The Red Brick Times

I took my 2002 Explorer into the dealership last Tuesday after getting a recall letter from Ford. It had something to do with installing a harness around a cruise control component to avoid risk of fire in the engine compartment. The letter actually advised not parking the car in or around a building which may then also catch fire. Got my attention you bet!

Before I took the car in the cruise control worked just fine. The next time I tried to use it it didn't work at all. Hmm.... maybe they goofed something up? So today I called the dealer, explained the problem, and was told to bring it back in. They'd be happy to look into it - for a $75 "diagnostic" fee. If it was indeed their mistake they'd fix it for free, but I'd still owe the $75. "Gee", says I, "such a deal!" Well, no, that's not what I said. Instead I called the Ford "customer relations" department, an 800 number. They told me to go fuck myself but were very polite about it.

What I learned today:
#1. Do not buy a Ford product.
#2. Ignore #1 at your own risk, but if you must buy a Ford product avoid Mike Bass Ford like the plague!
Posted 9:26 AM by whatley (8) comments

       Comments:

Get to the regional Ford Customer Service representative that covers that dealer. Don't take the dealer's bullcrap. If that gets you nowhere (the Dealer cannot deny you this contact), cite the recall number in a written letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stating that you feel that Ford, through their dealer, caused more damage and potential safety hazards that were repaired. Cite the Recall number, Dealer name, Service writer name, repair order number, date of service. Also state the contact with Ford Customer Relations, date, contact name and result. Send a copy to both the dealer and Ford as well. Also contact the Ohio Attorney General's office regarding automobile safety concerns as practiced by both Ford, and, as their representative, the dealer.

# posted by  Andy : September 04, 2007 3:49 PM
 
Note: If you don't want to play with the same dealer about contacting the regional FCSD rep, go to another dealer to make the request. An FCSD regional dealer rep usually covers several dealers in the same area. Unfortunately, I don't have any more access than do you at this remove.

# posted by  Andy : September 04, 2007 3:56 PM
 
(FCSD = Ford Customer Service Division)

# posted by  Andy : September 04, 2007 3:57 PM
 
Umm... thanks for the tip, but I don't have all that information anymore. And anyway, if I should go through with all that, my cruise control might, and I say might, get fixed by 2012 (or never). Fuck it. They win. I'll pay to get it fixed elsewhere.

# posted by  whatley : September 04, 2007 5:29 PM
 
Oh I'll help you troubleshoot. I just wanna smear the slimy weasels, I mean, insure that they provide socially responsible products and services.

# posted by  Andy : September 04, 2007 5:43 PM
 
OK bud; here's the deal: some vehicles with cruise control have a cruise deactivate switch mounted on the brake master cylinder. This switch senses brake fluid pressure (pedal pushed) and interrupts electricity to the cruise control servo so it releases the throttle when the brakes are applied. If the internal seals in the Texas-Instruments-produced switch leak brake fluid (which, being oil, is flammable), the switch contacts, which may spark a bit when opening up, can flame the oil. Since the switch is in the power supply circuit to the cruise control, it is powered all the time (even when key is off).

According to some reports, the replacement switches will not be available until November, so deactivation of the cruise control is the interim safety step. Does your notice indicate that a follow-up visit is to be done when parts are available?

# posted by  Andy : September 05, 2007 7:11 AM
 
Note: if they are going to leave cruise controls permanently disabled as the "fix", we can wire around the problem, adding a switch to the brake pedal lever that does the same thing, only by sensing the mechanical motion of the pedal rather than the brake fluid pressure. The BOO (brake on, brake off) switch often mounted in the brake power booster (your vehicle may not have one), and the regular brake light switch, usually mounted on the brake pedal lever, are the other redundant ways that are normally used to interrupt juice to the cruise control.

# posted by  Andy : September 05, 2007 7:18 AM
 
All they did was to put a harness on something to (I guess) keep it away from something else (how's that for a technical description?). No follow up visit was indicated. I'm going to stop by Pais' tomorrow so he can have a look see.

# posted by  whatley : September 05, 2007 9:35 AM
 
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