It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

[MerlotBlue]

....for ignition coil failure for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

I got a letter from Ford today in the mail concerning my 2004 T-Bird.

Two separate programs here. One that promises a "one time" repair of coil covers and seals as well as any wet coils and plugs (working at the time or not) and then a second program promising to fix free of charge for parts and labor any defective coils for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Mixed emotions though.

Relieved to know that Ford will cover my car but still PO'd at the idea they haven't yet seen fit to cover my wife's 2002.

Hopefully that second letter is coming soon.

[rpatton3]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Is this a problem unique to Thunderbirds? Do the Lincolns have this problem, too?

[Skozzy]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

I just got this in the mail last night so it covers the 05's as well

[5bird7]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Is this a problem unique to Thunderbirds? Do the Lincolns have this problem, too?

The LS also has the same problems with their cops.

[Gwfl]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Got the letter too for my '05. It also speaks about a warranty for the "wiper motor bracket seal". Is this a seperate item or is this somehow associated with the COPs problem.

Also I assume a "one time limited" warranty means they'll fix it once but not again. Do the repairs resolve the problem just for a particular cylinder or do they fix them all while in there?

My car has had 4 cylinders COPs) repaired.

Gary

[MerlotBlue]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Got the letter too for my '05. It also speaks about a warranty for the "wiper motor bracket seal". Is this a separate item or is this somehow associated with the COPs problem.

Also I assume a "one time limited" warranty means they'll fix it once but not again. Do the repairs resolve the problem just for a particular cylinder or do they fix them all while in there?

My car has had 4 cylinders COPs) repaired.

Gary

Gary, The way I read it.

You get defective coils repaired when-ever they go bad.

The "one time" repair is for contamination. Wet coils get replaced but once working at the time or not.

But I think I'm reading that they will repeatedly fix actual failed coils until the day your car is either 10 years or 100,000 miles out from the start of it's original warranty.

After reading other posts it seems that wiper motor seal at the base of the windshield is a suspected area as a source of the water contamination o the ignition coils.
(seems like a Stretch to me but what do I know?)

[bottomtime]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Gary, The way I read it.

You get defective coils repaired when-ever they go bad.

The "one time" repair is for contamination. Wet coils get replaced but once working at the time or not.

But I think I'm reading that they will repeatedly fix actual failed coils until the day your car is either 10 years or 100,000 miles out from the start of it's original warranty.

After reading other posts it seems that wiper motor seal at the base of the windshield is a suspected area as a source of the water contamination o the ignition coils.
(seems like a Stretch to me but what do I know?)

The sealing gasket which is located on the plastic cowling, underneath the wiper arms/blades, was allowing some water from rain, washing the car, etc., to seep through into the engine compartment. Ironically, water from this problem was dripping onto the cops cover/s area, which in turn would/or could leak onto the cops themselves. Ford came up with an improved sealing gasket to replace the original sealing gasket. Some of the late 2005 models were built with the new improved gasket used. My 2005, built in May 2005 already had the new improved gasket installed by the factory. This is why Ford is offering a one-time only replacement, ONLY if the original sealing gasket is leaking water into the engine compartment. That's the story...............

[EBird]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

thanks for the info...nice to know !!

[HEYMON1]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Got the letter for my 05 as well. Wished they had covered my wifes 02 Lincoln LSE about 2 months ago.

[MATBird]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Monty is the LSE a V6 or V8 and have you had COP issues with it?

[MerlotBlue]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

The sealing gasket which is located on the plastic cowling, underneath the wiper arms/blades, was allowing some water from rain, washing the car, etc., to seep through into the engine compartment. Ironically, water from this problem was dripping onto the cops cover/s area, which in turn would/or could leak onto the cops themselves. Ford came up with an improved sealing gasket to replace the original sealing gasket. Some of the late 2005 models were built with the new improved gasket used. My 2005, built in May 2005 already had the new improved gasket installed by the factory. This is why Ford is offering a one-time only replacement, ONLY if the original sealing gasket is leaking water into the engine compartment. That's the story...............

I've looked at this area when I first read about here in this forum as a suspected reason for coil failure.

Really couldn't make the connection.

Even the seal were completely gone I'm still not sure I understand how water from rain, the hose or what-ever else might send some water in that way is supposed to get into the coils.

Has anyone here actually experienced this?

[bottomtime]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

I've looked at this area when I first read about here in this forum as a suspected reason for coil failure.

Really couldn't make the connection.

Even the seal were completely gone I'm still not sure I understand how water from rain, the hose or what-ever else might send some water in that way is supposed to get into the coils.

Has anyone here actually experienced this?

If you were to remove the plastic cowling, which is underneath the wipers, you will find a gasket running underneath the entire cowling, from one side to the other. This gasket serves the purpose to channel the water to the drain trough, and not allow water to enter the engine compartment. However, with the old gasket, that Ford has now improved and re-made, was not completely sealing totally, on some cars. Consider that when you are driving in the rain, with the wipers on, and/or washing the car, etc., etc., water is under pressure, plus the wipers wiping the water from rain into this cowling area, therefore, under those conditions, the cowling is constantly being filled, and/or being flooded with water. If your car was just sitting, in a light rain shower, without the constant "filling/flooding with water" effect, chances are it would not leak into the engine compartment.

[bottomtime]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

If you were to remove the plastic cowling, which is underneath the wipers, you will find a gasket running underneath the entire cowling, from one side to the other. This gasket serves the purpose to channel the water to the drain trough, and not allow water to enter the engine compartment. However, with the old gasket, that Ford has now improved and re-made, was not completely sealing totally, on some cars. Consider that when you are driving in the rain, with the wipers on, and/or washing the car, etc., etc., water is under pressure, plus the wipers wiping the water from rain into this cowling area, therefore, under those conditions, the cowling is constantly being filled, and/or being flooded with water. If your car was just sitting, in a light rain shower, without the constant "filling/flooding with water" effect, chances are it would not leak into the engine compartment.

A "P.S" TO MY REPLY ABOVE.....REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS NOT A 100%, ALL MODELS BUILT PROBLEM - IT WAS, AND IS, AN INTERMIDENT PROBLEM WITH SOME MODELS BUILT. IF IT'S NOT LEAKING, THEN YOU'RE OKAY, AS IS.............

[back_in_black]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

I'm going to take a receipt for $815 to the dealer, buy the MSD 4.6 coils, put risers on the covers, and let the heat escape (the real design problem in my opinion). Spray all the water you want on them, I do it all the time on my 4.6, never had an issue, sure don't expect one on the 3.9. And what would make anyone think a hotter spark would be a problem? Only a problem for the gas station that will lose the sale of a couple of gallons of gas due to improved mileage and performance. Doubt I'll get it done by Savannah but I hope to see some of you there. I'll roll in Friday night. Someone give me a cell number to call to catch up with you guys please. Fast Freddy 843-697-6700.

[FlaBird1]

Re: It's official now....2004 Thunderbirds are covered....

Anybody else out there with an 03-05 that has not received a letter yet? I'm still waiting for mine.

Ted