1994 Ford Thunderbird

THE ECC APPARENTLY FAILED 1 JUL 2000, ALTHOUGH DIAGNOSIS OF THIS WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE SERVICED ON 5 JUL. THE ECC FAILED, COMMANDING A FUEL INJECTOR TO REMAIN OPEN, THUS INJECTING RAW FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF ENGINE STUMBLING ON 1 JUL. FORD DEFINES THIS PROBLEM AS, "HAVE YOUR VEHICLE SERVICED AS SOON AS CONVENIENTLY POSSIBLE." FOR THIS SITUATION, THIS COMMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK ON 2 JUL AND FINDING THE CAR CONSUMING MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THIRTY MILES OF DRIVING. THE CAR WAS SMOKING PROFUSELY FROM OIL BURN AND GAS COULD BE SMELLED BY FOLLOWING DRIVERS BY 4 JUL. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT A CAR WITH SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WAS IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD RESULTED IN A FIRE. THIS DISCHARGE OF RAW, EXCESS GAS INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MOST DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO PRECLUDE DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ECC SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO COMMAND COMPETE SHUTOFF WHEN IT DETECTS AN ABNORMAL FUEL FLOW TO ANY CYLINDER. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM IS IN EXCESS OF $450.00. THIS IS NOT A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT THAT CAN BE IGNORED UNTIL CONVENIENT.

THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED WITHOUT FLAW. I LEARNED FROM MY DEALER THAT A LETTER WAS ISSUED TO OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS LETTER DUE TO DEALER ERROR. THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY REGISTER ME HAS THE ONWER OF THE VEHICLE WITH FORD MOTER COMPANY. THEREFOR I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PENDING PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERROR AND NO SUPPORT FOR REPAIR WOULD BE GIVEN. HAD I BEEN AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEM, CORRECTIVE MEASURE COULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE CALL TAKER WAS VERY RUDE AND OFFERED NO SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. ALSO, COMMENTS WERE MADE TO THE AFFECT THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR AS PRESCRIBED BY FORD SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION. I FEEL THIS MAY BE AN ATTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE EXTRA MILEAGE BEFORE FAILURE. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY CARE OF THE CARE, I AM EXPECTED TO COVER THE CAOST OF A KNOWN FLAW IN THE HEAD GASKET. I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE.*AK