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Ford 3.8 head gasket, AXOD transmission failures Windstar Taurus Sable - Ford secret warranty?
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My experience, as I've seen others post, is that Ford Customer service is worthless; the phone calls that I've made so far to them and Sheehy Ford, Gaithersburg where the van was purchased have been a classic run-around. Has anyone had luck in getting Ford to assume incidental expenses? A catastrophic failure at 1 yr., <16K mi. is absurd; a 2-3 week delay in getting a replacement tranny ridiculous.
I had almost all the same exact problems with my
98 windstar. The feeling that you're getting between the 1st and 2nd gear according to my dealer was the catalytic converter. There are no alarm signals either. My van is out of warranty now and 3 days after warranty, my transmission slipped and I was told by the same dealer I needed a new transmission sensor ($200.00)! I also had the side plastic panel break on the drivers seat, but was not aware that I could have them replace it, my fault there.
All of the following have happened in the last three months:
1. Engine lights come on -- New oxygen sensor by Ford dealer
2. Engine overheats twice -- radiator flushed twice and checked by non Ford mechanic
3. I got extended warranty notice from Ford within same week of #2 above and immediately took it to dealer who diagnosed a head gasket failure. They replaced the gasket but would not reimburse me for prior work.
4. Now transmission shifts into neutral when the car comes to a stop. This happens about 25% of the time I stop. Sometimes it will jerk back into first and other times I have to shift into 2nd to move forward. Is this a bad transmission piston that others have mentioned?
Other problems
1. Door light stays on. Particularly when rear door is opened and then closed.
2. Drivers side power window is stuck for the second time in a year.
3. Clunking sound going around corners. (CV joints?)
Anybody have thoughts (besides driving it into the ocean) on what to do about the transmission and other problems.
Help!
Thanks,
Mary
- electric door locks go crazy (constant up & down) every time we get a heavy rain. solution: rear switch $165
- clunky transmission:
solution: pcm power train control module, update flash rom - $170 labor (hah, do I really believe that's gonna fix it)
- right side mirror motor out
solution: new motor $350
- recommends new serpentine belt and plug wires - $140
So my question is: does anyone think I have a chance for a buy-back or some other monetary compensation from Ford. The service guy says no - of course. The service manager is supposed to call me back re: my complaints sometime soon! thanks for all suggestions
Take a look at this topic - Ford Extended service plan (Topic #610) - I think the second post in it (there are only two) will be very helpful to you, and if you have any more questions, that would be a great place to ask them.
Good luck.
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
I'm real nervous after reading these posts as we also have a 96 Windstar with no extended coverage that is starting to use up antifreeze. Is Ford covering the 96's as well. What is the deal with the Ford buy backs and the $3000 vouchers. Is that only if you opt not to have the work done? I was never told of this, they actually had me keep driving my van for 2 weeks while they waited for the rebuilt to be sent. We're looking for new vehicles and this money would certainly help!
Any info much appreciated!
I have a 95 windstar that the dealership will "buy back" but they are not offering the $3000 incentive from Ford. Can someone please help me by posting a message"? Thanks.
You have the case Kathy! The following is a press
release from RUETERS - March 7, 2000:
========================
DEARBORN, Mich., March 7 (Reuters) - Ford Motor
Co. , as part of a plan to fix potential head
gasket problems on some cars and minivans, will
buy the vehicle back in certain cases if a new
engine cannot be found in a timely fashion, a
spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.
Ford, the world's No. 2 automaker, announced last
month that it extended the warranty on head
gaskets in certain 3.8 liter V-6 engines to seven
years or 100,000 miles. The head gasket is a
central seal in the engine that can cause engine
failure if it leaks.
There are about 700,000 vehicles affected. They
are: 1994-95 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans;
1994 Continental large sedans; and 1995 Windstar
minivans.
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If a failed head gasket causes engine damage,
Ford will replace the engine. But if Ford cannot
locate a re-manufactured engine within five days,
the automaker will offer to buy back the vehicle
for fair market value as well as issue a $3,000
certificate toward the purchase of a new Ford,
said spokesman Mike Vaughn.
Vaughn declined to say how much Ford would pay for
the damaged vehicles. Based on a guide from the
National Association of Automobile Dealers, the
fair market repurchase offer ranges from $3,175
for a 1994 Taurus GL to $8,375 for a 1995 Windstar
LX.
If a head gasket fails during the extended
warranty time period, owners will be eligible for
repair refunds. Or they can choose to take a
$4,000 certificate to be used for the purchase of a
new Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle.
Vaughn declined to say how much the program will
cost Ford. A story in this week's Automotive News,
an industry trade publication, said Ford could
spend at least $200 million, making it one of the
five largest warranty campaigns in the industry.
========================
Don't let the dealer play games with you...
Tell them that you want to talk to the Ford
Customer Service Representative for BOTH your
servicing dealer and the dealer in PA (these are
the Ford employees responsible for customer
relations.
Educate yourself...
Read the posts both in here and at cartrackers.com
to get more information about how people have been
treated during their "ordeal". The follwing
postings outlines a buyback scenario from Kent25:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Vans&f=0&t=815&q=474-517
Pay special attention to #493 for a link for the
Ford CSRs to use to get more information about the
process. Further, see link #515 for the economical
advantage. The more you know, the better prepared
you will be to work through the issues.
Work your best deal...
Here is the latest that I have heard. You should
be offered about $6650 for the van. In addition,
there is the $3000 "Certificate" (for not having to
pay for the repair). Plus any current rebates (I
think there is currently a $1000 or $1500 rebate).
Unfortunately, you have to buy another Ford,
however, play your cards right and you'll be
getting $10000+ off your negotiated price and you
get a new warranted vehicle. If you keep it for
two years (still under warranty, mind you) you
should easily be able to get rid of it and get out
of the Ford world.
Don't let your emotions get the best of you...
Especially when working with the Ford CSRs. I
know you had a lousy experience breaking down away
from home (mine was with three kids 50 miles from
home with a van full of camping equipment). That
cannot be changed. You will always come out better
being sweet like honey rather than bitter like
vinegar.
Be patient!
This issue will not be resolved overnight.
Best of luck and PLEASE keep us posted as to how
you are dealt with and how the dealerships and Ford
CSRs react.
GOOD LUCK!
*** END OF POST ***
First, try contacting Ford "Customer Care" (oxymoron alert) and have them explain it to you. If there is more than one Ford dealer in your town, go there. I don't know your exact scenario, but if they are willing to "buy back" (don't expect top dollar for your van), then they should also offer the $3,000 towards another vehicle. Good Luck
Ford currently has 3 options for solving the head gasket problem:
1:
they will fix the problem for free.
The drawback is that you still might have problems down the road; if not the head gaskets, then the tranny, electrical, etc.
2:
they will replace the entire engine for free.
this seems ok in theory, but they can't keep up with demand, and lead time is a few weeks (not workable) which is why they created option #3
3:
they will buy back your car and give you a $3000 voucher towards a new Ford.
I don't know if this voucher deal is everywhere; I think it is but just ask. If, like me, you are really unhappy with your vehicle and worried about all the other sub-system failures (see again post # 492), this seems to me to be the best option. you get out from under it and can make a fresh (Ford or non-Ford) start.
The service manager here (Crossroads Ford, Cary, NC) is processing my paperwork today and tells me that Ford will cut a check to my finance co. probably within 2 weeks. They're giving me $8300 which by the Edmund's calculator is right at the trade-in value - don't care, I'm taking it. Count my losses and move on. I think this is actually a good time to press Ford for your problems, because they are swamped with not only the head gasket issue, but also the exploding tires problem. In short, these guys just want these problems off their desks - I guess !! Opinions anyone??
If they are willing to give you $8,300 for your 95, plus the $3,000 certificate, plus the $1,500 rebate that is in place for 2000 Windstars, you should be able to get a Windstar SEL in the neighborhood of $160 per month for a 2 year lease. It would be under warranty the entire time, so if anything goes wrong, it's no money out of your pocket. There would be no need to get an extended warranty, and you could always budget as though you were making $500 payments and have a pretty decent down payment on a new vehicle 2 or 3 years down the road. Talk to your dealer about what he can do on a 2 or 3 year lease. They've also got .9% financing if you wanted to buy the thing, but you'd be looking at considerably higher payments, despite the low rate.
Anyhow, if your wife wants to give the new Windstar another try, that's how I'd do it. Good luck in whatever you do.
On a side note, you alluded earlier to the tire problems that Ford is dealing with. While I'm no fan of Ford, I think they are doing the right thing with the tires, even though they were guilty of nothing more than buying tires in a competitive market. Kudos to Ford for this, IMHO they are going above and beyond the call of duty. See...I'm a fair guy!
Richie Woods
If there is a Ford District office near you, talk to them about it. My personal opinion is WRITE, WRITE, WRITE...avoid the phone call mess. Very little is ever accomplished over the phone. Write to Bill Ford if you have to. But IMHO, companies take written complaints far more seriously than phonecalls or (heaven forbid) e-mails. Good luck
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?a=r&c=Vans&t=111
The Ford Credit site is rather useless for getting ideas, so you'd most likely be better off talking to your dealer about the options. It looks like you've got a $1500 rebate OR .9 financing for up to 36 months or 1.9% for 48 months. IMHO, your dealer is being very generous in his buyback price. I think the only catch is that you've got to take from dealers stock (but most dealers will FIND the car you want). Hope that helps.
I understand the need to vent - Lord knows I've done my share. I already bought a different vehicle to replace my "head gasket challenged" 93 T-Bird, and we're praying (see richie - I practice what I preach!) that the tranny holds up another 18 months before she trades the Windstar.
my advice to you is not to ignore the "clunking", get it looked and drive around with the service tech. until you get it to do it while he is in the vehicle. that would have saved me alot of headaches.
Thanks for any help!
This will be my second head gasket. The first was at 46,000 mi. The vehicle now has 111,000 miles on it. Am also on my third transmission. The first went at 41,000 mi and the second at 102,000 miles. Any thoughts on how I should proceed. Don't think I will get much assistance from Ford due to the milage.
I know I should have traded or sold the vehicle some time ago. I will after I get this head gasket repaired. And it will not be another Ford product.
If I win, I'll be glad to share my documentation with you (and anyone else who wants it). FWIW, the Ford rep told me as we were walking out of court that he felt I would win. THere is also a class action lawsuit that is being filed for any 3.8L engine victims, so if I lose in small claims, I will still go in as part of the class action.
Thanks