1997 Ford Thunderbird

1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH A 4.6 LITER OHC ENGINE THAT HAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE ENGINE HAS 81,000 MILES AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE REPLACEMENT PART COSTS $541.00 FROM THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND THE LABOR TO REPLACE WILL COST AROUND $550. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC EXCEPT FOR THE PART THAT IS CRACKED (THERMOSTAT HOUSING) WHICH IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND HAS HAD A RECALL ON ON CERTAIN MODEL 4.6L ENGINES. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS INFORMED BY FORD TODAY THAT MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH A 4.6L ENGINE IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE NOT INCLUDED THE SERIAL NUMBER (VIN) FOR MY THUNDERBIRD IN THEIR RECALLS. SURPRISINGLY, THE PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE IN MY CAR AND WILL COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR RECALL/WARRANTY PROGRAM. THIS PART IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT IS INSTALLED IN ALL OF THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE ALLOWED A REPLACEMENT/RECALL. DUE TO MY ROTTEN LUCK, MY CAR'S VIN HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED UNFORTUNATELY. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS REPLACED THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING WITH ALUMINUM, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT SOMEONE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOGNIZES A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A RESOURCE TO EXPOSE THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. WES HARDIN. *AK

A LEAKING FUEL LINE ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD, (V6 ENGINE), WITH 113000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING COMPLETELY BOTH FUEL LINES, BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE CORROSION, SO THAT WAS DONE AT A COST TO ME OF $548. AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, ALTHOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A FEW YEARS AGO. LUCKILY I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE, AND THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED BY AAA TO THE FORD DEALER. SO NO FIRE OCCURRED. THE CAR BEING JUST 6 YEARS OLD, I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE WOULD BE A LEAKING FUEL LINE. APPARENTLY CORROSION RESULTED IN THE FUEL LINE LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR NEAR THE GAS TANK. *AK

ENGINE DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK DUE TO A SPLIT IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. RECALL 97M91 WHICH IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS FROM THE START OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS UP 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. FOMOCO AND DEALER WOULDN'T COVER, TO BAD FOR ME. RECALL DOESN'T COVER REPLACEMENT UNLESS IT IS LEAKING WITHIN THAT 7 YEARS. DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED TO AN ALUMINUM CROSSOVER THAT HOPEFULLY WONT SPLIT AND COSTS APPROX $800 TO FIX. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING FUEL LINE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LINE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GAS TANK AND RUBS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM AND REPLACING IT.*AK