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Yesterday, the check engine light came on while she was driving. No noticeable difference with the car occurred. She took it in to the dealer this morning and they diagnosed it as a leak in the fuel system due to a faulty evaporator canister solenoid. They even said this is a common occurence on Fords in general and have replaced about 75 of them so far.
The test code was P0455-P0457. A new part was shipped down from St. Louis and the car was ready this afternoon.
Hope this helps.
Nice forum.
Cheers,
Jon
1. An intermittent single "beep" coming from the info center or so it seems to come from there. Like the low beep the "Reset" button makes when you hit it. Have seen this about 10 times or more over the course of 6 months.
2. A failure of the cruise control to engage. Two occurences. Both times it took an engine shutdown to get it to engage.
3. A strange behavior of the tach and speedo needle when the headlights shut off from the auto mode. Both needles drop below their resting points, flutter several times, then go back to their "normal" stop.
4. Not an electrical problem (or maybe it is). A single occurence of the engine racing (to 3500 RPM) while cruising down a flat highway. Was running 55 MPH at 1750 RPM, didn't feel any acceleration, it was like the vehicle was out of gear. Stopped, shut the engine down, and then everything was behaved as normal.
Only when it nears the extreme of it's travel. I make sure the car is moving slightly so as not to overload the seering linkage/pump.
I'll have it looked at soon.
I've seen other posts on brake noise and wanted to add my 2 cents - my brakes were squealing so i took it in. The service advisor told me there was a fine discolored glaze on the front rotors that appeared to have come from the factory. He turned a fine layer off of the rotors and the noise stopped. This was at 8k, and now at 9800k I keep thinking I can hear it again but I am probably imagining it.
Going to go to Amsoil this weekend.
I noticed in your post #190 that you were using Mobil 1 at that time. Now you're switching to Amsoil?
Why the switch?
1. The beep could be several things including the oil life as another poster pointed out. It could also be the directional light reminder or a seat belt reminder.
2. Haven't experienced this.
3. I see this all of the time. I have attributed it to a calibration of the needles by going backwards to some set point.
4. Haven't seen this.
The needles going backward when the lights automatically shut down (doesn't do it when you physically shut them off) is common behavior for this vehicle and the 500 and Montego according to the service manager. Don't know if I actually buy that explanation and even if it is "common" for them them too,it's pretty weird behavior.
Got the same explanation for the steering creaking. Normal. Actually they said it was the steering stops making the noise. Mine, also, does not make the noise when it is warm.
They couldn't duplicate any of the other symptoms. As for "normal" and "common", like I said, I'm not sure I buy all that stuff. Seems like the usual explanations from techies when they're too dumb or too lazy to really diagnose the problem.
My husband drove the car to work after an 8 inch snow storm. He experience the slipping, stuttering and lack of power and traction you mentioned. The wrench light as well as the check engine light both came on. He got it directly to the dealer where it has been for the last 3 wks!
Currently they are rebuilding the transmission. I have waited 2 weeks on the first set of parts, but am still waiting for them to receive a torque converter. Ford has provided a rental Freestar van while I'm without my wheels.
Of course, I'm pretty disappointed about this. I called the Ford Customer Service line to see if they would cover an extended warantee on the transmission, but no deal. I would say they were no help at all.
I hope you have better luck! I love my Freestyle, but don't know if I have much confidence in the CVT.
Thanks,
Mike
MUCH better quality than the FM transmitter.
Mike
As far as I know, this doesn't affect the DVD player. But then again, I never use the darned thing, so I wouldn't really know. LOL
One thing I have noticed: About every second or third time I start the vehicle, the AUX inputs of the DVD will no longer be selected. Instead, it'll be on FM. And if I try to select the AUX inputs, I can't (I get a NO AUX INPUT error message).
The way I fixed this was to leave a DVD in the DVD player all the time. Now, when the system switches to FM radio every second or third start, I have to press AUX twice: The first time selects the DVD player, the second time selects the AUX inputs on the DVD player.
I don't know why this happens, and would be curious to see if you (or others) have this same issue.
When we returned, We took it to the dealer for the Fuel Tank Recall and had them check this mysterious concern. Of course because it wasn't happening at the time, they couldn't find anything. The next time it happens, we have been instructed to have it towed to the dealer so that they can run tests while it is dead. Hmmmmm!
Anyway, this isn't very convenient for us. If you learn of anything new regarding this, please let us know and we will do the same...
There are STILL some codes that don't get stored in new vehicles, but they do show up if you can "catch it in the act".
I had to do this with a vehicle that had an alarm that kept going off.
You've probably got a bad component somewhere.
Beeps from the info center for no apparent reason, failure of the cruise control to engage until the engine was turned off and restarted, and a radio that stopped putting out sound while playing a CD the other day. Just little stuff. I'm waiting for a big electrical crash one of these days. Oh, of course, the local Ford dealer can't find anything wrong......ever!
Must be that CAN-Bus. LOL
TSB
05-5-1 INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP FLICKER WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 2/21/2005
Publication Date: February 23, 2005
FORD: 2005 Five Hundred, Freestyle
MERCURY: 2005 Montego
ISSUE:
Some 2005 Freestyle, Five Hundred and Montego vehicles built before 2/21/2005 may exhibit the headlamps flickering intermittently, with no key in the ignition.
ACTION:
Reprogram the smart junction box (SJB) to the latest calibration using WDS B36.0 or higher. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com. The procedure to reprogram the SJB is virtually the same as reprogramming a powertrain control module (PCM), except when selecting the module to be programmed, select the SJB (WDS may refer to it as the GEM).
WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
050501A 2005 Freestyle, Five Hundred, Montego: Check For Diagnostic Trouble Codes And Reprogram The Smart Junction Box (SJB) (Do Not Use With 12650D, 12650D84, 12651D, 12651D4) 0.4 Hr.
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
14C184 04
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article. The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supercede this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.
I wonder what ELSE that Smart Junction Box controls?
When I finally get around to getting my radio replaced on my Freestyle, I'll have them do that reprogramming . . . . just in case. Shouldn't hurt to have it done, I'd imagine.
You'd think that ALL of the models before a certain time period would need this reprogramming . . and perhaps people simply haven't noticed the flickering of the lights.
Or even worse...the other way around!
LOL
:-)
This problem showed up recently this winter (three times so far) after rain followed by frost. I think this is a serious problem in our climate (CT). I have never experienced it in another car.
Has anyone else seen this? Thanks...
weird....it closed fine though if I held onto the door when closing.
I don't mind at all though.....My Acura I couldn't even get into until I poured boiling salty water into the door jams. And even now the automatic door locks will not function. Nasty storm!
Are we the only ones privy to the TSB's. Are the Ford tech's banned from accessing this info???? Jeeeez!!!!
Just curious which Ford dealer you have been going to.
thanks
thanks
Anyone have this problem? Has Ford reported this problem?
Thanks for your response
We also spoke with people that have used Bonnell in the past and have consistently received good reviews.
With that said, I asked one of the service writers today why it is that we have to tell them about TSB's and asked him why they can't look them up themselves. His answer was that "there were too many to keep up with". Great! That gives me loads of confidence in having bought a Ford product!