Well I finally got in to yet another SVT dealer to have my leaking IC checked out. Service mang asked how I knew it was leaking and I told him the level droped about 3 inches in the past 2 weeks. I let him know this is a fairly documented problem w/ both the 99's and 00's,and that there was a TSB out on their "failures".

Well I have to go back in Monday,the need to have it for a full day,and I couldn't leave today,Monday was my first option. They need to pull everything(blower etc) to see how extensive the leak/damage may go. But before I left they informed me they had talked to both Ford and SVT and there was NO,I repeat NO tsb on our intercoolers(I swear I read on here that there was one).In fact they(this dealer) was told by both sources that it may NOT even be the intercooler that is failing!? They are "unsure of where the problem lies." I was told that there is NO retro-fit of the 01 IC to the 99's and 00's because of their uncertainty of what is really happening.

So my question is...WTF?!? I have heard more bs about this subject than the Kennedy assination! Does anyone have freakin clue as to what is going? Or are we all destined to changing our IC's every few thousand miles?

I just started on the IC road and I am pretty po'd,I can only imagine the "joy" some of you have experienced on your third IC's and extended periods w/o your Bolts. My hats off to you guys.

 

The dealership should NOT have to pull the blower, etc to see where/if it is leaking. They should be able to pressure test the system...just like you would a cooling system for an engine. It's real simple.

Mine was diagnosed within an hour after dropping it off to have my local dealer check it. They didn't remove anything, turned the truck back over to me, and put the IC on "critical order" status. It is _crucial_ that they put it on "critical order", according to the head foreman at my local dealer. Sure enough they had the new IC within 24 hrs. I took it back in, and they had it done in a day.

Mine started leaking at ~14k miles. I'm sure this one will go out, too, but Ford is working on a redesigned one that should be better (at least more durable...yet to see how well it flows).

To my knowledge there is no official TSB out for it. For there to be a TSB they would need to actually have a true "fix" for it. They are working on it, but its not done yet. When it is (again, according to my shop foreman and what he heard directly from his conversation with SVT) they will issue a TSB.


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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.34 @ 115.8)--392rwhp/433rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.8)--364rwhp/447rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://hometown.aol.com/wa2fst/home.htm

 

Didnt pull mine either. Ran test on it and saw no evidence of leaking at that moement. They called SVT, and were given the ok to replace the intercooler. I have also been told that a new intercooler is coming out in late May, and those of us with the problem will be able to get this new one free of charge. Now whether that is true or not will remain to be seen.

Just in case you need it or anything, you can email me and I can send you scanned copys of the work papers from my IC troubles the dealer gave me. They are in Word 2000 format.


Eric
MEvansE@aol.com

[This message has been edited by Mister SVT (edited 03-21-2001).]

 

So in essence what you are telling me is that they should just order me the damn replacement IC? It is leaking,that much is obvious.The level in the cooler has droped about 3 inches in the past 2 weeks.They didn't pressure test my truck(I had heard nothing shows up as faulty w/ this test anyway) they did the dye test,and when I bring the truck back in on Monday they will see where the dye has gone.

I mentioned that some have used Bars Leak as a stop gap until the "true" fix comes out.I was told that they can bounch a claim if Bars Leak is used on the IC or the Radiator on any Ford vehicle.So needles to say I wont be going that route.

oh and Eric,you've got mail.

 

Its not necessary to pressure test the system to determine if your i/c is leaking. If your reservoir fluid level is going down, you have an i/c leak. If the dealer insists on proof, have them add some coolant tracer dye to the fluid and drive the truck a while, then pull a spark plug and see if it flouresces under uv light. I would not replace your intercooler now. Drain the system and disconnect the power to the coolant pump. SVT told me that the fix would be out in April, but if its not until May, so be it, better to wait than replace your i/c with another one thats sure to fail.

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.

'00 SVT Lightning, silver, built 2/9/00, #133 of 4966, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, 4.10 gears, Swanson chip, Pro-M, NGK plugs, carbon drive shaft, Roadmaster suspension kit, TransGo shift kit,
13.39 @ 102.5

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SVT advised me to drain the coolant and disconnect the coolant pump. If you don't disconnect the pump it will fry because it needs the liquid for lubrication. But the only down side is that you will lose some power because the intake charge will be hotter.

 

What do you disconnect to turn off the pump? (wheres the relay) I'm leaking and am trying to wait for the April fix.

Daniel

 

Hitman, Did you get those papers ok? Mine was pressure tested and they said it failed it, but they couldnt determine a leak. Now how in the hell does that happen?

Eric

PS. I also had pictures ready to go to prove it had leaked, but they werent needed.

 

So do i let them take the blower etc off on Monday or do I fight them? I know from reading all the posts on here that many things can get fouled up due to the IC leak,so do I side on the safe side and have all the parts that could have be screwed up checked? Or do I side on the other safe side and not let them start pulling things apart? This whole scenerio is total BS.

Alpha,
I hear ya on waiting,but what are the negatives of running the truck w/o an IC? I don't want any other adverse problems to arise from running w/o the cooler. That and they are claiming Ford doesn't HAVE a true fix coming down the pike. So where does that leave me? Shall I just take the currnet fix and tell them I want the "new improved" fix as soon as its available since I know the current fix will fail as well? All of you who have gone through this and are still going through it...How did you survive? LOL

[This message has been edited by Hitman31 (edited 03-22-2001).]

 

Eric,

Got the papers yesterday! Thanks bro,now I'll be armed just in case come Monday.

Hitman

 

Are there papers that could aid me as my L has now gone through TWO intercoolers? Any assiatance would be greatly appreciated. speedinbob@home.com.

My receipts have been pulled and I'm off to the same dealer that replaced #1 one next week.

Since the receipt lists the parts they used, there is NO reason (IMHO) why they "need" to tear apart again to verify the damage.

Round one was a mess as they first said (and wrote) "F150's do not have intercoolers and superchargers." yes, they are an SVT dealer...
In the process of the repair, they scrathced the ***** out of the front bumper, gratis repaint ensued.

I think it would be best to have a chat with the writer AND the since-replaced service manager, show them the previous repair tickets so I don't have to leave my truck, they can order parts, and convey the message I know what I am talking about and will not tolerate monkey-business.

 

These are my work papers or receipts if you will that you already have. Hitman is going through his first replacement and is having doubts on them acknowledging that it is the IC. I figured if he could show that other Ford dealers have called SVT and were given the ok, this would help him out.

Hitman = welcome

Eric

 

I am still a little confused. They pulled my intercooler and replaced it no problem, thanks to Lightning Struck and the fact that he is the only tech I will deal with at this point when it comes to getting things fixed. So if they replaced it with another intercooler that will inevitably leak as well, but will temporarily fix the issue, does this mean they won't replace it with the "fix" come May? I would think better one day w/o the truck to have the ic "fixed" for now then to run it without until April/May. I'm also thinking with the track opening I need my intercooler in working condition for the time being.
CA

 

Thanks Mr. SVT,

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Thanks. OBTW, they will get a copy of my body shop ticket too

CA,

Based on the mileage mine keep going, #3 will more than likely occur just before the ESP runs out. Hopefully their "fix" will be implemented by then. Either way, I'll probably talk to Fordsales about an EESP or something.

I'm NOT going to WFC with an unplugged pump and empty intercooler in an effort to wait for an alleged permanent fix. This is Fords problem and I'll just keep bringing it back, dammit. Luckily, I caught it early this time.


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Brake Late, Dive Deep

Speedin Bob, Owner/Operator/Pilot
Lightning #2504, 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
**de-tuned for chapter two of intercooler travesty**
Magnaflow muffler, JDM driveshaft, JL Driveshaft Loop, Keyless Entry, Retrax Bed Cover, Shackles, Wet Okoles, Mobil 1/FilterMag, Clear Corners

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DITTO