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Ford 3.8 head gasket/trans failures--"secret warranty" Part 2
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Has anyone had this happen? Where can it be going?
I've been looking at buying a used 98 Wind star w/ 3.8. After finding this board I am at odds. Do the 98 and newer 3.8s have the same Head Gasket Problem and Trans problem as the 95s or have they been corrected. I can not afford to make a bad choice......... HELP
If you buy American, you'll be stuck with Endless problems!
With the Ford 3.8L's the fundamental problem lies with the aluminum cylinder heads on cast iron engine block. The 2 different metals have different properties; thermal expansion, etc. which literally rub and sheer the head gasket making it rupture.
General Motors has this problem to a lesser extent on ALL their 2.0L, 2.2L, 2.8L, 3.1L engines with aluminum heads (my sister's Chev Cavalier 2.2L blew its head gasket after only 37K miles!). And also Dodge Neons have this problem.
With Ford it is a general lack of quality control and using Cheap parts! The Ford AXOD automatic 4-speed overdrive transmissions used to be built with aluminum shift plungers which wore out very quickly! The fix was stainless Steel plungers
Check out this website...:
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls
Punch in various Makes, Models, and Year of vehicle. Check out all the recalls. You'll find lots of recalls on Ford and Dodge, a few on GM. But almost NONE on Toyotas or Hondas. And if there is a recall for a Toyota, it's for a lightbulb.
You'll notice that Ford is the WORST! I punched in a few 2001 models like Ranger, F150, and there are 4-5 RECALLS on Brand NEW 2001 Ford models! and we're not talking just Lightbulbs! we're talking Serious stuff like: brakes, airbags, seatbelts, tires, hoods flying off while driving, cooling systems, etc! In fact there is a Recall right NOW on 2001 Windstars for defective Airbags!
These are Recalls from Ford, Not TSB's (technical service bulletins), and Ford doesn't usually help consumers unless forced to do so by government agencies.
My '95 Ford is in the dealership garage as we speak now!, with a blown head gasket.
If you want a Reliable vehicle for your wife, stay AWAY from FORD!
There is no fundamental problem with using aluminum heads on cast iron engine blocks. Many, many engines have this design and don't have problems. The Ford 3.8, obviously, is not one of them.
I can't disagree with the rest of your post.
Dave
According to all posted information, Ford's extended warranty for 1995 Windstars covers 7 years or 100,000 miles. The service campaign number is 00M09 and this was an addendum to campaign 98M01 which only extended 5 years and 60,000 miles. Original AND subsequent/current owners are covered and it INCLUDES rebates for any costs you incurred for repairs from an independent (non-Ford) repair shop. See the following web sites for additional info:
http://www.autosafety.org/autodefects/FORD-3.8L.htm
http://home.att.net/~ccatanese/ford
The following excerpts comes from an Edmunds site (no longer a current site):
"The last type of service notification would be a warranty extension, which is just that: an extension of a part or whole of the vehicle's warranty. In any of these service notifications, it does not matter if you are the original owner or if you purchased the vehicle used; the service notifications go with the vehicle and not with the owner."
Also:
"...program 00M09, which basically extended the original program from five years or 60,000 miles to seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurred first, covering the same vehicles as the 98M01 program. Letters to consumers for this program went out in March of 2000. Ford obtains a current list of owners from R.L. Polk and several other sources".
Good Luck to you Cathy.
Call Ford at: (800) 392-3673 to find out more.
Initially when my head gaskets blew and i contacted Ford they warned me that *I* would have to pay a $70 "Diagnostic Fee", and if the dealership felt that my vehicle had enough "symptoms" to warrant gasket replacement under 00M09/00M10, then my $70 would be reimbursed.
I said "listen pal, 2 weeks ago all my warning lights came on, my engine was hesitating, chugging, knocking Badly, felt like it was running on 3 cylinders, was burning white smoke out the tailpipe, was consuming 1 gallon of coolant per week, and now it is sitting on Jackstands in my driveway waiting for the Tow Truck to tow it to the Ford Dealership!! How many more symptoms do you Need??"
Also, the dealership said all the Courtesy cars were already taken by Other owners with blown head gaskets! and they Refused to cover a rental car!
Anyways, the total cost of repairs was $1300 and took TWO weeks! But the "Extended Gasket Warranty" program only covered $1050!
The dealership said *I* had to come up with $250!! I said WTF?!? WHY do I have to pay $250 for FORD's defective gaskets Scewing up MY engine??!!
The dealership said the Warranty *only* covered gaskets and installation, but I was responsible for things like corroded spark plugs, block flush, oil, coolant, and waste disposal fees!!
I just about got in my Ford and crashed it thru their dealership window!
But decided to drive it home and put a For Sale sign on it instead... at least now that it was running again.
Over the years of (unhappy) ownership i have spent Thousands of dollars out of my own pocket for parts & service not covered by the recall/warranty, rental cars!, towing, time taken off work, etc.
So with the Thousands of dollars i've WASTED i could've just bought a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan to begin with!!!
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN!!!! EVER!!!
I had owned Chevy's before this and took a chance on a Ford and it was a mistake!! One that will never happen again!! Anyone who is reading this, dont buy a FORD!!
And thanks to all who have given great suggestions and helpful websites.. please keep the help coming!
My father-in-law is suspicious, even though the engine does have 108,000 miles on it. The head gasket was replaced at 88,000 miles early last year, and the dealer charged him $2000.00 to replace the timing chain at the same time.
The cynical observer would say that the dealer was merely ensuring its adequate compensation for services rendered on behalf of the sponsor- corporation.
Of course, after you pass that 100,000-mile threshold, all bets are off (especially when the "expected average useful life" is published at 120,000.)
The bottom line is that he'd rather salvage this station wagon for $4000 than even think about trading it in on another Ford product (because no one else is going to give him anything for it in its present condition).
So, the question is -- could an improperly installed head gasket contribute to a rapid deterioration of the main airing
http://www.hometown.aol.com/locklayer/page3.html
It is a real disappointment for an american car company to be such an unreliable, incompetent maker of cars.
Cathy can you please email me . I would like to ask you some things about your van. I too have a 95 Windstar and it is getting sick.
You can email me at itsjudi@home.com
Thanks and take care, Judi