1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A PRECAUTION THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, AND COOLANT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO FREEZE PLUGS WHICH WERE SEEN TO BE WEEPING. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS INTERNALLY CAUSING THE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND BE CONSUMED. I AUTHORIZED REPAIRS BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF MY WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOW TOO OLD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA)

ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DID.

HEAD LAMP COVERS TURNED YELLOW. AS TIME HAS PASS HEADLIGHTS GAVE POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAD TO TRAVEL WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS TO GAIN VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS BURNED OUT. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT CAUSES BAD VISION AT NIGHT. *AK

DASH HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2000 DUE TO RECALL BY FORD. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED FOR SAME REASON ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR. BURNED CONTACTS WERE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. SEEMS AS IF SWITCH USED FOR REPLACEMENT IS NO BETTER THAN ORIGINAL SWITCH RECALLED.

LENS ASSEMBLY FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED, TURNING CLOUDLY YELLOW, THIS HAS RESTRICTED THE LIGHT FROM THE LOW BEAM PER NIGHT DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF VISIBILITY . MY DEALER WILL NOT PASS THE CAR UPON INSPECTION DUE TO THE LOSS OF LIGHT . THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ONCE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A SIGHT INCLINE POSTION, ABS MOTOR ENGAGED, CAUSING FRONT BRAKESTO GRABS AND NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE HOME, AND THE ABS MOTOR REMAINED ON AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST, BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERWD UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE LOOSING COOLANT, THE LEAK IN THE LOWER PART OF THE RADIATOR CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NLM

MASTER CYLINDER "BRAKE FLUID RESERVIOR" DEVELOPED LEAK DUE TO CONTACT (RUBBING) AGAINST WIRING HARNESS FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT LIGHT. FORD SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO INSPECT ALL BRAKE FLUID RESERVIORS FOR SIGNS OF WEAR THROUGH DUE TO CONTACT WITH ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD LIGHT. *AK

REAR DECK LIGHT ASSY BULBS ARE OVERHEATING/FAILING. SOCKETS ARE MELTING DOWN AS IS THE MODULE THAT HOLDS THE SOCKETS. THE TRUNK LIGHT IS ALSO OUT. THIS CAR ALSO HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAIL. FORD SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURES, NOT JUST 94 AND LATER. IS THERE DATA ON THE OVERHEATING/MELTING OF THE REAR DECK HARNESS ASSY AND IS FORD CORRECTING THE PROBLEM OR THE DOES THE OWNER TAKE IT ALL?