i posted the "97 1-50 4.2 v6 knock and lock" on here a while ago so i f you whant details on my problem i think its on page three of this board... but i got the hydro lock at 80,000 no heating up..did notice a small loss of coolint but no leak....
any way ive heard a lot about a possible recall on the engine and even heard a little on a class action law suit...ive got no interest in a law suit but i would love to get reembersed for replacing my engine...ford is well aware of the problem...and they said they would issue a recall if enough people had the prob. well ive heard about it a lot ...ive had hundreds of people read my message about it..with a clear title...........

does anyone know anything
thanks, hop

 

I'm not sure what Ford is thinking about this right now.

My lower intake gasket blew while the Ford tech was pressure testing the cooling system when I went in to have the timing cover gasket replaced last week. He didn't realize he'd blown it. He said the gasket must have been weak already. This is their story anyway.

They did confirm that there was no coolant in the crankcase before they did timing cover repair, but a few days later I noticed my coolant level had dropped. The dealer was closed for the weekend, so I drained some oil to check and sure enough; coolant came pouring out. It wasn't the milky look but actually green coolant. The coolant had settled at the bottom of the crankcase. I didn't drive it after that and had it towed back to the dealer when they returned the following Monday.

I get the truck back tonight, so we'll see if it knocks. Yes, I am pissed as hell at Ford for the poor gaskets and the dealer for blowing the gasket and not noticing. I'll give more details about it tonight after I get my truck.

I figured I'd have the timing cover gasket replaced at a Ford dealer becuase they're familiar with the problem. I also figured that at some point, Ford would extend the recall to include my truck and I'd be reimbersed. Big mistake. I was a whole lot better off before the gasket replacement.

I do plan on contacting everyone I can at Ford to make this a headache for them. I'm perfectly willing to call them every day to ask the status of the recall and would love it if everyone with this problem would as well.

 

hop, Had to get the front gasket and housing replaced due to a coolant leak and paid for it out my pocket cause the time frame was over to have Ford pay for. I've heard about some people have leaks oil to coolant and coolant to oil possibly due to the gasket leaking. Yes there is a problem, Ford did some thing, but not enough cause they were looking into doing/paying for part of mine but did'nt. The dealership acted like they shold of done something? I forget the service number for the gasket replacement but don't look for ford to help with this problem cause I've heard of to many times they don't. I love my truck except for this gasket and having to replace the manual tranny also. Good luck. Might try junk yards for a motor.

 

hop,

I will pass along what I know based on my "ferreting" around in the Ford Service Depts.

I was a service manager for a few years. I happen to know the owner of a Ford dealership. They have been a little more "open" I guess. But don't take any of this as anything more than "discussions" at the service dept level of SOME dealerships.

Yes Ford knows about this. Rumor has it that they have been quietly discussing a recall for this problem. Quietly means that basically there is disagreement at the higher level as to the liabilty of whether or not doing a recall is in Fords best interest or to simply let the problem evolve a little more and try and weather the storm. Remember this is going to cost Ford a fortune to do a recall and with Firestone and the Explorer and 0 percent financing, Ford hasn't had the best couple of years. So the decision to spend millions on this recall isn't one they will take lightly.

To add pressure for our side, everyone needs to call the number you provided, bitch to as many sources as possible about it. Keep building pressure. Plus there is a class action that has yet to be certified but is in the mill. I believe it is out of Minnesota but can't recall. IF and the is an IF, it gets certified, this will open the doors to litigation and that will then start the second part of the cost equation for Ford. They then have to decide if the legal cost and payment on a class action suit can be offset by a general recall.

It won't be quick and it won't be pretty if it becomes a legal case. Plan on a class action taking lots of months to wind through the system.

In the meantime the corporate guys at Ford are never going to be in favor of throwing money out the window if they don't have to. If they feel its a minimal problem, statistically, basically it will be tough luck for us the consumer. If however they see it as a bigger problem then we have hope. The service manager at the Ford dealer here told me that Ford has been leaning towards a recall and that he expected that it would be within the next 9 months. That was in May when we had that conversation.

I believe that if they see more bonafide cases of the problem it will certainly help the decision to have that recall.

My best advice I tell everyone is...keep EVERYTHING you get for receipts, documentation, and repair cost. Make notes of who you talk to, when you talk to them and how they were contacted. If and when the time comes, you will be re-imbursed if a recall happens and you have already had a failure that was part of the recall.

AJ:

Man you sure aren't having a good outcome here. You did this as a pre-emptive strike and are in worse shape now than before. But it sounds like Ford will be giving you a new engine now. You have proof that they did it. Now you have a bonafide failure that you can prove Ford caused.

You finally get that new engine you have been trying for.

 

Thanks, Tom.

My engine actually seems to be fine. I stopped driving after I'd noticed the coolant level drop and then had it towed to the dealer. Because I didn't mix up the oil and the coolant, it just settled at the bottom of the oil pan and didn't seem to do any damage.

I got the truck back last night. It started right up. No knocking or shaking. Very smooth and quiet. I think I really did get lucky.

The way that the SM handled the situation really had me upset. I felt that the tech that blew the gasket didn't do the job right. If he had pressure tested the system after the timing cover gasket was replaced, he'd have known there was another leak.

There wasn't a whole lot I could do at the moment. At first, I told him to just change the oil and I'd have the engine checked and the gasket replaced elsewhere. After some discussion, I got the SA to admit that they'd made a mistake and he offered to replace the lower manifold gasket for $420.00 parts and labor, including oil change.

In the end, I paid $1244.00 for the front timing cover, upper & lower intake manifold gaskets and a new serpentine belt. I also had a headache for 3 days straight.

We'll see in a few days if the repair holds. If not, the dealer owes me a rebuild. I told Ford that I own 3 of their trucks and I won't be buying another till they reimburse me for these repairs. We'll see.

 

I have a 1997 Xl 4.2 And hav 171,000 and have had
all the recalls done but I have had no Engine probs
runs like a New truck.

 

My motor had to be replaced at 106K. Believe it or not, Ford paid for it because they said there was a recall regarding coolant leaking into the timing chain housing, and that this is what caused the engine to fail.

If u have costly engine repairs or have to have it replaced, you may want to talk to a regional rep.

 

kotam,

How did you get Ford to replace an engine with 106,000 miles

 

AjRagno,

If you can, post the name and phone number of the individual you are contacting @ Ford so we can all call the same person. If everyone will ban together we might get them to change their mind!

 

It's not really too eventful.......yet

Today, I spoke with, Bill at Ford Customer Assistance 1-800-392-3672. Bill took all of the info about my truck, myself and the repairs as well as the cost. Towards the end of the conversation, he read a scripted response: "At this time, we are unable to reimburse you for these repairs." Pretty much what I'd expected to hear. He was however, symathetic and aware of recall #99B29 that my truck was not eligible for.

It's important to keep in mind that the people we reach at the Cust. Asst . # are not going to have the power to authorize any recall or reimburse the cost of repairs so be pleasant with them. Don't be that guy that calls and annoys the hell out of 'em. They'll enter much more accurate info if you're easy to speak with.

I also had a pleasant conversation with, Kristen @ 313-317-1819. She is a secretary I assume for, Sushma K. Patel, e-mail:: SPATEL31@ford.com. Now, Sushma, a woman, is someone worth raising your voice. This is a person with power and her job depends on your satisfaction as a Ford customer. My conversation today was limited to, Kristine but I did learn a few things. She said it is perfectly acceptable to call Cust. Asst. as often as you please about the same problem and it will be noted each time and forwarded to managment (she made a reference to, Sushma receiving these cases). I also learned that if you act as though you have business with these Corp contacts, they are available via phone and e-mail. The Ford Corp. contacts are listed at www.blueovalnews.com

 

I've posted my story on so many websites I can't remember them all. At the risk of being redundant I want to tell you that I have a copy of the "Critical Supplement #1" from FORD to the dealerships dated April 2000. This was a modification notice regarding the procedures involved with replacing the front cover gasket on the 4.2L. Noteworthy are the following admissions by FORD :

First, that the procedures involved in replacing the front cover gasket were initially sent out in December 1999 and were INSUFFICIENT as they did not outline proper procedure for the service to be performed. Oil contamination was a concern as it had been found to cause engine failure DESPITE the recall procedure being completed.

Secondly, Ford admits in that Critical Supplement #1 that engine failures WERE occuring even AFTER the recall procedure.

And lastly, FORD listed a contact number for the dealerships to call in the event that the dealership felt that damage was done to the engine prior to the recall being performed but had NOT THEN BEEN DETECTED.

I've been sitting on this information for months waiting for the right opportunity to share it. Seems that the time is now. Of course, FORD did not intend to have the customers obtain this package. It was the dealership's haste that afforded me this copy. He simply wanted me out of his shop without realizing what he had handed me.

What do you think?

 

FordsaysTough,

The complete information is available at www.alldatadiy.com

There is a list of all the letters sent to dealer and owners. Recall Hotline at 1-800-325-5621 is even listed. hmmmm.... I wonder if it still works