Dealer will not fix valve seals or rear axle.

[Shora]

Two weeks ago, when I took my (2003 300A 06-2002 build) MM for it’s 20,000 maintenance (oil and filter) I again complained about the smoke at start up and, thanks to the info from this great site, told them to specifically check the valve seals etc. The master tech of the shop told me that he will personally start up the car in the morning and tell me exactly what is wrong once and for all. Five days later, I call and ask my service advisor when my car would be ready and he tells me that they are still working on it. The next day, he calls and informs me that he has bad news. He explained that even though the technicians feel that the seals are causing the smoke on start-up that FORD will not allow them to touch the engine. The hot line that they must call before performing the job will not authorize the repair and insist that the smoke on start up is a “normal characteristic” of this engine. I called ESP personally right at the dealership and they told me that there is nothing they can do if the techs on the hot line said that the smoke is not a problem. I got so angry that my car was there for a week and still smokes on start-up that I went straight to my local muffler shop and installed Flowmater Delta 40’s and have been trying to forget about the smoke with the sweet sound of my V8. Now, two weeks later, I took my Marauder to that same dealership (I take it there for ALL my service by the way) and complained about noise coming from the rear axle. I also gave them the exact TSB for the rear axle replacement (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:date Month="3" Day="5" Year="2005">03-5-5</st1:date>). Well, the next day my service advisor calls again and says that they cannot get it done because I only complained about noise from the rear axle and forgot to mention the vibration problems as a result of it.




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Is it just this particular dealership or am I never going to get anything fixed on this Marauder.</P>

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1)What do I have to do to get these issues fixed? </P>

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2)Anyone know of a good F-L-M or SVT dealership anywhere near <st1:place><st1:City>Miami</st1:City>, <st1:State>FL</st1:State></st1:place> that takes good care of our Marauders without all this bullsh_t? </P>

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I have the Premium Care ESP 3 yrs. 75,000 miles.</P>

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I wish that I can make it to MV3 and meet you guys but I work 65 hours a week and have not even had the chance to meet the great guys from the Sunshine State Marauders (yet). I visit this site everyday and I don’t want to sound like a dork but I feel lucky to be a member of this site.</P>

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[warren]

Shora,

Try a Ford Dealer that services the local police or FHP cars.

I took mine an 03MM to the local Cobra Dealer the takes care of
the police services. They were well aware of the axle problems and
had special hearing tools that located the noise and vibration.
They ordered a kit and replaced all bearings and the 2 axles as this
condition had happened many times on law enforcemant CV's. The
tech's new more and did more. It seamed as though they had more
clout!!!

To be honest the local LM dealer never did have the expertise or
interest.

If that does not work get ahold of the area Ford rep.
Keep pressing for attention.
And if that does not work pm me for more connections.

Good luck,
Warren

[Murader03]

As Warren said, find another dealer. Mine has been service by a local small town dealer, since new, and I've had no probloem with them at all. In fact, when I took it in for the noise in the rear, they rebuilt the entire 3rd member first, said the limited slip clutches were chattering. The tech who did the work never checked the axles, so when I picked the car up, noise still there, I went right back. They did change the axles and bearing under the TSB, the 2nd tech told me the first guy should have found the axles as they were really scoured.

This same dealer also changed my engine after it overheated. Like wise, I had the oil on start up which didn't really bother me as I also had this problem on both the '96 and '99 Cobra I owned before. Both went 100K with out as much as having the valve covers off, well the '99 had the TSB upgrade for low HP, but otherwise was never opened up. I expected the same from this engine until it overheated at 54k.

[sfsv]

:) I take care of the FHP and the some local police departments in Miami. Please e-mail your VIN and I will respond back to you by Saturday morning. I have seen plenty of the axle concern, but not one valve seal concern. I will be by tonight at the Tower shops at about 7-7:30.

[metroplex]

Valve stem seals have been a problem with 2V 4.6 V8s since the dawn of the engine. I was watching the Gratiot Cruise on TV and a LIncoln Town Car took off from a light complete with the requisite blue smoke screen. I'm not sure why the 4V 4.6s have the same problem.

[Rick-n-Miami]

Which dealership is this? It sounds EXACTLY like Gables Lincoln Mercury (may they burn in hell).

[Shora]

:) I take care of the FHP and the some local police departments in Miami. Please e-mail your VIN and I will respond back to you by Saturday morning. I have seen plenty of the axle concern, but not one valve seal concern. I will be by tonight at the Tower shops at about 7-7:30.I only get out of work at 9:40 PM. Will you guys still be there after 10:00pm or are you guys usually back home by then?

[SouLRioT]

At 10 o'clock were sometimes still eating dinner (kindof hard to get a table for 15+ people) Send a PM with your phone number to Cobra25 and he can give you a heads up of where they are.

[Shora]

:) I take care of the FHP and the some local police departments in Miami. Please e-mail your VIN and I will respond back to you by Saturday morning. I have seen plenty of the axle concern, but not one valve seal concern. I will be by tonight at the Tower shops at about 7-7:30.
Where is your shop?

[MainEngDwarf]

Well I hope Ford doesn't give my local dealer the same problem I'm dropping my car off next week for the blue smke issue and the service manager said he was going to pull the heads. I'll keep you informed of what they find.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Call me I think I can help

[Warpath]

Ford pays dealerships a flat rate for each type of repair. If the dealership cannot repair it for that cost (i.e. labor takes longer than Ford specifies), they have no incentive to fix it. I've heard of dealerships not fixing a problem under warranty because they would lose money. Its not common. But, it has happened before.

Try calling 1-800-392-FORD. Its a help line to use when the dealer cannot help.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Or ask for the Ford Zone rep for your area

[worksuxxx]

I also had a 300a born date 6/2/02 with blue smoke on startup. (Just sold last week), I saw a post to check pcv, when I did I found oil in the tube. Replaced pcv now doesn't smoke on start up. May or may not correct but easy fix to try first. I was at 43,000 miles when I changed it though, twice the amount you are at.

[Dennis Reinhart]

A PCV valve does not normally cause smoke on start up, this is what happens when you drive your car engine oil is pumped to all the critical areas of the engine, one is the cylinder heads, oil lubricates the cams and valve stems, at the bottom of the valve stem is a seal that rests on the valve guide, as the valves move up and down excessive oil is wiped off the stem and the seal is designed so oil will not run down the valve stem onto the valve and drip into the combustion chamber, if the valve guides are worn and or the seals are bad when you drive the car as I have explained oil will be up in the cylinder head, this oil runs out of the heads back into the block through drain holes in the heads, Now when you park the car and shut the engine off that oil will also run down the valve stems and if the seals and or guides are bad the oil will drip into the cylinders that is why when you start the car it smokes like crazy till all the oil is burnt out of the cylinders, a PCV will allow oil to be drawn out of the top of the valve cover and sucked into the intake, this will pretty much make the car smoke all the time not just on start up, again this issue is a warranty item it sounds to me like the dealer is being a pain take it some where else or call a Zone rep, if the car was here it would have already been fixed at my dealer here.

[Shaft333]

Ford pays dealerships a flat rate for each type of repair. If the dealership cannot repair it for that cost (i.e. labor takes longer than Ford specifies), they have no incentive to fix it. I've heard of dealerships not fixing a problem under warranty because they would lose money. Its not common. But, it has happened before.

Try calling 1-800-392-FORD. Its a help line to use when the dealer cannot help. Bingo!

I called that number about my paint. I got the reply, "We stand behind the decisions of our dealers."
What?!!?
WTF is the Heroes line for?! For someone to tell me, "no" without even looking at my problem?!!?!

Considering the customer service I have received... this is likely to be my last Ford.

[Dennis Reinhart]

STAY AWAY from that dealer go to another dealer talk to the service manager as I said if you lived in Fl I would have you come here and it would be taken care of, I had a local man buy a used Marauder and he just had the head replaced for FREE on a used Marauder that was still in warranty, if the technicians tell the service manager its a bad valve guide seals and or guides they will change them out but these DH do not want to work on your car at the flat rate Ford specifies. Why not call me tomorrow.

[MENINBLK]

Bingo!

I called that number about my paint. I got the reply, "We stand behind the decisions of our dealers."
What?!!?
WTF is the Heroes line for?! For someone to tell me, "no" without even looking at my problem?!!?!

Considering the customer service I have received... this is likely to be my last Ford.

Shaft333,

You need to chill.
You are now being unrealistic.

If you visited a Doctor, and he examined you and told you that you were FINE,
when you felt like you were going to die, what would you do ???
I would be going to see a SECOND or THIRD Doctor for another opinion.

So WTF !!! Why can't you treat your CAR the same way ???
If you Dealer tells you there is NOTHING WRONG, or NOTHING THEY CAN DO,
you need to take the car to another person to look at the car and be able to help you.

And Don't even mention that the car was seen by someone else.

If your dealer has emblems on your car - TAKE THEM OFF NOW !!!

[Warpath]

Bingo!

I called that number about my paint. I got the reply, "We stand behind the decisions of our dealers."
What?!!?
WTF is the Heroes line for?! For someone to tell me, "no" without even looking at my problem?!!?!

Considering the customer service I have received... this is likely to be my last Ford.

That's unfortunate. I had a 96 Bronco with a rusty oil pan. I complained while it was under warranty. The dealer said they couldn't do anything until it leaked. It leaked 500 miles after warranty. The dealer said it was out of warranty. I called that number and they arranged for the dealer to replace the pan. It took all of about 5 minutes on the phone.

At least you should call them back and let them know that their lack of concern has lost them a customer.

[Shaft333]

Shaft333,

You need to chill.
You are now being unrealistic.


Hah! :P :D I did get a second opinion. They said, "no," too.
It still makes the Heroes line useless if their philosophy is "we stand behind our dealers."

I wouldn't wear a dealer's logo if I got good service from them either, not unless they paid me to.

My next car is likely not to be a Ford. I don't like their service and found their product to require visiting their service shops too often.

[Tinaree]

We had the same problem. Ford is not authorizing this for cold startup smoking only. FWIW, this has always been a problem for some 4Vs. More valves and massive oiling galleys.

In Mercury's case, this is feature, not a bug; it hearkens back to the days of big-blocks that smoked while on the dealer lot :D

Don't know what the axle problem could be. The trac-lok may be worn and need a rebuild. Maybe just be low on fluid, who knows?

[Dennis Reinhart]

Here is the update, the car is coming here and the dealer I use will fix this under warranty, the problem as I said is the valve guides on the drivers head, this is a known problem on all 03 Cobras and Marauder and Mach 1, the reason why they only change the drivers head is the passenger side is made by a different company, and they got it right, the drivers side head casting is bad which causes the valve guide issue, it also can cause a ticking noise as well, he will also get the axles replace under warrant as well.:beer:

[Shaft333]

Here is the update, the car is coming here and the dealer I use will fix this under warranty, the problem as I said is the valve guides on the drivers head, this is a known problem on all 03 Cobras and Marauder and Mach 1, the reason why they only change the drivers head is the passenger side is made by a different company, and they got it right, the drivers side head casting is bad which causes the valve guide issue, it also can cause a ticking noise as well, he will also get the axles replace under warrant as well.:beer:
Sounds like you're kind'a the Marauder Guardian Angel! Good news, indeed.

[jgc61sr2002]

Here is the update, the car is coming here and the dealer I use will fix this under warranty, the problem as I said is the valve guides on the drivers head, this is a known problem on all 03 Cobras and Marauder and Mach 1, the reason why they only change the drivers head is the passenger side is made by a different company, and they got it right, the drivers side head casting is bad which causes the valve guide issue, it also can cause a ticking noise as well, he will also get the axles replace under warrant as well.:beer:


You can't ask for more than that. :D Way to go Dennis. :up:

[Lowell]

My 03 300A built 07-02 is in having valve guide seals replaced now. I hope for the best. Fill you in at MVIII.

[DEFYANT]

Very cool Mr.DR! Very cool indeed!

Now, would they do the repair under warrenty if the car was "heavily modified"? I dont think a Kooks header and Trilogy S/C would get in the way... Do you?

I dont have this problem, but if I get it, looks like I'll have to learn to live with it.

[mcblk03mm]

I have a 03 300A, that had the same problem. After 17 days at the Local Ford Dealership, they figured out that in 2003, there was a Problem with the left( dont quote me) side cylinder head. I beleive, it was something along hte lines of the wrong head was installed. they installed a updated cylinder head which had modified cooling passsages, and I also got them to replace the other head as well. The car hasnt smoked since.

Also, The tech told me that using a non synthetic oil with greater viscosity then 5w20 causes alot of problems with that engine such as fast upper end wear.
Dont no, alls i no is they warrantied Both heads, complete with cams for a total price of 6800 dollars.

Take the car back, have them do an Oil consumption test. They will change your oil for free, and tell you to come back in 500 miles. If it uses more than 2/3 of a quart ( i believe ) by then, then ford will say there is an internal problem. ( it wouldnt be too hard to drain a quart or two out) lol

[ktt]

Early mm's have a TSB for leaking exhaust valves. Bad seat or weak valve springs.. Mainly on the left cylinder at cylinders 7-8 because of over heating problems these cylinders have. Idk if that is the problem your having, but if it is then u gotta replace or rebuild your heads. Also this problem usually throws a dtc for missfire at a certain cylinder. Have them do a leakdown test to see if the valves are leaking. Might as well throw in a compression test as well.

[fastblackmerc]

Early mm's have a TSB for leaking exhaust valves. Bad seat or weak valve springs.. Mainly on the left cylinder at cylinders 7-8 because of over heating problems these cylinders have. Idk if that is the problem your having, but if it is then u gotta replace or rebuild your heads. Also this problem usually throws a dtc for missfire at a certain cylinder. Have them do a leakdown test to see if the valves are leaking. Might as well throw in a compression test as well.

You do know this is a 6 year old thread........

[MyBlackBeasts]

You do know this is a 6 year old thread........

Ooops! Don't you hate that when it happens!!! :D