I can't believe it. With all the chatter about intercooler leaks, and having never checked my reservoir (I stupidly did not even know where it was), I checked it this evening and it was bone effing dry! Obviously, it means an intercooler replacement, but I wonder what other damage could have been done by running a dry intercooler. I'll be on the telephone first thing in the morning to my Ford dealer. Should I fill it up with half antifreeze or just water. This unbeleiveably discouraging! Great truck if you can keep it working. Mine, BTW was about 13K miles, and I have no idea how long it has been dry.

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box (S&B Filter) & Superchip
Kills:
Last 4 generation Mustang GT's (Including Cobra)
Audi S4
Dodge R/T

 

Fill it with distilled water. drive it hard, get it hot, top it off with distilled water. watch it to see how bad the leak is, then call your dealer, after "you" know how bad the leak is (IMHO)

 

Dittos to what MRBBQMAN said (as usual)

H2O ONLY!!! and drive the **** out of it. I'm at .5 Litre per week.

OBTW, I'm returnig mine to stock, air box and sans chip, before it goes to the dealer for repair just to be sure.

Don't forget to adamantly request they change the O2 sensors too.

 

Too bad, soory to hear. I check mine everyday. There will come a time when mine goes.

 

If you have a leak, safer to drain it and unplug pump. Too much water in a cylinder while parked can bend rods, break pistons and crank, etc on start up or while running if leak get worse. Performance will be worse w/o ic, but o2's and plugs are already fouled anyway and Ford will replace. If using chip, better to pull it to prevent ping. Just my opinion, but I have seen a few hydraulic'd motors in my years.

A new supply of ic's just out, so wait should be short. My dealer ordered mine and Ford sent four.

------------------


[This message has been edited by bobcmt (edited 09-22-2000).]

 

BBQ:

How important is distilled water. I couldn't sleep so I filled it with regular water and took if for a drive to see what was happening. At least it wasn't a monster leak, in that it was still topped off on return, albeit it was a short drive.

Bobcmt:

I assume you had to bring the truck in for them to order the new IC. I can't imagine them doing it without looking at the truck, and if that was the case, how long did they keep it before you got it back to drive? I guess they are allowing people to drive the trucks with Ford's blessing until repair.

SpeedingBob:

I will definitely remove the chip - I'm debating on the Airbox. This caught me right in the middle of buying a new house and preparing to move - already stressed out to the max without this wonderful development.

I have noticed a bit of rough running under light throttle lately - I guess that is the fouled plugs. Still runs great without missing a beat at WOT.

BTW, why do you guys recommend driving it hard in the interim?

When I had a minor problem when I first got the truck, the service department mentioned that it was Ford's policy not to supply rental cars/courtesy cars. I was hoping on a deal like this, Ford would pick up the tab. Every other manufacturer that I have owned happily did that for warranty repairs that required overnight stays of the vehicle.

God, this is depressing.

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box (S&B Filter) & Superchip
Kills:
Last 4 generation Mustang GT's (Including Cobra)
Audi S4
Dodge R/T



[This message has been edited by skydive69 (edited 09-22-2000).]

 

Sandy,

I purchased the ESP when I bought my L. Never had one mention of not being able to get a loaner/rental @ Ford's expense, even if the L is in for half a day. I am not in a position that affords me, nor do I really want, to sit at the dealership all friggin morning/day. They know I'm retentive and a picky MF so they know better than to screw with me.

draining the intercooler and unplugging the pump may not be a bad idea either. I'll only be driving it this weekend then it goes in for "the fix".

Best of luck to you and congrads on your new home.

Robert

 

Thanks Robert:

Your description of yourself is certainly accurate for me. I always find it incredibly painful to deal with maintenance issues. I presume that there is absolutely no question in regards to a replacement once the intercooler leaks - of course I guess there is no such thing as "no question" when it comes to dealing with so many of these clowns.

Anyway, it is great to have a support group that is experiencing your pain first hand.

Sandy

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box (S&B Filter) & Superchip
Kills:
Last 4 generation Mustang GT's (Including Cobra)
Audi S4
Dodge R/T

 

So Skydive, it may have been your intercooler all along and not the R9?

------------------
Joel.......
99.5 White Lightning,
SVT # 0056

 

Sandy, distilled water is recommended by intercooler spray companies because it cleans carbon deposits and other "garbage'" from your engine as it is sprayed down the engine, and it leaves no residue. i can spray 1-gallon of water down my blown dodge in one 1/4 mile run, so i suggested you fill with that to see how bad the leak is. if it is huge, go ahead and disconnect the intercooler (if you are trying to save the engine), or do you want a brand new engine, as some have rec'd

 

Thanks for the scoop on the distilled water. It is all a moot point now. I was going to keep driving it, because although the reservoir was bone dry, the leak seems to be minimal. After a 45 minute drive, there was no difference in the level. It must have been leaking for a long time. Unfortunately, the "Service Engine Soon" light came on so I went right to the dealer. He really balked at the Airaid (I had removed the Superchip in the morning), indicating although he would not give me an difficulty about it, he would have to charge to remove it if removal was necessary during the service. I went home, installed the stock setup, and left the machine off. I told them about the intercooler problem. They played dumb, stating that they had never heard of an intercooler problem, and certainly none of the L's they sold had had that problem. I asked to speak with the SVT mechanic, and filled him in - he was also oblivious to the situation. It will be curious to see how this plays out.

Joeligtning: It was definitely not the Superchip R9 causing the problem. After disconnecting the battery, and removing the chip, it was the same (except no performance). It is probably the coil or a fouling spark plug.

[This message has been edited by skydive69 (edited 09-22-2000).]