1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.

HEAD GASKETS FAILED.

HEAD GASKETS FAILED.

20 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE EXPLODED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

GASKET IN MIDDLE SECTION OF ENGINE WAS SO NARROW IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CAR OVER HEATED MANY TIMES AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND AT TIMES IT OVER HEATED. REPLACED MANY PARTS THERMASTAT, RADIATOR,CATILITIC CONVERTER TESTED. WHEN MID SECTION DISASSEMBLED THE GASKET WAS SHOWN TO ME AND IT WAS UNDOUTEDLY A POOR DESIGN. TOO NARROW TO HOLD ON ANY VEHICLE.

IF I CAN GET IT FIXED FREE LET ME KNOW.... I'LL BE HAPPY TO COOPERATE WITH ABOUT ANY ACTIONS TAKEN...

POSSIBLY HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. HEARD 3.8L HAD RECALL ON THEM AND SHOULD CONTACT YOU. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1,500 TO $2,000. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE COVERING MANY YEARS AND DIFFERENT FORD MODEL CARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED EXISTING WARRANTIES FOR SOME MODELS BUT ONLY BACK TO YEAR 1994. PROBLEM IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAD GASKET THICKNESS AND CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TENSION. ALUMINUM HEADS EVENTUALLY WARP, AND ENGINE COOLANT IS DRAWN INTO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS CAUSING MISFIRING, POTENTIAL BEARING DAMAGE, EXHAUST SYSTEM CONTAMINATION, OVERHEATING, CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS, CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. CARS AFFECTED INCLUDE WINDSTAR, MERCURY SABLE, MUSTANG, THUNDERBIRD, LINCOLN, TAURUS, FROM 1988 TO 1997. CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, WASH D.C., HAS WRITTEN TO FORD CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DEMANDING THAT FORD COVER ALL SUCH FAILURES FOR THE PREVOUSLY STATED PERIOD. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE/EXHAUST DAMAGE, SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND/OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT REDESIGNED THE GASKET AND HEAD BOLTS, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THE USE OF THE NEW PARTS WHENEVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS ARE MADE BY A FORD DEALER.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1,500 TO $2,000. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE COVERING MANY YEARS AND DIFFERENT FORD MODEL CARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED EXISTING WARRANTIES FOR SOME MODELS BUT ONLY BACK TO YEAR 1994. PROBLEM IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAD GASKET THICKNESS AND CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TENSION. ALUMINUM HEADS EVENTUALLY WARP, AND ENGINE COOLANT IS DRAWN INTO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS CAUSING MISFIRING, POTENTIAL BEARING DAMAGE, EXHAUST SYSTEM CONTAMINATION, OVERHEATING, CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS, CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. CARS AFFECTED INCLUDE WINDSTAR, MERCURY SABLE, MUSTANG, THUNDERBIRD, LINCOLN, TAURUS, FROM 1988 TO 1997. CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, WASH D.C., HAS WRITTEN TO FORD CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DEMANDING THAT FORD COVER ALL SUCH FAILURES FOR THE PREVOUSLY STATED PERIOD. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE/EXHAUST DAMAGE, SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND/OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT REDESIGNED THE GASKET AND HEAD BOLTS, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THE USE OF THE NEW PARTS WHENEVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS ARE MADE BY A FORD DEALER.

DEFECTIVE RESENT CLIP DOES NOT WORK FALLS FROM UNDERNEATH AND KILLS MOTOR RESENT EATS UP THE GLUE. RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

RPM STAYS AT 1500 TO 2000, USUALLY OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN/TURNED OFF/TURNED BACK ON.

AFTER RETURNING HOME, PARKED VEHICLE, VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING THEN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, FIRE DEPT ARRIVED, PUT FLAMES OUT, SAID LOCATION OF FIRE IN ENGINE AREA, POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE. *AK

CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

CAR WAS PARKED IN A BARN AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK