My 04 Merlot check engine light nightmare/money pit

[VIno Bird]

130K on the clock , purchased last summer , it come with a full Ford dealer maintained from new 1inch folder file of routine visits by the book , she runs kick a$$ , but here is my Issue , the mention light come on the first time with no code , code/light erased and back to business , then it pop up again and requested a map sensor , fixed and back on road , then again come on , then wanted upper O2 sensors , replaced and back to the black asphalt , now again it light once more , asking now for an EGR valve , its on order , I also installed a new air filter and a new gas cap .

Are these Birds money pits ?

[BirdsAndBugs]

The biggest issue I've had with my 03 Thunderbird which I've owned since new, is a bad fuel pump about 1 1/2 years ago.

However, in 2014 I bought a used 2003 Subaru Baja with 118,000 miles. While the vehicle was clearly well cared for, it still had over 100,000 miles. I probably spent around $3,000 over the first year of ownership, but I guess that goes with the territory when you buy an older car. Overall though, it provided me with very reliable service until it was totalled by the insurance company when it was hit while I was driving it in late 2017.

[007Cruiser]

Are these Birds money pits ?

Most aren’t but you seem to have the exception to the rule.

[merlot4]

I also have an 04 Merlot, Lee, and it's a daily driver with about 100K now. I have replaced a great many things, and the list will doubtless go on; the service folder is now thick. The bottom line is that these are now 17 years old, things will wear out as a normal function of time and/or use. I have had the plastic inlet pipe crack twice, the A/C and transmission repaired, rubber bushings and things attached, and various other things. This is the price to pay for a unique automobile that stands out in a crowd. At some point, the cost will exceed the value and then I'll have to think about it. Best of luck to you with your thoughts about this.

[BillyL]

Well stated Merlot4. Any 17 year old vehicle will have age related problems and any car with over 100K on the odometer will have wear issues. Plus Ford did our birds no favors with the over abundance of plastic parts and very temperamental electronics not to mention Ford not suppling a lot of the parts unique to these cars. All that said, I still do not see my bird as a "money pit" but as a unique automobile with a higher than average maintenance costs.

[VIno Bird]

I also have an 04 Merlot, Lee, and it's a daily driver with about 100K now. I have replaced a great many things, and the list will doubtless go on; the service folder is now thick. The bottom line is that these are now 17 years old, things will wear out as a normal function of time and/or use. I have had the plastic inlet pipe crack twice, the A/C and transmission repaired, rubber bushings and things attached, and various other things. This is the price to pay for a unique automobile that stands out in a crowd. At some point, the cost will exceed the value and then I'll have to think about it. Best of luck to you with your thoughts about this.

I know that old cars do break down , I also own a 1972 Datsun 510 two door that is not as demanding as the 04 Bird , go figure :)

[VIno Bird]

Well stated Merlot4. Any 17 year old vehicle will have age related problems and any car with over 100K on the odometer will have wear issues. Plus Ford did our birds no favors with the over abundance of plastic parts and very temperamental electronics not to mention Ford not suppling a lot of the parts unique to these cars. All that said, I still do not see my bird as a "money pit" but as a unique automobile with a higher than average maintenance costs.

Yep , a FORD automobile with higher then average maintenance cost .

One thing even with the check light ON she runs fine , no hesitation , no lack of power , starts on first try , puzzle :(

[BirdsAndBugs]

I know that old cars do break down , I also own a 1972 Datsun 510 two door that is not as demanding as the 04 Bird , go figure :)

I appreciate it can be frustrating, but comparing it to a 1972 Datsun is like "night and day". Cars were much more mechanical and relatively speaking "simple" in 1972. Anything from about 1990 or later has a lot more electronic components to it. That fact and more model specific parts make keeping these more modern classic cars running a greater challenge.

[VIno Bird]

I appreciate it can be frustrating, but comparing it to a 1972 Datsun is like "night and day". Cars were much more mechanical and relatively speaking "simple" in 1972. Anything from about 1990 or later has a lot more electronic components to it. That fact and more model specific parts make keeping these more modern classic cars running a greater challenge.

I also own a 2009 Ford Escape 4x4 with 250,000 miles and recently only demanded a new clutch after all this years and miles , I love the retro Bird but I guess she is more of a finicky Jaguar than a Ford

[VIno Bird]

EGR replaced and system cleared , no more annoying dash light in hopes that this ends the recent bird illness

[merlot4]

Great, Lee, fingers crossed.

[Welker]

Yes, my experience is that the car is a money pit. I have never kept a car longer than three years and never over 100k miles. My experience has been that most of the myriad problems were made worse by the Ford Dealer and things improved when I went to an independent garage with a great reputation and recommendations. At the 125+k miles the car is not driven much but it is still beautiful.

[VIno Bird]

Yes, my experience is that the car is a money pit. I have never kept a car longer than three years and never over 100k miles. My experience has been that most of the myriad problems were made worse by the Ford Dealer and things improved when I went to an independent garage with a great reputation and recommendations. At the 125+k miles the car is not driven much but it is still beautiful.

I had the work done by a shop that is very honest and fair in repairs bills

[Yulee]

I have not had the problems talked about. Bought my first Tbird in ‘02 it was a black beauty but just couldn’t keep the black looking good for very long. So I traded it for a new silver ‘05 and it is so much easier to keep clean. Also like the improvements made in the ‘05. Neither car had any maintenance issues. My ‘05 still looks and drives like new. Had to replace one COP but otherwise not a single repair. Now have 68K on it but always keep it in the garage and out of the sun. The car was in Florida for the first 15 years and now has spent the last 2 years in Phoenix. I do wonder how the extreme low humidity of Phoenix will affect parts that can dry out and become brittle. So far so good.