pcm problem

[davedan]

Re: pcm problem

after reading the many posts on pcm i talked to the the shop owner who is a good friend who has been in the body shop buisness for over 40 years - asked him to order me 2 pcms-he called to order was asked the vin number they had 2 in stock shipped the next day- he gave me the invoice they were 554.00 each - he talked to the service mgr who has been a ford mechanic and then up to service mgr - 38 years working on fords - he said definite problem in 02 - 03 - less in 04 much less in 05 said they have to be brought in and programed to the car you then can store it away and use it at a latter date or give to a mechanic or dealer out if town to install they can also be reprogramed to use on another car both my cars are 05 said he did not think they could be programed to a 02 - 03 - was not sure on 04 - he did repeat 02 - 03 - were the biggest problem with 05 being the least and almost non existent have never seen a survey on pcm problem by year so i do not know if all this is accurate

[2K2BIRD]

Re: pcm problem

The 8 year 80,000 mile warranty is mandated by the EPA (EPA420-F-96-020) for the
PCM. Doubt very much that Ford is required to supply a loaner under this warranty.

Just thinking as this is a EPA requirement Is Ford required to maintain a certain inventory of
related parts. This might be something to follow up on.

One thing that folks might have missed - The '02s and most of the '03s are now more than 8 years old, so the EPA mandated warranty is over for them.

These seem to be the ones that are virtually impossible to locate. I still think this is just a supply glich that will eventually be cleared up.

It is a real paradox that car companies are building the best vehicles they ever have, but because of the electronics involved they are probably more vulnerable to catastrophic failure than ever.

[V8 Cat]

Re: pcm problem

It is a real paradox that car companies are building the best vehicles they ever have, but because of the electronics involved they are probably more vulnerable to catastrophic failure than ever.

This is why I believe the next generation won't be interested in the present cars as collectibles - too much trouble and expense with the electronics to keep them going. It will just be a hobby for the super rich. JMHO

[MerlotBlue]

Re: pcm problem

This is why I believe the next generation won't be interested in the present cars as collectibles - too much trouble and expense with the electronics to keep them going. It will just be a hobby for the super rich. JMHO

I agree whole-heartedly.

Polish 'em, love 'em and admire 'em if you like........but just don't forget to drive 'em.

I'm not exactly treating our Retro-bids like "daily drivers" but both do get driven. Mine gets split time use with another summer car so it sees about 5,000 miles a year. My wife's T-Bird sees a little more........ but we do drive 'em.

I have no interest in keeping the cars for the rest of my life. I honestly don't think that would be a reasonable goal or expectation at this point anyway.

Even if I did envision keeping the cars for-ever.......

Call me crazy but if something along the lines of an unavailable PCM or some other "must have" part became a problem that couldn't be resolved at a reasonable cost........I'd much sooner give up on a car with plenty of miles on the clock and lots of memories of top down rides than a pristine "brain dead" T-Bird that spent most all of it's existence under a cover in my garage.

[Southern]

Re: pcm problem

This may change my viewpoint.
My "plan" was to use this one as a daily driver.
Then with about 3 months left on the ESP, sell it in 2014......
Probably have 70,000 mile on it.
Then........buy an "almost garage queen" from somebody .....and drive that till the end....... of both of us......


But I used to have a plan...involving the Cadillac Allante.
Then......parts got to be impossible.........

I'll watch what happens over the next 3 years.
But this is concerning me.
I was concerned about the next one........... not this one.......It IS my only driver.......
Houston, we could have a problem.......Let's hope that paul is right.......just a glitch....

[Ediron]

Re: pcm problem

Friend of mine 's only problem on his'04 was with the fuel rail and an odor of gas from it.He called and just told me he turned 100K .

[Duke583]

Re: pcm problem

TOOK MY 2003 BIRD (TITLED 1/2/03, 38,000 MILES) TO THE DEALER MONDAY WITH THE WRENCH/LIMP HOME PROBLEM AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE TELLS ME I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND MAY NEED A NEW ECM. IN THE EVENT THAT I NEED A NEW ECM, AND IT IS ON BACK ORDER, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE MY BEST COURSE OF ACTION? THANKS.

[5bird7]

Re: pcm problem

Earl, I assume they tested the coils in the process of elimination?

[dearborntbird]

Re: pcm problem

A friend with an identical 2002 Bird has a non start problem and I suspect no fuel. Are there relays that can be checked before assuming the fuei pump? She really hates to have the car towed for the first time. She lives in Dearborn and was on the 2002 Thunderbird launch. Her car has 18,000 miles.

[Larro]

Re: pcm problem

The histeria is getting a little wild around here and I'll be glad to take all of these unreliable & unrepairable T-birds that I can afford off of your hands for say ..... $5000.00 each.

It is a testament to the effectiveness of TBN to represent retrobird owners that we know of 2 or 3 of the 9 units on national backorder since only about 7000 members have registered here over the past 9 years (some of which don't own retrobirds and others who are not the original owners) compared to the 68,098 cars built.

The key numbers here are 9 of 68,098. Evidently, only 0.013% of these cars are out of commission today because of the part being backordered, so 99.987% do not require a new PCM today. I'm not much of a gambler, as those that were at Hot Springs can attest to, but I like those odds and to quote PaulD, I can "live with it". (Sorry Paul, couldn't resist) Lots of people gamble money/other assets every day with way worse odds than that.

I'm cerainly not trying to trivialize this issue at the expense of those with the problem. It is a shame that the unavailable part is necessary for the car to function. It is a bummer for those that need one and if I were one of them, I'd be just as upset as they are. It does seem unusual that such a vital part is not available from Ford, but in reality we do not know how many other vehicles of various makes and models are idle because of similar issues with a vital part. Even though it is not a big problem in the big picture for Ford, I'm willing to bet they are working to make the part available ASAP, because they know a lot of T-bird owners are loyal Ford buyers.

My advise to those with the problem is to be persistent that the dealer supply transportation the entire time while your car is immobile and take it all the way up the Ford food chain if that is not happening.

My advise to those without the problem is relax, because odds are way in our favor that we won't have this problem.

Thanks, Paul for that perspective. As a brand-new owner I've been reading the threads to get up to speed on these cars and I was beginning to feel like maybe I'd made a mistake buying my dream car. Now I don't feel so bad. I might even take the Bird for a spin!

[04birdman]

Re: pcm problem

Thanks, Paul for that perspective. As a brand-new owner I've been reading the threads to get up to speed on these cars and I was beginning to feel like maybe I'd made a mistake buying my dream car. Now I don't feel so bad. I might even take the Bird for a spin!

except it seems almost daily there is another part unavailable......in another year you will be able to part them out for more money than their worth....

[justjon]

Re: pcm problem

Sounds like the Allantes .. parts worth more then the car.

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: pcm problem

Yes the sky is falling. Nearly every day there is a new part unavailable. We are into day 24 of this month and I am trying to search what 24 parts are no longer available since April 30th. Paul's post #110 clearly separates clear thinking from panic. Come on guys, let's man up. Things aren't that bad.

[HKS]

Re: pcm problem

Are the PCMs repairable? Are ther repair parts available?
HKS

Yes the sky is falling. Nearly every day there is a new part unavailable. We are into day 24 of this month and I am trying to search what 24 parts are no longer available since April 30th. Paul's post #110 clearly separates clear thinking from panic. Come on guys, let's man up. Things aren't that bad.

[bada]

Re: pcm problem

The histeria is getting a little wild around here and I'll be glad to take all of these unreliable & unrepairable T-birds that I can afford off of your hands for say ..... $5000.00 each.

It is a testament to the effectiveness of TBN to represent retrobird owners that we know of 2 or 3 of the 9 units on national backorder since only about 7000 members have registered here over the past 9 years (some of which don't own retrobirds and others who are not the original owners) compared to the 68,098 cars built.

The key numbers here are 9 of 68,098. Evidently, only 0.013% of these cars are out of commission today because of the part being backordered, so 99.987% do not require a new PCM today. I'm not much of a gambler, as those that were at Hot Springs can attest to, but I like those odds and to quote PaulD, I can "live with it". (Sorry Paul, couldn't resist) Lots of people gamble money/other assets every day with way worse odds than that.

I'm cerainly not trying to trivialize this issue at the expense of those with the problem. It is a shame that the unavailable part is necessary for the car to function. It is a bummer for those that need one and if I were one of them, I'd be just as upset as they are. It does seem unusual that such a vital part is not available from Ford, but in reality we do not know how many other vehicles of various makes and models are idle because of similar issues with a vital part. Even though it is not a big problem in the big picture for Ford, I'm willing to bet they are working to make the part available ASAP, because they know a lot of T-bird owners are loyal Ford buyers.

My advise to those with the problem is to be persistent that the dealer supply transportation the entire time while your car is immobile and take it all the way up the Ford food chain if that is not happening.

My advise to those without the problem is relax, because odds are way in our favor that we won't have this problem.

Give me $20,000 for mine and you can have it. Then you will have a parts car.