COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

[NorthernBird]

I know this would probably be a better fit under the T-Bird Garage, but would like to make sure its read.

Our MSG has started showing signs of an intermitent rough idle, nothing serious but enough for me to wonder about the COPS issue. Is a lopy idle when sitting at the light, feels like a well muffled mild cam'd V8. It's not causing any drop in RPM or apparent large loss of power, and seems to respond ok.

Can anyone explain the following to me:

1. What is the symptoms you saw when the COPS issue occured?
2. What was the dealer like about dealing with the issue?
3. Is there a sure fire way to tell that it is a COPS issue, before I pay for a dealer service that tells me it wasn't the issue.

The MSG is out of warranty, and has 66K on it now, and I plan on loving it until I allow (make that have no choice but let) one of our children to love it on a full time basis.

Thanks!

[jerrym3]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

My car (LS) was missing at idle and then at speed. Sometimes, the check engine light would come on, but not in the very beginning.

My dealer has diagnosed 3 COPS issues, and corrected them.

He's also diagnosed other issues (ex: "check parking brake" message) on my LS that I chose not to do anything about.

He doesn't charge me for diagnostics.

If a dealer normally does your service, I wouldn't be concerned. If it's COPS, he fixes it (hopefully) under extended warranty. A 2003 COPS problem should be covered, although my dealer says all 2003s are not covered.

Mine is, so I dropped the subject right there.

If it's not a COPS issue, then he fixes it, and you're happy, or he doesn't fix it, and you take whatever steps you can, including contacting the manufacturer, to correct the situation.

[MATBird]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Peter:
"Is there a sure fire way to tell that it is a COPS issue, before I pay for a dealer service that tells me it wasn't the issue."

If I recall correctly, somewhere posted under the COPS threads, someone said to find a hill and let the car labor going up. It then may display a code and could hesitate, which would be COPS. Just couldn't find the specific thread, but try it anyway

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

No need to have the dealer check it if you fear there might be a charge. Members here indicate that Auto Zone will do the test for free.

[Southern]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

That's true. And if you don't have an Auto Zone, Advance Auto Parts will do the same thing. They just plug a reader in ad see the codes. In most instances they can tell you what the code means....but not all the time.

[Sealy]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

For you gadget-minded do it yourselfers, this might help . . .

http://www.plxkiwi.com/kiwimpg/index.html

[Ediron]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Labor the vehicle,down shift around corners (always worked for me) punch it going on to highways.Best to have the check engine light go on ,it may go on for a few seconds or stay on but it will give the code for the dealer.I never had a problem with the dealer.

[FEsTbird]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Mine was hesitating when moving away from a stop (such as a light) then the check engine light came on. Covered under the COPS warranty for 2003-2005 Tbirds. Replaced all 8 COPS and a cover related to the windshield wiper.

[NorthernBird]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Thanks everyone. will see if i can get it to act up a bit more.

Right now, the only "from light hesitation" i can get is if i try to accellerate slightly agressively.

The rough idle cannot be noticed by my passengers, but I feel it, its definitly loping.

No check engine light yet, but will drop by autozone and see if they can pull some codes (or maybe its time for me to finally break down and buy a code reader, any suggestions?)

Being here in Texas, I don't think I've seen a real hill since I moved from Utah, maybe someone knows of a decent from a stop hill in the N. Dallas area.

Thanks again, you're all wonderful!

[redbirdsal]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Hi Peter! It was CARTOY that I forced to display the Engine light on mountain roads, but that occured in the mountains of N Mexico a couple of years ago.

I was thinking of relatively steep road inclines in this area, but I think about the closest is the multi-lane highway between Tyler and Jacksonville. Also the highway between Athens and Jacksonville is pretty good, but in that stretch, it's single-lane each way.

The best bet to push it to the limit around here, is to go out about an hour on an Interstate to a rest area. Punch your accellerator from stand still, to the floor on the entrance ramp.

I knocked another COP out, and triggered the light/code, with heavy accelleration, coming back in town last May using this technique. And that was just from an easy coast, to merge with heavy traffic (not from a dead stop).

[Rondor]

Re: COPS -Warranty? How to tell?

Same symotoms mine had and dealer replaced 3 COP's problem dolved