Ford Mustang: Intake Manifold (cont'd)

My 1998 Mustang GT

HELMUT RONER <com> wrote in message
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car 
costed 
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hoping I 
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Do you realize you can probably get reimbursed for that item from Ford
because it is a defective part in some years? According to my info, 1998 is
covered. I said in earlier post but will say again: I went to the dealership
*after* having gotten work done by local repair shop I trust, showed receipt
to them, filled out small form, they mailed it off, about 4 days later I
received a check for full amount from Ford.

Here is some more info I gathered from this newsgroup about three weeks ago
when mine went out:

: Edmonston says the Ford engine problem is caused by inherently defective
4.6L engine intake manifolds. These manifolds are manufactured out of
plastic and have an abnormal tendency to crack, leading to overheating and
in many cases complete engine failure and/or damage to other parts of the
car's engine.

: Ford has offered to replace these defective intake manifolds free or
charge for cars purchased by police forces and taxi cab companies. However,
says Edmonston, Ford has yet to offer such a "recall" to individual
consumers who purchased the same cars.

: The following models equipped with Ford's 4L, V8 engine may have defective
engine manifolds:

: Mercury Grand Marquis (1996-2001);
: Ford Mustang (1996-2001);
: Ford Explorer (1996-2001);
: Ford Crown Victoria (1996-2001);
: Lincoln Town Car (1996-2001);
: Mercury Cougar (1996-1997);
: Ford Thunderbird (1996-1997),
: and all Mercury Grand Marquis (1996-2001).
: Edmonston also says that intake gasket failures are a chronic problem with
General Motors 3.1L, 3.4L, and 3.8L V6 engines produced from roughly 1995
through 2001, as well as the V8 used in SUVs and trucks. GM's Venture and
Montana minivans are particularly prone to having these failures.

: Edmonston says a poorly designed plastic intake manifold gasket that is
leak-prone allows Dex-Cool (orange) antifreeze to leak into the engine,
causing the failure.

: Edmonston recommends that owners with defective engine intake manifolds,
not covered by the original warranty, should ask their service manager to
make a "goodwill" or emissions warranty application to GM or Ford. If no
refund is offered, consumers should have the repair done at an independent
garage and use that garage's report as proof in small claims court.
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