'08 Ford Escape Transmission Cooler Failure

[AdeV]

Glad you got your machine straightened out - and yep, that dealership did themselves a real favour by agreeing the work...

As for my post being off topic, is it more so than a DARPA project? I ain't lookin for another round of war of the words, just sayin'.

Speaking for myself only, I'm not sure how it's even possible to be off topic in a forum called "General Discussion" in a category called "General"...

[Fat Charlie]

General discussion, hell.  This is a DIY board, and he did buy a Ford.  That's quite on topic.
Sorry- I work at a Dodge store and couldn't help it.

I've got two major tips for cars:
1. Get the service contract.  Americans can build amazingly reliable cars, and I own two of them- with foreign badges on the trunks.  I bet on not buying service contracts and won (combined 290,000 miles and $600 in repair costs).  With Detroit brands, I'd never take that bet. 

2. The dealer and the factory have very different (opposing) priorities.  The factory covers what it has to and wants the dealer to give everything away.  The dealer wants to give everything away as long as they can get the factory to pay for it.  Roger, I can't understand why your local dealer didn't want to do work that was covered.  It just doesn't make sense, and you're right to take your business away from them.  Don't blame Ford, though.  The part outlasted their warranty and was covered under the extended service contract they sold you.  It's not their fault that Local Motors has an idiot for a service writer. 

TimSR2, that goes for you, too.  Local Motors probably figured that they'd waste a lot of their time hassling with the factory to get your paint job, and their reward would be to sublet the job to a body shop.  Unless that dealer owned a body shop and could get paid that way, there wasn't much of an incentive for them to get involved.  When the next guy contacted the factory, it was the same story that Roger had.  You just have to get past the people who see work as something to be avoided.  The local dealer screwed you because they couldn't be bothered, but the factory took care of the problem properly- once it came to their attention. 

[TimSR2]

Hey FC,

You will be pleased to know I have driven Chryslers ever since and had no bad cars. I presently have an 05 Pt Cruiser 115 km (0 recalls 0 problems) , a 98 Grand Cherokee Limited 4.0 Selectrac, 180 k (0 recalls, 0 problems, unstoppable in any conditions)   and for work , a 92 Voyager with a 3.0 and a 3 speed. 137 k  (It's my third one! Indestructible work beater.)  We are not going to talk about the Caliber I rented though.....OMG! World's most uncomfortable car.


Tim

[TimSR2]

add 3 zeros jens....Actually I drove it to 115000 km in the first 3 years but don't really use it right now for the last year. sure is purdy tho. Lectric blue!

[wiebe]

Recalls here are very scarce ,my little toyota starlet 1.3 litre has no problems even after 16 years and 180000km .
but the bodypanels /body is mmmm how is the us therm for verzinkt .its coverd in zink .
Zo no rust even after 16 years .

Greetings Wiebe.

[vdubnut62]

The Wife has a 04 Toyota Camry (built in Bowling Green KY) with 253000 plus miles on the clock. I have changed the oil and tranny fluid, filters and 2 serpentine belts, and a few sets of  tires.
I'm sorta optimistic, I just put on a new set of Michelins that are warranted for 90,000 miles. She LOVES that car more than she loves me , and I hope she wears out that set of Michelins.
If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy.
Best car I've ever owned, hands down.
Ron

[quinnf]

Long's we're talking about cars, I had a '67 Mustang with 289 engine.  Great, fun car, but the C4 xmission had to be rebanded about every 30,000 miles, water pumps lasted about a year, steering linkage lasted around 40,000 miles, and the engine was tired and ready to be rebuilt, which I did, at 95,000 miles.  First car engine I ever rebuilt (just rings, bearings, valve job). 

When I worked in the parts store, I kept having guys ask me if we had the little plug that fell out of the bottom of their water pump, which was leaking.  I'd surprise them when I'd then ask, "289 or 302 engine?"  'Cause I heard that all the time.  Had a heck of a time convincing a few of them that was a relief hole and there was no plug for it, and that the seal around the water pump shaft was gone and they needed a new water pump.  But that was characteristic of the Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily) 289 and 302 engines.  The water pump shaft carried a big 3-sheeve pulley belted off the crankshaft.  They took the alternator and smog pump off of two of the three pulleys, both pulling down.  Then, to make matters still worse, they rigidly mounted a big heavy steel fan on the end of the same shaft.  So all this stuff is hanging out there on the end of a water pump shaft.  It's no wonder the silly thing didn't last.  What the heck were they thinking?  Oh, and heater hoses, and upper radiator hose would fail catastrophically any time after about a year of use.  Compare that with cars today.  If you had a car that any of those things happened to today, you'd be ticked off mightily.  When was the last water pump you replaced?  Heater hoses?  Those things just don't go out these days.  I think the best thing that ever happened to the car industry was the increased competition they had from cars imported from Japan. 

I'm on my second 1989 Toy pickup with the 22RE engine.  First one I sold with 170,000 miles on it.  It was only then ready for its first clutch.  Nothing else was ever done to it other than brakes and tires.  And I carried more than a ton of broken concrete, sand, gravel, trash, yard waste, motorcycles, and I moved more co-workers than I can count.  Got very nervous when someone I hardly knew at work would approach me saying, "Hey I'm moving this weekend and I wonder if I can borrow your truck."  Because that always meant that I really couldn't say no, and I'd end up helping them move. 

Sold it because neighbor pointed out that I had two identical trucks and he wanted one.  The other one I kept.  My Dad dragged it around behind the motorhome but didn't drive much, so about 35,000 of the 70,000 miles currently on the clock were accumulated while in tow.  Had some kid offer me $2000 for it just so he could have the engine.  I guess 22RE engines aren't to be found in junkyards anymore.  Currently driving an '08 Prius to work and using the truck when needed. 

Oh what a feeling!

q.