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Ford 3.8 head gasket/trans failures--"secret warranty" Part 2 - READ ONLY

181 messages,  Last post on Jul 12, 2001 at 10:57 PM

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#172 of 181 I just got my '95 Windstar back from the dealership's garage... by tony22r

Jun 28, 2001 (11:27 am)

for Blown Head Gasket repair under the (00M09 & 00M10) 7yr/100,000mi gasket replacement program
Call Ford at: (800) 392-3673 to find out more.
 
Initially when my head gaskets blew and i contacted Ford they warned me that *I* would have to pay a $70 "Diagnostic Fee", and if the dealership felt that my vehicle had enough "symptoms" to warrant gasket replacement under 00M09/00M10, then my $70 would be reimbursed.
I said "listen pal, 2 weeks ago all my warning lights came on, my engine was hesitating, chugging, knocking Badly, felt like it was running on 3 cylinders, was burning white smoke out the tailpipe, was consuming 1 gallon of coolant per week, and now it is sitting on Jackstands in my driveway waiting for the Tow Truck to tow it to the Ford Dealership!! How many more symptoms do you Need??"
 
Also, the dealership said all the Courtesy cars were already taken by Other owners with blown head gaskets! and they Refused to cover a rental car!
 
Anyways, the total cost of repairs was $1300 and took TWO weeks! But the "Extended Gasket Warranty" program only covered $1050!
The dealership said *I* had to come up with $250!! I said WTF?!? WHY do I have to pay $250 for FORD's defective gaskets Scewing up MY engine??!!
The dealership said the Warranty *only* covered gaskets and installation, but I was responsible for things like corroded spark plugs, block flush, oil, coolant, and waste disposal fees!!
I just about got in my Ford and crashed it thru their dealership window!
But decided to drive it home and put a For Sale sign on it instead... at least now that it was running again.
 
Over the years of (unhappy) ownership i have spent Thousands of dollars out of my own pocket for parts & service not covered by the recall/warranty, rental cars!, towing, time taken off work, etc.
So with the Thousands of dollars i've WASTED i could've just bought a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan to begin with!!!

#173 of 181 95 taurus transmission by hoppychop

Jul 03, 2001 (4:38 pm)

Help, my 95 SE taurus was at a stop light and when I gave it gas it wouldn't go. I floored it and it crawled off the road. I put it in park ,after trying drive and reverse a few times it would go. I drove home, and called the dealer. I hadn't purchased the extended warranty. They told me it didn't matter where I took it . Repairs were two weeks out. I took it to a local shop who called me and said when they took theTransmission pan off there were metal shavings, and the transmission fluid looked burnt and bubbly.The car only has 59840 miles on it. It is a 3.0 6 cylinder. I bought it as a dealer demo, and I am the only owner. My family has always driven fords I. am totally shocked by this. Does anyone know of any warranty info for this car? 2000 bucks for a rebuild job is crazy!!

#174 of 181 still waiting........ by cathy629

Jul 05, 2001 (12:26 pm)

I am STILL waiting... we dont have the $1600 to pay for half of the engine and we have made numerous calls to the 1-800 Ford number and we also have a lawyer looking into it for us. They told us that we were over the 100,000/7yr warranty and that we were 80 miles over the new gaskets warranty which is 1,000 miles. Well, I find that hard to believe considering that since we've owned the crap box we have only put 3200 miles on it and we have had the van since last Sept of 2000!!! Doesnt that tell Ford how much this car has been sitting? I dont know what we are going to do. The dealer we bought the van from (not a Ford dealer) agreed to take back the van and transfer our monthly payments to a new van off thier lot, but first we have to pay the $1600!! We dont have $1600. My father in law hired a lawyer to look into this problem for us so hopefully we wont have to pay, but meanwhile I have no car and am stuck in the house because my husband needs our other car for work.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN!!!! EVER!!!
I had owned Chevy's before this and took a chance on a Ford and it was a mistake!! One that will never happen again!! Anyone who is reading this, dont buy a FORD!!
And thanks to all who have given great suggestions and helpful websites.. please keep the help coming!

#175 of 181 1994 Ford Taurus LX Station Wagon with 3.8L V6 by trompet

Jul 05, 2001 (11:54 pm)

My father-in-law has been through the head gasket reclamation program. Now, the engine is overheating (without visible fluid leaks) in short distance operation, and the dealer has diagnosed a main-bearing failure in the engine, with the recommendation that the engine be replaced (for approximately $4000.00).
 
My father-in-law is suspicious, even though the engine does have 108,000 miles on it. The head gasket was replaced at 88,000 miles early last year, and the dealer charged him $2000.00 to replace the timing chain at the same time.
 
The cynical observer would say that the dealer was merely ensuring its adequate compensation for services rendered on behalf of the sponsor- corporation.
 
Of course, after you pass that 100,000-mile threshold, all bets are off (especially when the "expected average useful life" is published at 120,000.)
 
The bottom line is that he'd rather salvage this station wagon for $4000 than even think about trading it in on another Ford product (because no one else is going to give him anything for it in its present condition).
 
So, the question is -- could an improperly installed head gasket contribute to a rapid deterioration of the main airing

#176 of 181 Trompet....this is happening to all the 3.8 liter Ford engines by cathy629

Jul 06, 2001 (6:38 am)

I have been researching and have found that all the Ford 3.8 liter engines seem to have the same problem. There has been people who have got thier engine replaced and the gaskets just blow again a month later!! I have read about people who have had their engine replaced several times and it doesnt fix the problem because the problem lies with the engine itself and if they keep replacing the engine with the same crap engine than the problem will NEVER be fixed!! It is just a vicious cycle that will never end so when I finally get my van back I am bringing it to the place where I bought it (not a Ford dealer) and trading it for another van-- probably something foreign. Please check out this website I made below and pass it on to people it may help or who are having the same problems with their Fords.
http://www.hometown.aol.com/locklayer/page3.html
It is a real disappointment for an american car company to be such an unreliable, incompetent maker of cars.

#177 of 181 Windstar head gaskets by huey68

Jul 06, 2001 (10:43 am)

We have a 1995 Wind star that has had it's head gasket replied by Ford. My question is has Ford fixed the problem with the head gaskets in their 2000 and 2001 models, and are we still entitled to the buy back program since we had the head gasket fixed

#178 of 181 To Cathy629 by judi_n

Jul 06, 2001 (6:14 pm)

TO: Cathy629
Cathy can you please email me . I would like to ask you some things about your van. I too have a 95 Windstar and it is getting sick.
You can email me at itsjudihome.com
Thanks and take care, Judi

#179 of 181 Trompet- I would be suspicious by nevadamom1

Jul 08, 2001 (11:09 am)

When my 95 WS LX was diagnosed with a timing chain gasket leak in 6/01 my local Ford dealer refused to fix it, their rationale was the high milage (74K!!) and said they would only put in a new engine. I took it to a recommended mechanic (private- not Ford) who replaced the timing chain, put in a new water pump (not rebuilt- at my request since it had 74K on it) replaced all the hoses and the fanbelt for 595.00. It may be beneficial to your Father-in-law to have his Taurus looked at by someone other than the local Ford dealer. Good Luck.

#180 of 181 Have a question for a mechanic by cathy629

Jul 08, 2001 (1:54 pm)

Ford is not only saying that they wont pay cause we missed the deadline of the extended warranty by a couple of weeks and we missed the 1000 mile new gasket warranty by 80 miles, but now they are also saying that the problem was with the "timing cover gasket" and not the head gasket so they dont think that qualifies us for the warranty. My question is isnt the timing cover gasket all part of the head gasket "family" in the engine? Is Ford once again trying to screw us over?

#181 of 181 Cathy629 by nevadamom1

Jul 12, 2001 (10:57 pm)

You may want to check out Post # 576 on the "Ford Windstar Problems" in the Vans section. You may find it of interest.

Messages Page 19 of 19

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