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Lincoln Aviator Maintenance and Repair

978 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 6:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? Lincoln Aviator, Auto Body, Engine, Suspension, SUV

    
 
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Messages Page 83 of 98

#818 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [akirby] by jasonn6

Feb 01, 2010 (11:35 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 01, 2010 7:22 am)
Well, I have unknowingly just joined this community of the infamously flawed Lincoln Aviator and its engine. I just purchased mine, a 2003 Aviator AWD with 80K...I purchased it from a small private dealer in San Diego..Loved the look, searched a few sites to see if there were any major issues..I only read a few reviews and most customers stated that they have a few minor probs but enjoy the Aviator over all. I noticed during my test drive the idle was a little low but it ran great so thought nothing of it...I purchased it on 1/27/10.
 
3 days after the purchase....GUESS what??!!...Check engine light comes on...then starts to flash when i was waiting at a traffic light...I immediately drove to Pep Boy to check the code...
MISFIRE CYL #8
  
I now have come to realize im totally done for...I have a 3 month 3Kmiles warranty they gave me but I think its going to be a battle to have a engine rebuild covered...
 
I read that there is a factory extended 10 year 100+k warranty on the coils of the Aviator. you just need to have the dealer test the coil(s).. Although i fear that the valve are the unfortunate plague.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
After Warranty Adjustment?? Secret Warranties?
 
Im in Los Angeles any one have any luck with dealers in the San Fernando Valley? Galpin?
Thanks in advance!!

#819 of 978 Re: Aviator engine rebuild [bostoncigar] by jasonn6

Feb 01, 2010 (11:49 pm)

Replying to: bostoncigar (Jan 24, 2010 7:21 pm)
Con't....
 
I am also pretty confident the small dealer knew about this problem and sold it to me anyways... Unfortunately, there is no way to prove this...
 
After, I checked the check engine light code with Pep Boy, I asked if the code could be erased from the memory...He said yes, it's easy and he thinks its quite common practice with private dealers.. the check engine light didn't come on when I test drove it and it took a few days for the computer to see the error. something like.. it has to see the error at least 3 times during 50 turn key cycles...
 

What a debacle... thoughts?

#820 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [jasonn6] by jasonn6

Feb 02, 2010 (12:58 am)

Replying to: jasonn6 (Feb 01, 2010 11:35 pm)
Goggle this....
Mustang Cobra head cooling mod
 
You'll find a cooling mod that 99-04 mustang cobra owners with the SAME 4.6L V8 in our Aviators and they have elected to install it because of the drivers side head over heating on #7 and #8 cyl...resulting in low compression issues, ticking, ect..
 
Although, who knows if it's the fix because I also read that the Exhaust valve is to blame? (maybe because its running too hot...since there is a cooling problem on only the driver side head, around #7 and #8)
 
Lightning Force Performance is please to announce our Direct Flow Head Cooling Mod. The Stock Driver's side Head on 03-04 Cobra Mustangs (and most DOHC 4.6L Applications) runs hot. This is because of Ford's failure to provide adequate cooling to the #7 and #8 cylinder jackets on the driver's side head creating hot spots/steam pockets in and around the cylinders (aiding in potential detonation). By creating a direct cold path from the radiator to the hot cylinders, coolant flow in this area in increased dramatically. it like $118.95 and im not sure what the installation cost could be but prolly not too bad...
 
hmmm....the plot thickens... imagine if the Aviator owners, the Mustang owners or any other owners of this 4.6L V8... got together and fought Ford to repair sad engines? uggg wishful thinking, i guess...?

#821 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [jasonn6] by akirby

Feb 02, 2010 (6:36 am)

Replying to: jasonn6 (Feb 01, 2010 11:35 pm)
I'd say there is a decent chance it's the coil and not the head. Mine didn't throw a code. I also don't understand why the dealer would give you a warranty if they knew it was bad - unless they don't intend to honor the warranty.
 
This problem is limited to the DOHC 4.6L engines and I still believe it only affects a small percentage of them. AWAs are hard to come by in today's financial environment but it won't hurt to ask.
 
If you like your Aviator and want to keep it then the cooling mod is probably a good investment. Otherwise, ditch it and move on.

#822 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [akirby] by kendall8

Feb 02, 2010 (7:45 am)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 02, 2010 6:36 am)
_i have a 2003 with 40,000. What is a colling mod. Should I get one. I would like to prevent head problem. I want to keep the suv. What percent have head problems.

#823 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [kendall8] by akirby

Feb 02, 2010 (8:46 am)

Replying to: kendall8 (Feb 02, 2010 7:45 am)
Hard to tell the percentage since only a small percentage of the failed ones get reported on the internet. The cooling mod is referenced in the posts above. Don't know anything about it but if I still had one and intended to keep it I would look into it.

#824 of 978 Re: Loud knocking from reverse to drive [akirby] by abtrman

Feb 03, 2010 (10:58 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 01, 2010 7:18 am)
You make some great points.You think only one or two companies may engage in passing the buck along to the customer? I think you are way too trusting.While I don't see a conspiracy around every corner, I do see them. You need only read the myriad internet forums such as this one to know that it is more than just happenstance.
 
I'm sure they "try" to estimate the cost of warranty repairs but I believe those estimates probably ignore the known issues.I believe the length of warranty is probably tied more to market forces causing a company to offer comparable coverages.Why do you insist on believing that the percentages are low? How could you know? But even if the percentage is low, It's 100% worth of a problem for those affected.
 
As for them not being safety issues you are mistaken.Two of the five coils that went bad,failed while I was merging into freeway traffic.I was just lucky.As for the engine, I went from 70 mph in the fast lane,to 35 mph in the fast lane in rush-hour traffic.I wish you could have been there.Engine components failing at highway speeds sure sounds like a safety issue to me.
 
Umm..Those playpen recalls were done voluntarily.Many companies do in fact recall old products other than those related to child safety.Mr.Coffee,Maytag dishwashers and torchiere lamps to name a few.
 
Don't get me wrong,I'm not a Ford basher. We've owned seven! I'm just tired of the big guys giving the" business" to the little guys.We all work hard for the money and I just hate to have it unfairly taken, conspiracy or not.

#825 of 978 Re: Loud knocking from reverse to drive [abtrman] by akirby

Feb 04, 2010 (7:36 am)

Replying to: abtrman (Feb 03, 2010 10:58 pm)
All vehicles have known problems. Some are due to design defects, some are due to material defects. Audi control arms are a good example.
 
Do I think Ford should have extended the warranty on the heads? Yes, I think it would have been great customer service. They've done that with coils, COPs and most recently heater cores that were know to be defective.
 
Do I think Ford should be REQUIRED to extend the warranty? Absolutely not. It's the customer's responsibility to research known problems and decide whether to buy additional warranty coverage, whether we're talking about cars or toasters or computers.
 
I just don't believe that any mfr should be required to fix anything beyond the warranty period. Otherwise why even have a warranty period? Just force the mfrs to cover any problem for the life of the product.

#826 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [abtrman] by flex7

Feb 04, 2010 (8:21 am)

Replying to: abtrman (Feb 01, 2010 12:55 am)
2004 Aviator 1yr out of warranty and 51800 miles on it. I didn't buy an extended warranty because I was buying "Ford Tough" and I knew I'd care for the vehicle and NOT put a lot of miles on it. Now nearing 52,00 miles and I'm faced with a new engine at about $6,000. Ford said "unfortunate" 5 times in the conversation and "customer responsibility" 4 times. He read the Ford extended warranty on the coils twice to me, but this problem is deeper that the coils. No, I don't think that Ford should be REQUIRED to fix it, but it's just plain wrong, and normal American buisness actions say that you right your wrongs. No more Fords, Lincolns or likely any other American made vehicle in my future. 52 thousand miles - just wrong!

#827 of 978 Re: Aviator engine [flex7] by aviatorguy

Feb 04, 2010 (8:32 am)

Replying to: flex7 (Feb 04, 2010 8:21 am)
I've been reading the thread on this... Very valid points for both the consumer and the manufacturer. No doubt, the current Ford customer base (as will nearly all customers of every type of product) re-evaluate their purchase, loyalty (or not) to the brand, initial cost, maintenance, etc.
I'm not sure there's a right answer on this... and I'm not even sure legislation helps as much as we hope it should.
I wonder if an "enhanced / prorated" dealer warranty would solve many (never all) of the issues cited in this discussion.
Example: The dealer would provide a 4 / 50k bumper to bumper and then move to a 2 or 3 year "pay half" arrangement. That way, the line of covered / not covered does not end harshly and both sides end up winning / losing a bit - which would ultimate (one would think) encourage Ford to minimize component failures after the typical 4 year window...
Just a thought... put some skin in the game for everyone...

Messages Page 83 of 98

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