1995 FORD ECONOLINE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING DOWN A RAMP AND APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN AT 45MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE NOISE APPEARED TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DISPLAYED THAT IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN STALLED. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING GEAR WAS FRACTURED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING GEAR. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND RECOMMENDED THAT A NEW CAMSHAFT BEARING BE INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 75,521

MY 1995 ECONOLINE VAN BLEW UP IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE TURNED OFF. IT EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD AND A HUGE FIREBALL WENT THROUGH THE CABIN. IT CAUGHT MY HOUSE AND GARAGE ON FIRE, ALONG WITH MY GIANT OAK TREE.*AK THIS IS THE SECOND ECONOLINE VAN THAT HAS BLOWN UP LIKE THIS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. BOTH TIMES WE WERE LUCKY; NO ONE WAS IN THE VAN AT THE TIME. THEY WOULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SEVERELY BURNED. FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS; THEY WERE NOT EVEN INTERESTED ENOUGH TO SEND OUT AN INVESTIGATOR.

I HAVE A 1995 FORD E-150 SHERARD HI-TOP CONVERSION VAN AND JUST EXPERIENCED A SEVERE FUEL LEAK. I'M CURIOUS IF THE VEHICLE HAS EVER BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS. THE FUEL LEAK WAS ON THE VENT LINE TO THE FILL TUBE. THE VENT LINE IS ABOUT A 3/4 INCH HOSE WITH HOSE CLAMPS. ONE END OF THE HOSE ATTACHED TO A METAL TUBE NEAR THE TOP OF THE FILL TUBE AND THE OTHER IS NEXT TO THE FILL TUBE WHERE BOTH ENTER THE FUEL TANK. THE VENT HOSE DEVELOPED A MAJOR BREAK NEAR THE TANK. UPON REMOVE OF THE HOSE I FOUND THAT THE HOSE CLAMP IS BONDED TO THE HOSE AT THIS LOCATION (THE OTHER WAS NOT). I'M A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND IT LOOKS TO ME THAT THE BONDING PROCESS OF THE CLAMP TO THE HOSE HAS DETERIORATED THE TUBE AND SHORTENED THE LIFE OF THE HOSE. THE OTHER END OF THE HOSE THAT ATTACHED TO THE FILL TUBE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. THE CLAMP WAS STAMPED WITH SOME MARKINGS INDICATING CANADA AND ALSO HAS SOME PATENT NUMBERS ON IT. I'M GUESSING THAT THEY ATTEMPTED TO BOND THE CLAMP TO THE HOSE IN THIS AREA BECAUSE IT IS A VERY TIGHT AREA TO ACCESS FOR MAINTENANCE. I'M VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL AND YOU WENT UP OR DOWN AN KIND OF AN INCLINE FUEL POURED OUT OF THE TANK. WE'D BEEN SMELLING FUEL FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THE CONDITION FINALLY DETERIORATED ENOUGHT THAT WE COULD SEE THE FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE VAN WHEN WE PARKED ON AN INCLINE.*AK

I BROUGHT IN VEHICLE IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER FOR ROUTINE AND ASKED ABOUT HEAD GASKETS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TEMPERATURE IN ENGINE, TOLD EVERYTHING OK. NOW AT 118,000 MILES IN JANUARY, TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN AND HIT WITH A $1200.00 BILL. NOW, MY VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. I KNOW THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKETS 7 YEARS OR 100,000, BUT I HAD BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN PREVIOUSLY. TO IT GOING OVER THE 100,000. PLEASE HELP. *AK

I BROUGHT IN VEHICLE IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER FOR ROUTINE AND ASKED ABOUT HEAD GASKETS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TEMPERATURE IN ENGINE, TOLD EVERYTHING OK. NOW AT 118,000 MILES IN JANUARY, TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN AND HIT WITH A $1200.00 BILL. NOW, MY VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. I KNOW THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKETS 7 YEARS OR 100,000, BUT I HAD BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN PREVIOUSLY. TO IT GOING OVER THE 100,000. PLEASE HELP. *AK

I BROUGHT IN VEHICLE IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER FOR ROUTINE AND ASKED ABOUT HEAD GASKETS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TEMPERATURE IN ENGINE, TOLD EVERYTHING OK. NOW AT 118,000 MILES IN JANUARY, TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN AND HIT WITH A $1200.00 BILL. NOW, MY VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. I KNOW THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKETS 7 YEARS OR 100,000, BUT I HAD BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN PREVIOUSLY. TO IT GOING OVER THE 100,000. PLEASE HELP. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED AND TENISONER NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

RADIATOR VALVE CROSS-THREADED WHEN FORCED IN AT THE FACTORY AND BROKE DURING FLUID REPLACEMENT .

LEAKING OIL FILTER REPLACED.

THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT DUE TO SIZE/MISMATCH OF FRONT STEERING TIRES AND REAR AXLE. ALSO, IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *AK