My truck has been to the dealer twice for a total of eight days for the ETC (wrench) and service engine soon lights coming on and poor driveability as well as a surging issue at very light throttle. (A very bad thing in a parking lot). No records or proof of the visit and for how long is ever provided because "they are holding the case open". A reprogram of something was done the first visit did not fix the problem. Now they want me to wait indefinitely for them or Ford to find a fix and be patient. Problem is I'm running out of patience. I have 35,500 in this truck, I'm a contractor and need the truck. It runs like crap and the longer I continue to be Mr. Nice guy by taking the truck home not fixed and not insisting on repair order receipts I only hurting myself. Who can I talk to above my dealer and should I bring up the lemon issue yet? I only ask this because if you have to use, there are very specific things that have to have taken place and documented. Nearing the end of my rope....

 

You will need solid documentation for a lemon law argument, and most lemon laws require either a number of days where you can't drive, and/or three recalls for the same thing.

Get a hold of your Ford rep ASAP and get it documented!

Thankfully my truck is doing well, the problems I have had are minor, but they do build almost 1,000,000 of these things so some are likely not pefect, good luck!

 

I have found a number in the manual for a customer relationship center, is this where I need to call. I would like to get straight to the regional guy if this is what I need.

So you would mention the lemon law?

 

Here is the link regarding lemon laws for NC.

http://www.nclemonlaw.com/index.html

 

Sounds like the dealers are starting to find ways to work around the lemon laws. They will most likely "hold the case open" until the problem is fixed, in which case it will only count as one visit to the dealer for the same problem.

Personally I would try a different dealer if there is one nearby. Then tell your current dealer that you want the "case" closed and that you will go elsewhere for service. Or, notify them that you know what the lemon laws are, and that you want documentation of each time they have tried to fix it.

Good luck with it.

 

I really think this is exactly what the have figured out. At the least it should have been closed out the first time when they reflashed the truck with an update. Anyway what I'm realizing is that this could be an indefinite process that in the end could look like only one incident. I've done a search for the electronic throttle control lights to see how many other guys are having a problem. The few I've found seem to be getting the same story I am, that Ford doesn't know what to do.

SilverFX4 - you replied in another post that you had the wrench light come on and they replaced a chip. Do you know more specifically what they did? How about the drivability of your truck when this was happening? BTW chances are I bought my truck from the same dealer (they have Raleigh and Wilmington locations) as you.

 

Go to an attorney now if need be and threaten them with "holding the case open" to get aroung the spirit of the lemon law, I expect they will back down immediately.

 

WHOZNEXT,

I don't know what chip they replaced. I have to go to the dealership on Monday to pick up my permenant tag I'll get a copy of the paperwork that was done and see if i can figure out what chip they replaced. I didn't get a copy of the paperwork when i picked the truck up because they gave me a rental for the day and they said they couldn't do anything until they got the bill from the rental agency.

As for the driveability I didn't notice any changes. I only had 80 miles on the truck and it happened late Saturday evening. I drove home just with enough time to call the dealership and explain what was happening. I drove it to the service department first thing Monday morning with no problems that i could tell.

Since the chip has been replaced I have had no problems at all with the truck.

As to where i bought my truck it was at Crossroads Ford in Cary.

I'll make sure to reply again once i get a copy of the paperwork.

Mike

 

Thanks Mike,
I'll be interested in the reply.
Chris

 

WHOZNEXT,

Ok i went and got the copy of the invoice and here's what it says.

run ngs test and found codes p0715 and p0717. Run trans electrical test and pinpoint test. Monitored pids and found trans turbine sensor bad. replaced sensor and cleared codes. Post test drive ok.

Part replaced FP-Number 3L3Z-7M101-AA
Description Sensor 91077


Hope this information helps you.

Mike

 

Small bump for WHOZNEXT I'm not sure if he's read this or not.

 

You have over 35,000 miles on a 2004 already?

 

No I meant I have $35,000 invested,actually sticker $36,050. Thanks FX4 for the info. Truck went in yesterday and is still there. Seems engineers dispursed some ideas to the dealers yesterday morning on what to try. I have heard different things that could be causing this problem. A malfunctioning throttle body, or water in a connector. I hope they call me and say its fixed. I am still trying to be patient but in the end I want it fixed or a new truck.