Well, I bought my 01 L on March 17th, 2004 with only 14xxx miles on it with a full warranty up to 75000 miles.

Now, apparently the previous owner had the L heavily moddified and now the engine spun rods and needs a new motor. Upon tearing it down, they found: a diablo chip sticker, the trans was only bolted w/ 2 bolts (torque converter or something), and the rods were individually numbered.

So, I am wondering how much I should be worried. The SVT engineer will be looking at it today, and what happens if he says no. I mean, if the tech saw that the engine had been built, most likely so will the SVT engineer. I did not buy it here in Tallahassee, but rather up in Covington, GA (by Atlanta). Thanks for any information or advice.

Ryan

 

If the rods are still good, and they're aftermarket - tell em you wanna keep them!!


...good luck. You're going to have to basically prove that the mods that are on the truck were there when you bought it and it was warranteed...

 

I don't think that you should be worried about having to prove anything. Go after the dealer who sold you the truck if you have a problem getting if fixed under warrany. If it was modified when you bought it, I don't feel you are responsible. The dealer sold you a truck with a warranty and that's what you paid for. The truck should have been checked for mods before you bought it. Otherwise, why did they sell it with a warranty if they knew it would be void. I don't think that the dealer wants that kind of trouble. Just like you can't prove that it was already modified, the dealer can't prove that it wasn't. If they sold it to you with a warranty and you did not make any mods of your own, I'd would sure as hell make sure that the selling dealer makes good on getting it fixed. It isn't your fault they sold you a modified truck. They can't turn around and not fix a truck they sold you if you haven't changed anything yourself.

 

hey, I agree 100%. Its just that I bought it 5 hours away so it will be interesting how much I have to act like an a##hole in order to have the entire engine replaced.

I guess I am just worried about the fact that the SVT engineer will say no, then the Ford dealer in town will say 'we didn't waranty that', so then I will be forced to deal with someone 400 miles away.

I'll tell you what though, I'm not giving the 04 F150 they have lent me back until I have my truck with a brand new engine !

 

 

I had a very similar situation happen to me when I purchased my '02 in April. Bought it from a non-SVT dealer who didn't bother to even do a diagonstic test on the truck. I decided to purchase an extended warranty thru Ford for the power train when I bought it and I found out a few days after I signed the contract that the previous owner had made some slight mods including an aftermarket chip. He had taken it to a dealer and they voided his engine warranty because of the chip. The dealer tried to weasel out of providing me a warranty, so I was going to return it. Last thing I need is a time bomb on my hands. Finally they decided to provide me with an aftermarket warranty for the same price and a signed contract stating that they will cover any warranty claims denied by Ford. The warranty I got actually covers more than the Ford factory did. If the dealer sells you a vehicle stating it is covered by a warranty then they have to cover it themselves if it is denied because of the mods that existed at the time of sale. They should have done the work before hand. The dealer I got mine from said we wasn't going to buy SVT vehicles at auction anymore just because of what he had to pay for my new warranty.

 

Thanks for the info. Yeah, our situations are exactly the same except my engine blew up. I will know VERY shortly what the SVT engineer decides, so I will post up.

thanks again

 

RyMac, I'm in Tallahassee as well, did you buy your used L at an AutoNation / Carmax? If so, I have a friend that went thru a similar situation with an 03 Cobra. Depends on your sale doc, does it say "balance of factory warranty" ? Thats so broad, because when the Ford dealership flashed the engine, it threw the aftermarket chip code and said "no warranty". The whole "balance of factory warranty" was just that - zippo, because of the mods. If you want me to tell you the specifics, shoot me an email at jmucha12@comcast.net and I'll let you know the specifics he went thru.

 

Also, is your truck at All-American Ford on Magnolia?

 

I hope you guys are right about all of this. When I bought my truck 10 months ago, the dealer sold me a extended warranty with it. But they neve told me that the Motor was replace at 25,000 miles. The truck was lowered 2" in front and 4" in the rear, and with a 2lb pulley on the truck. So I hope I never get any hassel form them with this crap.

 

but you aren't gonna get this one past the SVT Rep........this is gonna get ugly quick..........and we end up you vs the dealer. I hope it doesn't but It most likely will. It's gonna come down to legaility and technicality issues which will best be handled by lawyers if the time comes. Good luck cause I think you might be needing it.

 

...in my experience with my buds 03 Cobra, the dealer never said "this car has a warranty with xxxxx number of miles left for another xx months. The Carfax report said "based upon our info, it has xx months and xxxxx miles remaining on the factory warranty". However, thats assuming there was no mods done to the vehicle. If you notice on the sales agreement, it proly says "balance of factory warranty" and then its gives the "in service date", but of mods were done, that of course violates the warranty making the "balance of the factory warranty" inconsequential because it no longer has one (based on the mods). So the "balance" would be zero. It blows, but thats how used car dealerships washes there hands of this. Am I saying rollover and take it? No way. But dont expect anyone but the selling dealership to fix this. Cool Service Directors will many times fix something as long as it "looks" stock when there guys look at it, but with stickers, thrown codes (showing that at ONE TIME another chip was on a vehicle), and other aftermarket perf / drivetrain parts on it, very few will hook soeone up. CALL THE SELLING DEALERSHIP ASAP AND GET ON THEM.

 

And JKStang, if you BOUGHT an extended warranty from a dealer, thats a whole different ball of wax. As long as it isnt a mod YOU DID (ie, it was on vehicle when you bought it from them), they cover it under their warranty (which they SOLD to you). However, are all the "mods" that are / were on the truck documented? If not, I'd get what you can in writing from them so if something does happen, you can show them "it was on the truck when you SOLD me the warranty". Make sense, man?

 

Thanks for all your information guys. Sorry I havn't replied until now. Luckily, the SVT engineer did not see the rods according to the rep so they will be giving me a brand new engine, no more questions asked. .

I was very worried for all the reasons we have listed, but it all worked out. I think everything would have been fine in the end, but it would have been a battle.

Basically, when it came down to it: I bought it 3 mos. ago with those mods done already from a Ford dealership with a FULL warranty.

BTW, Polish it is at All American on Tenn., they told me they were the only ones in town with a SVT mechanic

Thanks again guys.
Ryan

 

Glad to hear about your good fortune!


Can I have the rods that were in there??? hehehe (I am assuming they were aftermarket rods?)