View Full Version : Just came back from Ford Service Department with a recall...
KuwlKitty
03-08-2003, 02:50 PM
Last night, as I was cruising with a few friends in the car on our way to a club, my CEL came on. I think my heart skipped a beat. I thought my car was going to self destruct in T minus 2 miles. I didn't feel anything different in the way it drove. Unlike when my fuel pump was going dead on me and the car would stutter. So we continued onward to the club drove it back and this morning I checked it again and it was still on. So I brought it to the local Ford Dealership at around 11:40am, they brought it around back to the garage and at 12:20pm they returned the car to me. Fast service!
Cause of the CEL? My EGR pressure sensor was malfunctioning and had to be replaced. And they did it so fast because they had the part in stock.
Here's the shocker I don't know if you folks know....the part has been recalled for all Cougars 2001-2002. They said Ford recalled all the EGR sensors but is not doing it on a large scale. Only for those who need it. My car is still under warranty but they said if yours isn't they'll still replace it for free.
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up.
mcon99
03-08-2003, 05:27 PM
Originally posted by: KuwlKitty
Last night, as I was cruising with a few friends in the car on our way to a club, my CEL came on. I think my heart skipped a beat. I thought my car was going to self destruct in T minus 2 miles.
uh... popping a CEL is not going to make your car blow up. i usually drive around with the CEL on all the time! (although it's the good CEL .... IMRC stuck open :) )
the only CEL you should be worried about is if it comes on and starts to flash. that means cylinder misfire. Happened to me once ... I took my foot off the gas, pushed the clutch in, turned off the engine, and coasted to the side of the road. turned out #1 spark plug wire had come loose. back and going again in 3 minutes.
nice to know the EGR sensor is a recall item though.
Rikenbomb
03-08-2003, 05:42 PM
Dude i'd get that IMRC fixed. It's prolly just an IMRC swap.
PizzaSlut
03-08-2003, 05:59 PM
Too bad it's not for 99-00, called dealer to make sure cuz I haven't gotten around to checking mine for it throwing a CEL.
mcon99
03-08-2003, 06:04 PM
Originally posted by: Rikenbomb
Dude i'd get that IMRC fixed. It's prolly just an IMRC swap.
are you kidding me? I'm the one who pinned them open in the first place! and in another month when my car gets back on the road it won't have any butterflies or IMRC to speak of :)
Ruffian
03-09-2003, 08:38 AM
Do you notice any improvement in performance by having the IMRC open all the time? Aren't you supposed to lose bottom end power as a result?
For the record, it is not a recall. It is an extention of your bumper to bumper warranty. If you have the problem beyond your B-B warranty, it will still be replaced. It is a FSA that was issued for ALL Ford-L/M cars with the 2F1Z-9J460-AA DPFE sensor.
bova80
03-10-2003, 01:12 AM
what does the EGR sensor do? probably something out of the ordinary and i am an idiot
It basically regualtes the EGR valve.
bova80
03-10-2003, 01:38 AM
sorry but i don't know what that does either.
KuwlKitty
03-10-2003, 08:16 AM
For the record, it is not a recall.
If "For the record it's not a recall" then how come they told me that and on my printed-out bill it reads:
Concern 51: CEL
Cause: Recall 02M01B
Correction 020M01- Performed Recall
Part Number: 2F1Z9J460AA
It mentions recall quite a bit of times in there. I'm sure you're right because I believe you work for them, right? I just wondered why they couldn't explain it to me that way. :shrug:
It doesn't even matter because the CEL light came on again yesterday!! :banghead:
I'll have to go in again today to see what the deal is now.
PuckPuck
03-10-2003, 12:31 PM
It's a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) which works in similar fashion to a recall but is not made public.
A recall is when a part is called back by Ford, letters are sent and there is typically a date when the recall ends. You get the letter, take your car in, have the part replaced.
This is not the case, just because you know about the letter...or even received one, does not mean your part will be replaced. You can take your car to 1000 dealers, but if you are not showing a CEL or pulling the DPFE code, you will not get the part replaced. The DPFE is a common problem, it collects water and does not function correctly. Ford, knowing this, issued a "Warranty extention" on this part. Meaning, that part is covered beyond your bumper to bumper warranty, but it will not just be replaced because you have a letter.
It is labeled a FSA, Field Service Announcement....which is basically what Ford will be calling Recalls in the future. There are three things that can be issued, a TSB, which is just a helpful tool for the techs...not you. A FSA, which typically means that Ford is aware of an issue, and it will cover a specific part for an extended period of time. You can not just get the part replaced because there is a FSA.
Another good example of this is the battery cable routing problem. This was not a real recall, as no parts were replaced or installed UNLESS NEEDED. Most Cougar owners took their car in only to have nothing done, because nothing was wrong. A recall is like the Contitrac recall that was issued last year. As long as your tires were made between specific dates, they were replaced, reguardless of the condition of the tire. If it was one of the recalled tires, then no questions asked, they were replaced.
KuwlKitty
03-10-2003, 10:26 PM
Fett...Awesome information, thank you.
Well I went back to Ford this afternoon. It has a 20 bay maintenance area! I saw the mechanic who dealt with the car the last time. He's this Mr. Clean grumpy looking guy who's been working there for 12 years now. Anyways, he hooked it back up to the computer and it read the same thing, the EGR sensor. He didn't replace the sensor again but ran a couple of other tests. He asked me to make an appointment to leave it with him.
Then he said, "It's a damn good thing they're not making these Cougar's anymore."
So I asked him if he see's many come in. He just looked at me for about 3 seconds and shook his head in disgust, as though he see's too many, while he closed the hood.
I asked him if there was any one thing that has to be replaced often with the Cougar's he see's.
He said that there wasn't, just any random thing, and he walked away.
So we'll see what's next when I drop her off Wed.
Yea, our techs HATE the Cougar/Contour/Mystique. They are a pain in the ass to work on, have frequent problems, and Flate Rate is horrible.
CougarSpd
03-12-2003, 03:52 PM
I just have to say thank you for that knowledge. My EGR is bad, and I was about to buy another one. I went to the Mercury dealer near me, they told me there was no recalls on my car. I guess that was a bunch of CRAP!!!
It depends on the year, the 99 Cougars had a different DPFE sensor, only the late 00 and up Cougars had the new DPFE, the one that now has an extended Ford warranty on it (recall). If you PM me your VIN, I will check to see if your DPFE is under the campaign.
KuwlKitty
03-12-2003, 10:59 PM
Well I came back from getting my car and get this....the EGR sensor that was replaced just so happen to be a broken one! They can't even get the replacement one right :banghead:. But all is good now. He tested this one out and away we go!:biggrin: