1993 Ford Escort

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ESCORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S VOLUNTARY RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED NUMEROUS TEMPORARY REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS

IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER THINGS. I FILED FOR LEMON LAW IN 1993-94 IN TEXAS. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR, COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY A LOANER CAR I WAS TOLD NO. WITHOUT FINANCES TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO & FROM WORK (50 MLS DAILY) I COULD NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER AT THAT TIME WITHOUT THEM PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION. OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN 1 PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. SINCE 1994, I REPLACED 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES TO FIND WHY IT WOULD STALL IN IDLE AND NO ACCELERATION AFTER CAR WARMED UP& OTHER THINGS. IN 1995, THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK AT SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN & THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT TOP OF TANK RESULTING IN FUMES & GAS LEAKING WHEN FILLED. THREE FORD DEALERSHIPS SAID ONLY 1992 FORD ESCORTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1992. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE BUT STILL WON'T WORK. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS CAN'T FIX NOR TWO AUTO ELECTRICIANS. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN UNDER LEMON LAW, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ONE TIME OFFER. SINCE I REFUSED THE FIRST OFFER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RECOMMENDED I SELL THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER ONE. I CAN NOT POSSIBLY PUT THESE PROBLEMS ON SOMEONE ELSE? THIS WAS TOTALLY UNETHICAL. I"VE BEEN LOYAL TO FORD SINCE IN MY TEENS. THIS IS MY 2ND FORD ESCORT & MY FIRST/ONLY NEW VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR & WOULD REALLY LIKE FORD TO DO RIGHT BY ME IN THIS SITUATION. *JB

FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768008

THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASBOARD WHEN DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. LATER INVESTIGATION BY THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE WIRING TO OVERHEAT BECAUSE FORD DID NOT PUT A FUSE IN THE POWER LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL CONNECTIONS INSIDE THE GAS TANK WERE MELTED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNES TO THE FUEL PUMP MELTED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SHORT AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED. I'M APPAULED THAT THERE IS NO FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PREVENT SUCH A DANGEROUS HAZARD. NONE OF THE FUSES IN THE FUSE BLOCK WERE BLOWN. TRACING THE WIRING FROM THE FUEL PUPM SHOWS THAT IT COMPLETELY BYPASSES THE FUSE BLOCK. THE FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH NEVER TRIPPED, NOR DOES IT SEEM TO BE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS ELECTRICAL SHORTS TO THE PUMP. THIS DESIGN POSES SERIOUS THREATS TO LIFE, AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION IN THE FUEL TANK. MY FAMILY FEELS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND NOW AM TRYING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP AS THE RUST AROUND THE PUMP SEALS INDICATES. I'M HOLDING ON TO THE PUMP TO SHOW THE MELTED CONNECTIONS WHICH INDICATE A POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARD AS WELL AS THE MELTED WIRING CONNECTIONS/CONNECTOR AND WIRES TO THE PUMP.*AK