, Mazda MPV, Mazda6, Mondeo ST220 and many other Ford vehicles. It is essentially a bored-out (to 88.9 mm) Duratec 25 and is built in Ford's Cleveland, OH #2 plant. A slightly modified version for the Ford Five Hundred entered production at the Cleveland, OH #1 plant in 2004.
There are two key versions of the Duratec 30:
* DAMB - The Lincoln LS and Jaguar AJ30 versions have direct-acting mechanical bucket (DAMB) tappets. Output is 232 hp (173 kW) at 6750 RPM with 220 ft·lbf (298 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm.
* RFF - The Taurus/Sable/Escape version uses roller finger followers (RFF) instead and produces 201 hp (150 kW) at 5900 RPM with 207 ft·lbf (281 N·m) of torque at 4400 rpm.
The 2006 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr will feature a version of the Duratec 30 utilizing variable valve timing. The engine will have an output of 221 horsepower (165 kW) at 6250 rpm, and 205 ft·lbf (278 N·m) of torque at 4800 rpm.
Mazda's MZI version adds variable valve timing, as does Jaguar's AJ30. Note that the MZI name is also used in Europe on Mazda's version of the Ford Sigma I4. The 3.0 L, 226 hp V6 used in the Mondeo ST220 is called Duratec ST. The 3.0 L, 204 hp V6 in the Mondeo Titanium is called Duratec SE.