1994 Ford Thunderbird

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE JERKING FORWARD WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WORE OUT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S POWER WINDOW'S, AIR CONDITIONER AND TRANSMISSION. *NLM

PARKED VEHICLE UNDER SOME TREES AND WALKED AWAYAND SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD BOOM. FRIEND THOUGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. WENT TO CHECK, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. FRIEND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT OUT FLAMES. FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS BATTERY CABLE WHICH ALSO CAUSED ELECTRICAL WIRES ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO MELT. *AK

THE ECC APPARENTLY FAILED 1 JUL 2000, ALTHOUGH DIAGNOSIS OF THIS WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE SERVICED ON 5 JUL. THE ECC FAILED, COMMANDING A FUEL INJECTOR TO REMAIN OPEN, THUS INJECTING RAW FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF ENGINE STUMBLING ON 1 JUL. FORD DEFINES THIS PROBLEM AS, "HAVE YOUR VEHICLE SERVICED AS SOON AS CONVENIENTLY POSSIBLE." FOR THIS SITUATION, THIS COMMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK ON 2 JUL AND FINDING THE CAR CONSUMING MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THIRTY MILES OF DRIVING. THE CAR WAS SMOKING PROFUSELY FROM OIL BURN AND GAS COULD BE SMELLED BY FOLLOWING DRIVERS BY 4 JUL. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT A CAR WITH SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WAS IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD RESULTED IN A FIRE. THIS DISCHARGE OF RAW, EXCESS GAS INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MOST DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO PRECLUDE DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ECC SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO COMMAND COMPETE SHUTOFF WHEN IT DETECTS AN ABNORMAL FUEL FLOW TO ANY CYLINDER. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM IS IN EXCESS OF $450.00. THIS IS NOT A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT THAT CAN BE IGNORED UNTIL CONVENIENT.

WE WERE ORIGANLLY TOLD OUR CAR NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER CHIP,WE NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET THE ENTIRE TIME. THE CAR RAN "ALRIGHT" FOR A MONTH OR SO,BUT NEVER QUITE THE SAME,AFTER WE GOT THE CHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS REMAINED ON,THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-START THE COMPUTER,AND ADDTIONAL $200.00. WE DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH,UNTIL IT FINALLY JUST QUIT. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S THEY ALL INFORMED US IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD-GASKET ALL ALONG. SEVERAL OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM,AT APPROX. THE SAME MILAGE. HAS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD-GASKETS? OW MANY COMPLAINTS DO THEY NEED TO RECIEVE,BEFORE THEY WILL RE-CALL A VEHICLE?*AK( DOT NUMBER: )