Pardon the random venting... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

TM875 · 06-29-2004, 10:48 AM

Okay, I've always been in support of Ford. Even when their reliability looks like shit, I've always been there to back them up. Now I'm pissed, because one of those reliability claims hit MY car...

I'm the owner of a '97 Grand Marquis. Just bought it about 3 months ago after a pretty bad accident (I wanted the antithesis of the small car I had before...). So, whilst out driving two Fridays ago, this big puff of smoke pops out of my exhaust and the car makes a nasty noise. After driving another mile or two, I realize that the thing is overheating like mad.

Pull over, let it cool for several hours, drive home slowly. Thing still overheats. Realize that it's totally out of coolant. Replace antifreeze (think: problem solved). I let it idle for about 30 minutes, drive it around the block, everything seems okay.

I leave for a business trip at the beginning of last week, so no driving for three days. Get home, drive car to work (it's only about 10 minutes away). No problems...running a little hot, but nothing bad.

Finally, I took a trip of more than 10 miles. Whaddya know, it starts to overheat again, and I realize that it's losing coolant. Okay, time to call the pros. Have it towed, and the dealer takes their merry time getting to it. Three days later, they tell me the problem (I was guessing thermostat): cracked intake manifold.

I couldn't believe it. Before, I had only heard of this problem on race cars. Well, I got it fixed (luckily I bought an extended warranty with the car - only had to pay the $100 deductable on the $1000 bill). Then I did research on it at home.

Seems that this is an all-too-common problem with Ford 4.6L V8 engines built between 1996 and 2000. Ford, in its wisdom, made this part (which is subject to very high heat) of of PLASTIC. Such a big problem was this that they recalled all police cars, taxi cabs, and other non-civillian vehicles with this engine. The rest of us, well, we're just screwed.

So a warning to all of you with 1996-2000 Ford cars and trucks with the 4.6L V8 (this includes all Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, Town Cars, Explorers, Expeditions, F-150s, Cougars, and Mark VIIIs; does not apply to the Mustang) that you should be careful. As one site said, high heat and hard acceleration (read: flooring it) help to cause this part to crack. So be careful out there, and prepare to pay a hefty amount if this part goes.

irseg · 06-29-2004, 11:18 AM

You should research that recall some more. Unless there's a time/mileage limit, it was my understanding that it covered ALL 4.6 cars with the plastic manifold. I remember reading a T-Bird/Cougar forum where some people had that same problem and got it replaced for free under the recall program.

89transam · 06-29-2004, 12:32 PM

Did you mix the coolant with water before you put it in?

TM875 · 06-29-2004, 04:24 PM

I did research the recall...only for '96 4.6L engines and commercial vehicles.

Yes, of course I mixed the antifreeze with water.

SLM3 · 06-29-2004, 05:07 PM

Sorry to hear about your problems.

I have a '99 BMW M3 and on a road trip I lost a coolant hose and the car immediately lost all coolant and overheated. Apparently there was some valve damage but the dealer missed it the several times I took the car in for a coolant warning on the display. They kept telling me it was just a faulty sensor. I went on driving, worsening the damage until finally I made them look at the engine itself as the car just didn't feel right. They found the damage and since they had overlooked it atleast 4 or 5 times, they unded up replacing half the engine under warranty!

So, after 50,000 or so km I received what added up to basically a new M3 engine. Worked out really well in the end, but throughout the process I vented a lot as well.

I'm glad things more or less worked out with your extended warranty.

SLM3

wildbill123 · 06-30-2004, 06:06 AM

Yeah, that plastic intake is a sad piece by Ford, anothe cost cutting choice, it does its job tho, except for the recall. I do wish it was aluminum or some alloy, plastic can't endure any high hp numbers such as a modded stang.

irseg · 06-30-2004, 06:50 AM

It's not about the horsepower level of the engine at all (otherwise I doubt the 405hp Corvette Z06 would have a plastic intake!). The problem is that the material they used couldn't hold up to repeated heat cycling and high temperatures over several years.

06-29-2004, 10:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
TM875 Addict Location: Amish-land, PA	Pardon the random venting... Okay, I've always been in support of Ford. Even when their reliability looks like shit, I've always been there to back them up. Now I'm pissed, because one of those reliability claims hit MY car... I'm the owner of a '97 Grand Marquis. Just bought it about 3 months ago after a pretty bad accident (I wanted the antithesis of the small car I had before...). So, whilst out driving two Fridays ago, this big puff of smoke pops out of my exhaust and the car makes a nasty noise. After driving another mile or two, I realize that the thing is overheating like mad. Pull over, let it cool for several hours, drive home slowly. Thing still overheats. Realize that it's totally out of coolant. Replace antifreeze (think: problem solved). I let it idle for about 30 minutes, drive it around the block, everything seems okay. I leave for a business trip at the beginning of last week, so no driving for three days. Get home, drive car to work (it's only about 10 minutes away). No problems...running a little hot, but nothing bad. Finally, I took a trip of more than 10 miles. Whaddya know, it starts to overheat again, and I realize that it's losing coolant. Okay, time to call the pros. Have it towed, and the dealer takes their merry time getting to it. Three days later, they tell me the problem (I was guessing thermostat): cracked intake manifold. I couldn't believe it. Before, I had only heard of this problem on race cars. Well, I got it fixed (luckily I bought an extended warranty with the car - only had to pay the $100 deductable on the $1000 bill). Then I did research on it at home. Seems that this is an all-too-common problem with Ford 4.6L V8 engines built between 1996 and 2000. Ford, in its wisdom, made this part (which is subject to very high heat) of of PLASTIC. Such a big problem was this that they recalled all police cars, taxi cabs, and other non-civillian vehicles with this engine. The rest of us, well, we're just screwed. So a warning to all of you with 1996-2000 Ford cars and trucks with the 4.6L V8 (this includes all Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, Town Cars, Explorers, Expeditions, F-150s, Cougars, and Mark VIIIs; does not apply to the Mustang) that you should be careful. As one site said, high heat and hard acceleration (read: flooring it) help to cause this part to crack. So be careful out there, and prepare to pay a hefty amount if this part goes. __________________ "I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

06-29-2004, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	Did you mix the coolant with water before you put it in? __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.

06-29-2004, 04:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
TM875 Addict Location: Amish-land, PA	I did research the recall...only for '96 4.6L engines and commercial vehicles. Yes, of course I mixed the antifreeze with water. __________________ "I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

06-29-2004, 11:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	You should research that recall some more. Unless there's a time/mileage limit, it was my understanding that it covered ALL 4.6 cars with the plastic manifold. I remember reading a T-Bird/Cougar forum where some people had that same problem and got it replaced for free under the recall program.

06-29-2004, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
SLM3 Insane	Sorry to hear about your problems. I have a '99 BMW M3 and on a road trip I lost a coolant hose and the car immediately lost all coolant and overheated. Apparently there was some valve damage but the dealer missed it the several times I took the car in for a coolant warning on the display. They kept telling me it was just a faulty sensor. I went on driving, worsening the damage until finally I made them look at the engine itself as the car just didn't feel right. They found the damage and since they had overlooked it atleast 4 or 5 times, they unded up replacing half the engine under warranty! So, after 50,000 or so km I received what added up to basically a new M3 engine. Worked out really well in the end, but throughout the process I vented a lot as well. I'm glad things more or less worked out with your extended warranty. SLM3

06-30-2004, 06:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
wildbill123 Upright	Yeah, that plastic intake is a sad piece by Ford, anothe cost cutting choice, it does its job tho, except for the recall. I do wish it was aluminum or some alloy, plastic can't endure any high hp numbers such as a modded stang.

06-30-2004, 06:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	It's not about the horsepower level of the engine at all (otherwise I doubt the 405hp Corvette Z06 would have a plastic intake!). The problem is that the material they used couldn't hold up to repeated heat cycling and high temperatures over several years.