Need some warranty help guys

[Tom Kuznicki]

I'm having a few problems with the Marauder and I need some assistance if anyone can steer me in the right direction. I took it back to the dealer for some warranty work, The key fobs no longer work, ( not dead batteries ), the rolling door locks don't lock until the car is driven over a mile and then the locks just start cycling on and off over and over. The car emits blue smoke on start up, not all the time mind you, but, enough to tell me that something is not right. I had the plugs changed and was shown the rear drivers side plug was oil soaked. I asked the service dept. about it and was told that nothing is wrong with the engine. I gotta tell ya, I build race engines for my Mustang and have been around enough engine related things to know that something is amiss with the valve guides. The other things that are wrong with the car, such as , rough idle, pulling to the right, the loose switch plate on the passengers door. What I am asking here is........ Does anyone know of a TSB relating to the smoky start ups with this engine????? I know that the Lincoln Aviator had some type of cylinder head problems and they are the same heads that are on our Marauders. Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Fourth Horseman]

I'm having a few problems with the Marauder and I need some assistance if anyone can steer me in the right direction. I took it back to the dealer for some warranty work, The key fobs no longer work, ( not dead batteries ), the rolling door locks don't lock until the car is driven over a mile and then the locks just start cycling on and off over and over. The car emits blue smoke on start up, not all the time mind you, but, enough to tell me that something is not right. I had the plugs changed and was shown the rear drivers side plug was oil soaked. I asked the service dept. about it and was told that nothing is wrong with the engine. I gotta tell ya, I build race engines for my Mustang and have been around enough engine related things to know that something is amiss with the valve guides. The other things that are wrong with the car, such as , rough idle, pulling to the right, the loose switch plate on the passengers door. What I am asking here is........ Does anyone know of a TSB relating to the smoky start ups with this engine????? I know that the Lincoln Aviator had some type of cylinder head problems and they are the same heads that are on our Marauders. Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks

I'll leave the blue-smoke issue to those here that are smarter than me. On the door lock issue, though, could it be a door ajar sensor? Do you have interior lights on with the doors closed, also?

I think the somewhat loose switch panel on the front passenger door is fairly common. Mine has it too, though it's not too bad. I just chalk that up to Ford interiors. Not trying to start a fight in here, but that's been my experience with Ford interiors.

[RoyLPita]

I work for a Ford dealer and log on to OASIS all the time. There are no TSBs that apply to blue smoke on startup.

[jjaguda]

If you do a search on "blue smoke" all your questions should be answered.

But, here is my story.

I had the problem. Valve guide seals were bad allowing oil to leak into the cylinders while the car is off. Dealer tried changing the PCV valve as he had some success with that in the past. It did not work. Two choices to replace the valve guide seals: 1) replace while engine in car; or 2) drop engine from under the car. Pros and cons each way. My service guy dropped the motor from under the car because it was easier for him (work on the valves seals without leaning over the vast expanse the the MM engine bay) and less chance of scratching paint, damaging fenders, etc.

Good luck. PCV valve certainly the cheepest thing to try first.

[TripleTransAm]

Any ticking from the driver's side of the engine, very audible from the driver's wheel well?

[jabird56]

I'm having a few problems with the Marauder and I need some assistance if anyone can steer me in the right direction. I took it back to the dealer for some warranty work, The key fobs no longer work, ( not dead batteries ), the rolling door locks don't lock until the car is driven over a mile and then the locks just start cycling on and off over and over. The car emits blue smoke on start up, not all the time mind you, but, enough to tell me that something is not right. I had the plugs changed and was shown the rear drivers side plug was oil soaked. I asked the service dept. about it and was told that nothing is wrong with the engine. I gotta tell ya, I build race engines for my Mustang and have been around enough engine related things to know that something is amiss with the valve guides. The other things that are wrong with the car, such as , rough idle, pulling to the right, the loose switch plate on the passengers door. What I am asking here is........ Does anyone know of a TSB relating to the smoky start ups with this engine????? I know that the Lincoln Aviator had some type of cylinder head problems and they are the same heads that are on our Marauders. Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks
I had the key fobs die and the door locks cycle on their on with my SuperDuty. The Remote Control Box in the truck went bad and the friendly neighborhood FORD dealer (Tincher Ford in Plattsmouth, NE) replaced it under warranty. It said in the remote specific brochure that I got that the remote controller box had a lifetime warranty against it. And this was a dealer installed item back in May 98 at McWilliams FORD in Indian Head, MD.

[rookie1]

I've had great luck with SVT dealers, They all seem to appreciate the MM and are willing to listen.

[wchain]

Door Locks/Fobs sound like a Bad GEM (General Electonics Module) the way you describe it....

[Warpath]

Try calling 1-800-392-FORD or emailing emailforcrc@ford.com and list your complaints. Its a Ford PR line. I called it when my Bronco oil pan rusted so bad that it leaked at 39000 miles. I reported the rust at about 15k miles. This hotline got the pan replaced under warranty.

I also suggest going to another dealer if available. Some dealers won't make a warranty repair because they are not efficient enough to do it and lose money. They end up blaiming Ford for it.

If you have no luck with the pulls right and have to get it fixed yourself, have RH caster set about 0.2-0.3 deg higher than LH. That should counteract the pulls right.

[wchain]

Try calling 1-800-392-FORD or emailing emailforcrc@ford.com and list your complaints. Its a Ford PR line. I called it when my Bronco oil pan rusted so bad that it leaked at 39000 miles. I reported the rust at about 15k miles. This hotline got the pan replaced under warranty.

I also suggest going to another dealer if available. Some dealers won't make a warranty repair because they are not efficient enough to do it and lose money. They end up blaiming Ford for it.

If you have no luck with the pulls right and have to get it fixed yourself, have RH caster set about 0.2-0.3 deg higher than LH. That should counteract the pulls right.

Thats a good suggestion but when you call that number, it gets sent to a call center where they read a script,

"Thank you for calling (Ford/merc/Chevrolet/Chrysler/Toyota etc) Customer Assistance center how can I help you?" :bs: :bs: :bs:

They take your complaint, let you scream, and then they take a copy of the memo, send a copy to the dealer, and area manager. The dealer will give it to the Gen Manager, who will read it and give it to the parts/service manager, who will then give it to the service drive manager, who will either contact you, or throw the memo away.

Sorry to be so cynical, but thats how it goes, I called them for years thinking I was going to get some satisfaction, I've owned over 20 Ford Products, and calling has never helped.....

[BillyGman]

I agree that it's time for you to take this car to another dealer, and that you should try one who is a Ford "SVT" dealer. the dealer that you brought your car to sounds very irresponsible, and uncooperative to say the least. I'm not saying that they're the only dealer like that, but not all dealers are the same, and from what you've stated in your first post, it sounds like you're wasting your time with that dealer.

[ckadiddle]

How do I find out which are Ford SVT dealers in my area ?

[rookie1]

How do I find out which are Ford SVT dealers in my area ?

Phone book or call any Ford dealer and they should know where the one in your area is.
Just in case you weren't sure, an SVT dealer sells regular Fords but also has a special dept wher they sell the SVT Stangs and Lightnings. They have to have at least 2 mechanics specifically qualified by Ford to work on these vehicles. Our MM's have a version of the svt motor.

[BillyGman]

You can go on the website..... www.fordvehicles.com (http://www.fordvehicles.com) and click on the "select a dealer" link on the list at the lefthand side of the home page. Then just type in your zip code, and in the window at the bottom scroll down and click on "SVT product" and then hit the "search" button and you'll get a list of dealers, and the ones that have the "SVT" Logo next to their name are the ones you want.

[Warpath]

Thats a good suggestion but when you call that number, it gets sent to a call center where they read a script,

"Thank you for calling (Ford/merc/Chevrolet/Chrysler/Toyota etc) Customer Assistance center how can I help you?" :bs: :bs: :bs:

They take your complaint, let you scream, and then they take a copy of the memo, send a copy to the dealer, and area manager. The dealer will give it to the Gen Manager, who will read it and give it to the parts/service manager, who will then give it to the service drive manager, who will either contact you, or throw the memo away.

Sorry to be so cynical, but thats how it goes, I called them for years thinking I was going to get some satisfaction, I've owned over 20 Ford Products, and calling has never helped.....

I had the complete opposite happen to me. I called and explained my situation. She said it should be covered under warranty. She stated that she would contact the dealer and appologized for the inconvenience. The phone call took about 5 minutes. I went to the dealerIt couldn't have been easier except if the dealer fixed it in the first place. I was happy.