Dear All:

I took my "L" into have the dreaded clunk fixed and the outcome raised some questions and concerns I want to share with y'all.

I asked the dealer to tack weld the washer, install the cam bolts and do an alignment to the specs posted on previous threads.

I was told by the service manager that "unless i see it in writing requiring welding, We arent doing it. As soon as I put a torch(?) to it, we are liable for frame damage." Frame?......

My response(on phone): "Call SVT. They know about it. It isn't part of the frame, it eliminates movement of the suspension which is binding already because it isnt stationary from the factory."

retort: "I'm not doing it. I had the techs use socket and breaker bars to really torque it down. (I didn't have the star washer) And... we cant align your truck because we dont have a machine able to fit 18" wheels." (they are an SVT dealer??!!!)

I EVEN TOOK THEM A DOZEN KRISPY KREAMES!!!

I also had it in for a rhythmical thump in my passenger window, lube steering stops, and general 10k mile service (No oil change). Don't know if they have been addressed or not.

Henceforth, I have flogged the holy S*(&^T out of the 2000 Taurus the ESP paid for as my baby was being tended to

The truck has to go to another (SVT) dealer to get it checked for proper alignment.

I need some help here guys. I would rather they do as I asked. I used this board as reference. I HATE dealers

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See ya at the Apex,

Speedin Bob
'99 "Pi$$ed Off" Red Lightning #2504
NLOC # 438
13.98 @ 98 mph (Rookie Session)
Latest Mods:
Airaid w/ S&B Powerstack filter retrofit
Clear Corners & Tails
Bug Shield
Duraliner (first addition)

 

I tried to get my steering wheel straight so when the L goes straight, the wheel is straight. They tell me they dont have a jig for the L yet and cant align it. Havent tried to get the a-arm bolt fixed yet. Have a friend who welds and thinking of getting an alignment at an alignment shop after the weld. Good luck..........

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*Red 2000 SVT Lightning
*Leer Lo-Rider Bed Cover
*PSP Filter
*PSP Chip
*Adopted 3/29/00
-Silver 1998 Mustang GT Convertible 4 point Autopower roll bar and a bazillian other handling/engine mods.....

 

Speed Bob
Took my 2000 L back in March to dealer I bought it at.Told him I had clunk,downloaded all the post about the clunk everbody was talking about ,they have my truck for four hours ,they come to me and tell me that they had the biggest guy in the shop with a breaker bar to torque it down. told me that it was not loose.Told me that you run the risk when welding on it that with all the electronics something might short out.All the posted threads he did'nt know what to make of it.He called me the next day after he "talked to the factory and that there was no tech.bullitins post on a problem with this clunk" I will say after they greased the stops I have not heard any noise.Bottom line is they lie . Service writer told me that we on these web sites don't know what were talking about.Your going to have to find a dealer ship that will be willing to at least listen to what you have to say and check out these problems that we do have with these trucks because 8000 owners + - can't be all wrong .good luck

Jim

 

Same song, different verse. My dealer's service manager was also a total ****head about fixing the clunk. Even showed him a picture of the problem that I downloaded from this site. He gave me the "well, there's no tsb on it" routine. I told him to call SVT, they knew about the issues, I had just talked to them the previous day and they described the star washer or tack weld fixes. I bugged this guy for two weeks, and every time he gave me a song and dance about not having time to call SVT, and then said he couldn't get authorization to call SVT. Bull****. It wasn't that big an issue to me, because I had the cam bolt kit, and knew I was going to have my front end guy install them, not the butchers at Ford, and it was a simple matter to get a star washer and have him install that at the same time. But these clowns get reimbursed for their warantee work, so why do they act like its such a big deal to fix such a minor problem? The dealership probably makes more money off the back end than they do selling cars; you'd think they would want to keep their customers satisfied so they keep coming back. Needless to say, after my first service, which is a freebie, I won't be doing any more business with the service department at that dealership.

 

Hey Bob, Sal here. Don't sweat yourself over it. Take your truck to the local exhuast shop and have them weld the washers on the front and rear of the drivers side lower control arm. It will take them 10 minutes and probably cost like $30.

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SAL - TEAM PSP
Best ET 13.09 Best MPH 104.58mph Best 60ft 1.87
Power Surge Performance 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit, full Bassani Exhaust, M/T ET Streets PowerSurgePerf@aol.com

 

Guys, first off since there is no TSB, they are potentially liable for any issues that arise from this service. In this sue happy world I would be afraid to do it.
Look around at some of the people you work with, you may see some that don’t know what they are doing, and if they were mechanics, you wouldn’t let them near your car, well imagine these idiot wielding torches and mig welders. Those who know how to weld well know, there are right ways to weld and wrong ways to weld, and more often then not, you see people doing it the wrong way.
I’m Sure that Ford SVT is looking for a fix, they do not have the luxury of just saying just weld in on there, some thought has to go into the robustness of the fix and any draw backs such as repair after welding if some caster adjustments need to be made, or if this affect durability of the lower control arm.

 

I had the star washer fix performed approximately 1800 miles ago as well as having fresh paint put over the old scratch / witness marks. Had the L up on the hoist the other day. Nothing has moved. This fix seems to work as well as anything else.

And yes, SVT is aware of the problem.

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2000 Red Lightning Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners, MPulse LoPro Tonneau, AIM 2" Drop Shackles, Bed Rug, PSP Filter Kit

'99 Yukon Denali - Silver, Lowered 1", Borbet CW4's, 285/60R18 Toyo Proxes S/T's, Hotchkis AntiSways, Edelbrock Shocks

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car



[This message has been edited by WHAT04 (edited 06-09-2000).]

 

Hey Guys&Gals:
How about RUINED tires?
I've had the same problem!
Tires are ruined!
They deny there is a problem, refuse to replace tires, I'm given nothing but a run-around on this issue!
ps...I have a copy from the dealer, Loose suspension, found this loose, that loose, torqed up everything, but will NOT even discuss tires, basicly tell me TOUGH S***

 

Maybe I am stupid or uninformed, but I find this issue with bolt movement within the lower control arms has to be a safety issue. I mean, how much stress can those bolts take before they break, and break at the wrong time?? These idiot Dealers and Ford Motor Company may be flirting with a really serious law suit if people get killed, maimed or injured.

My fix was to get both lower control arms replaced at the instruction of SVT tech rep. I had the famous front end "clunk" noise as well as what I considered rather squirrely steering. I had to convince the Dealer that something was wrong. They probably would never find what the required fix was on their own.