I just dropped my truck off at a local ford dealer yesterday here in DFW to get my intercooler replaced and found out an interesting bit of news.

The service manager was speaking to one of the managers at the SVT hotline and was told that Ford/SVT is getting ready to issue an official 99/00 recall within the next sixty days for all 99/00 Intercoolers. Finally!

In the mean time, mine was leaking bad, they wouldn't let it leave the shop without it being replaced, so it gets to sit there for a few days to get a replacement now, and will have to come back in May for the redesigned unit.

There you have it.

Logan
99 White Lightning
69 Mercury Cougar

 

Now, is this going to be a full recall for everyone or is it going to just be for people who have leaking intercoolers? Are they going to be proactive about this or reactive? :/

What dealership are you talking about in DFW if you dont mind me asking?

Sam

 

Hi Sam,

My truck is in at Payton Wright on 114... Jose was speaking with one of the managers at the SVT hotline...

He did indeed say a recall was imminent and that they'd be replacing the lower intake and intercooler with redesigned units...

Of course, I will believe everything when I see a notice in my mailbox. Grain of salt is appropriate when it comes to Ford...

Logan

 

Hmm... wonder if there will be any performance increase. I wonder if the new intercooler has this extra row of cooling and if it has that direct angle to the heads like the 01s do. But like you said Logan, I will believe it when I see it!

Sam

 

Originally posted by Logan:

PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR OR READ!!! ABOVE INFO. IS FALSE!

I just spoke w/ Troy in consumer affairs at SVT and was informed that there will NOT be any recall unless it is a safety issue. It's not a safety issue. He was already aware of this post (naturally they read too). To save grace w/ them and keep the internet BS from flying off the handle again I am posted what he commented to me on via the phone.

The 01's were updated w/ a new and improved intercooler as we are already aware of, but the '99 and '00 owners will be all taken care of.

If you are in doubt that your's may have failed then have a friend inspect yours that has been through this dilemma (it's not hard to check and see if you've lost coolant in the intercooler tank) or go in to a reputable dealer who is willing to help you (sorry not all of them are). If you can't get your dealer to help you then call SVT at 1-800-FORD-SVT. PLEASE do not flood their phonelines w/ calls that have already been answered legit through them or via the sites.

In the meantime, if your's fails Troy has stated that you can do 1 of 2 things (both of which we've already heard):

1: Disconnect your intercooler pump and plug it, and wait for the updated intercooler that will be coming "very" soon.

2: Get the exact same replacement as stock and then come back for the new one when they are released. *

* If your dealer is not willing to replace a new or original intercooler because it is not leaking and you are worried that you will go over the factory warranty or the 1 year / 12k mile parts warranty, then call SVT and ask them what alternatives you have.

Personally, I would go w/ option #1 when mine fails, just so I do not have to put up w/ the BS of future replacements. I'll just wait until the updated unit comes out. I am not too concerned if my factory warranty runs out (I have 26,000 miles left and 1 year to go), simply because I have an aftermarket warranty through Geico until 100,000 miles I do believe. Anyone who plans on keeping these vehicles for any length of time should remember that extended warranties are in your best interest.

NOW, there you have it...no recall, so don't ever hope for one. Troy gave no timeframe as to when the updated piece would be ready. Some of you all have already posted dates you believe are when it will be released.

BfB - "Famed Ex-Mustang site owner"

[This message has been edited by BfB (edited 03-29-2001).]

 

How many dealers are really going to be willing to change out an intercooler that is not leaking when "the fix" is released? It kind of sucks that we have to wait for failure and all the fluid to get in the motor before we can get is serviced. I have 5K on my truck and no leak yet. A while back someone asked if all the trucks that were leaking had chips. My buddie had a 00 Lightning that he bought 2 days after I got mine and just had his intercooler replaced and his truck is bone stock. He has done nothing to the truck except ad some weight to the bed for the winter. He does drive the truck hard and has about 10K on it.



------------------
93 Teal Cobra #4656
2000 Silver Lightning #4524

 

Uh, why not take it in to the dealer with a half full reservoir when the new one's are released if you know it's going to leak later anyway. Why wait until it actually does....

Just my .02.

 

What can I say? I'm just repeating what SVT's own hotline folks told my service manager...

Heaven forbid they issue an official statement or something via a public channel.

Like, I said, I'll believe it when I see it.

Logan

 

What BfB states makes sense. The other does not. No flame intended just facts. The 01 cooler and lower will work in the 99/00 only if you also use the 01 blower. Different mounting points on the manifold and blower. Recall would make this too public for SVT. I am sure they will try and keep it as quiet as possible. Even though "we" know it, the public at large does not. They are still getting over their black eye from the Cobra.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.82 (stock)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
Snug-Lid
In the works:
Level 10 converter
4-Link

 

THe time frame Logan mentioned is pretty close from what I heard today also. My dealers GM was told that a late April to May was when the replacement was to be available.

 

Hey, I'll keep my mouth shut if we get the 01 blower.

 

If you disconnect the intercooler pump because the reservoir is dry, you are not getting any cooling of the compressed air. This would mean the engine sees a very hot incoming mixture, and:

1) Much less power than with a working intercooler.

2) Piston surface temperature outside of operating range.

 

This is too strange, I got a call from a parts guy at my Ford dealer today and he stated that 2 different intercoolers for my truck came in!

My response was "What do you mean 2 different ones".

His response "Well the one your service agent ordered and one that is campaigned by ford"

Me: "What does companied by ford mean?"

Him: "I don't know, give your service agent a call and he'll schedule an appointment."

So I call my agent and repeat the same conversation and he states that he only ordered the intercooler from the book.

I have an appointment Monday morning.

 

Don't get me wrong, what BfB makes perfect sense, and I don't doubt what he or Tony says...

I would just love it if SVT would actually give us some sense of what to expect publicly as opposed to being a "faceless" organization and leaving everyone "guessing" at what is actually going on.

Pretty pathetic when even a Ford dealer can't get the right info from them.

My 2 cents...

Logan

 

I agree with you Logan. Very few manufacturers are will to step up and accept responsibility for a defect of problem. All boils down to the all mighty dollar. Too many people have no pride in what they do. As long as "X" number of units get shipped each day they are happy.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning 13.82 (stock)
PSP 4-way
PSP Filter Kit
PSP Lower Pulley
Level 10 Shift kit
Snug-Lid
In the works:
Level 10 converter
4-Link