Ok I have a 2004 F150. Less than 30,000 miles on it. Two weeks ago I started smelling one of the foulest smells in my truck. It literally smells like someone puked in it. I shampooed the carpets and seats, and even tried sprays like Ozium and air fresheners.....no avail. Just the other day I took it to the dealer and told them to look into it. When I went to pick it up I was informed it was going to cost me $90 because they cleaned out the clogged drain that backed up and spilled onto my floorboard and it wasn't covered under warranty. I was also informed it would cost $900 to replace the carpet that is completely ruined because of mold/mildew growth.

So I immediately contacted Ford Customer service, who in turn contacted the dealer and they offered me a deal, they said that i would now only have to pay $308 for the carpet replacement. I didn't like that offer and contacted ford again, this time a rep told me it should be covered under warranty, but since a decision had already been made, they couldn't reverse it.....This is BULL%$^#. So I continued complaining and now the dealership is offering to do it for $108.

I'm still not happy. This should be a covered repair. I didn't do anything to cause this to happen, I don't off road, I take very good care of my vehicle, hell I didn't even know that as part of maintenance you should clean this drain out. Besides the fact that I think my duct work needs replaced because the smell is horrible coming out of them, and that whenever I Take a corner or accel fast the smell gets worse, which makes me think there is still a puddle of moldy water somewhere in my dash or under the carpet that hasn't been addressed. Whats goign to happen in the future? I had planned on keeping this vehicle for the long haul. Now I can't trade it, sell it, or hardly drive it without the windows down.

What do you guys think?? Any Ford corporate people out there that can give me an opinion??

 

I would stick to my guns and demand that the warranty cover the problem your having. I would be seriously pi$$ed off if my 30K+ truck had the problem you suggest.

what exactly is this maintenance thats suppose to be performed? I had no idea there was a drain that needs to be cleaned. let alone where the heck it is.

reminds me of that seinfeld episode where Jerry had a stinky car and couldnt even GIVE it away to a bum. heh

 

The clog was probably due to environmental factors, not something you or Ford either did or failed to do.

Most likely, mildew or mold formed in the system and caused the clog.

Ford and the dealer has made a generous offer to replace your damaged carpet even though it wasn't their fault. I'd suggest you suck it up like a man and just do it and thank them for their offering.

Cleaning the drain is not a sceduled service item although I suspect you'll be doing it yourself from now on....

Check with your insurance agent and see if your comprehensive coverage might apply.

 

Why should i ,"suck it up like a man" when i have some dealership service managers saying they would coverand have covered it before, and I also have a Ford customer service rep saying it should have been covered?? Sounds like warranty coverage doesn't apply evenly.

 

a muddobber could've built a nest in your draintube...its not furds fault.
clean it out so it drains.
spray the air intake of the blower motor recirculation door with the evaporator core freshener/cleaner.
dry out the carpet yourself, spray with lysol/feebreeze

 

Oh, I didn't realize you only wanted responses from those who agreed with your whining.

Next time, post on an Oprah website...

Steve

 

Dont replace the carpet, Just remove it and hose it down with a power washer.

Let it dry out in the sun for a day or two and you will be as good as new.

My Ranger got submerged in a flash flood. My dealer took the carpet out and cleaned it.

2 days and a can of air freshner later....... It was as good as new.

They only charged me $50.


If he has a new truck with a bumper to bumper warranty, I see no reason why he shouldnt be a little upset about being told he needs to pay for repairs.

Your advice seems to be more of a put down then actual constructive critisism.

 

Well finally talked to the customer service rep supervisor. He says that this dealer is acting as the eyes and ears for ford, and they have based the decision on what the dealer has told them. he couldn't say why one of his own CSR's advised me it was a covered issue, and he couldn't tell me why otherdealerships would have covered it. He also informed me I couldn't take my truck to another dealer to have the repairs done, because I have already started the repairs with this one.

The Ford Field Service Engineer that I emailed has not replied yet, so I don't think its over. This morning I filed my official complaint with the BBB. Wel will see where it ends up.

 

Uh-Oh, I have a 2003 F-150, and it has 33,000 miles on it. I went to vacuum it today and started pulling water from the carpeting ( pasenger side ). I removed some trim panels, and lifted the carpet edge. The entire pad under the carpet was soaked, and there was approximately 3/4 - 1 inch of water pooled against the door step edge. I thought this water came from a loose plug and a big puddle and pulled the seats etc. and removed the entire carpet. This is when I discovered the problem. The leak was AC related. The condensate from the AC runs from the interior through the fire-wall via plastic tube ( best described as a nipple ). The condensate drips from this point. In my case, there seems an extension tube of some sort should be attached to the nipple????. It would have be something rather heat resistant because of the exhaust proximity????. Some water drips to the ground but most follows the tube ( nipple ) underside to the firewall, where it contacts the foam rubber gasket that the nipple penetrates, sealing the interior wall from the engine compartment. The water then runs under the foam and rubber sound?? mat and collects on the floorboard ( the gutter in my case ). It gets worse though. The water that unfortunately doesn't make it to the interior ( Yes, unfortunately ) has run down the fire-wall and dissappears behind the aluminum covered fiberglass heat shield, and obviously towards the back. On closer inspection, I can see the outer edges of the "cancer", and I am willing to bet all of that wet fiberglass between the exhaust components and the heat they generate is doing wonders for the steel. Look closely at the truck!!!!!. look to see if the same thing is happening to yours. If it is, Don't be offended, but I am happy, and frankly, you should too. This is how vehicle recalls begin, and who knows how many owners aren't aware they have the problem until it is too late. Could you give me the contact info for the customer rep you dealt with???. If the work has already started, Ask the dealer to check for rust between the exaust and underbody and get everything in writing

 

I have a 2003 F150 with 24K. Same problem as F.Edward. Found it when the water started sloshing in the gutter by the passenger door. I know the underbody heat shield has come loose, haven't looked for rust underneath the heat shield yet.

The problem is that the nipple is way too short and does not direct water away from truck body to the ground. I will probably cobble up a fix using some silicone (or other heat resistant material) hose.

Bottom line is that this is an obvious design defect on Ford's part. How does one go about getting them to recognize and take corrective action?

 

Call Fords 1-800 customer service number in the owners manual. Good luck, depends on who you get it seems, some say it is covered some say it isn't!!!
No consistancy with the reps and how fard warranty is interpreted.

 

Where is this 'intake of the blower motor recirculation door' located?