1997 Ford Thunderbird

FATIGUE CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 4.6 L ENGINE THAT THAT CAUSED LOOSE OF COOLANT AND THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST IS $600.00. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL AND THE FOLLOW WAS COPED FROM SOURCE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOCUMENTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL EXTEND THE RECALL (01M02) ON 4.6L V8 EQUIPPED VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON 4.6L SOHC ENGINES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT THE COOLANT CROSSOVER DUCT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT SERVICED, MAY CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE UPDATED RECALL NOW INCLUDES: " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA WITH TAXI " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY PREP PACKAGE " CERTAIN 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS, POLICE CARS AND LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY CARS. " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1997 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION FOR THE 1996 MODEL YEAR THROUGH JANUARY 28, 1997. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE PREP PACKAGE AND LIVERY VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000.

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INDEPENDENT GARAGE EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER FAILURES THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THEN THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTIONED, 18.000 MILES LATER THE HEATER CORE FAILED, WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS SINCE AUG 4 TIMES. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT EACH TIME AT LEAKS.THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CRONIC PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED 3 TIMES AND FINALLY REPLACED.*AK

THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY BOOKLET THAT CAME WITH CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT STATED THAT EMISSION SENSORS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES UNDER CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS WHICH I HAVE ON MY CAR...WHEN CATALYTIC SENSOR MONITOR FAILED FORD REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY $269.TO HAVE REPAIR DONE BY DEALERSHIP...FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH SAFETY AND EMISION STANDARDS..*AK