RVER
West of Boston, MA
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Joined: 10/29/2000
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I complained to Ford on website customer service, they sent me an email for more info like Vin #. Today i had a telephone message to call them. I called and when I got into the problem, I am being told to buy a new engine and my engine has 34,000 mile on it. The woman on the phone says to me, "Get a second opinion". Ya, no sh--, but what I would like is for Ford to call the dealership and find out WHY they say it needs a new motor because I am not being told exactly why. I am told it is something in the bottom of the engine and looking around is going to cost $80 an hour and ' IT PROBABLY IS GOING TO NEED THE NEW ENGINE AND THEN YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE LABOR FOR LOOKING AND THEN LABOR AND COST OF THE NEW ENGINE, I suggest you get the new engine." The woman at Ford then says to me, "I am not a technical person, we really are a dealer locator!" Now the truth comes out, the Ford Customer Service is really a dealer locator. She told me there was no techical person there, that her job is to find a Ford dealer for me, she told me she does not have a supervisor "AT ALL there and GOOD BY"
To me this is not customer service, it is MARKETING and customer service consists of a young woman who (she tells me this) has "no technical knowledge at all" and does not know who to connect me to for real technical assistance. What I wanted is for ford to call the Ford truck place telling me I need a new engine. "No we do not have that at all, "if the Ford truck place wants help they have a rep to call who will come out and check it out but we have no one for you to talk to about techical issues, we expect the dealer is the best resource." GIVE ME A BREAK, what is ford thinking hiring these women who reconnect you to the dealer to "WORK IT OUT".
I expected a real answer and help from Ford, and I got worse than lip service.
Buy a Workhorse and maybe you will get real customer service.
Chevy Silverado 2500HD with Duramax engine and Allison transmission
2002 Sunnybrook 34BWTS with lots of goodies
Pullrite Superglide Hitch, Prodigy brake controller
S and S Co-Travelers and along for the ride is Ketzel the wonder cat.
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GurlsToy
West of Boston, Mass
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Joined: 06/19/2003
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I'm sorry to hear you're having so much trouble.
And please, this isn't meant to offend, but sending email to an address on a website will very rarely get you connected to anyone that can in ANY way help you with a problem when dealing with a large corp like Ford.
My experience is that you almost always have to escalate through the dealer. Is it a warranty issue? Have you checked another dealer to get a second opinion? The dealerships have an escalation process that's very well defined by the corporation...and if need be, that's the way to go.
Just my $.02
J&L
Hey...we're NEW at this, so we have the right to ask all these dumb questions 
1986 F350 diesel w/training wheels "STACKED"
1986 Marathon 33' 5er
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Amazon
Sebring, Florida USA
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Joined: 08/10/2003
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That what you get for buying a Ford.. just about the worst truck to buy outside of Toyota. I had Ford before and the last one that I had ,I went to three engines before I got smart and dump that junk..
Travel about 30 thousand miles on about all the three engines , plus blew up a standard transmission also... plus the lugs on the wheels would break off... I'll never buy another Ford again.... If you ask what I drive now Dodge...
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jdavis1277
Spanish Fort, AL, USA
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Joined: 09/22/2002
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OK, let's see.
You have a nine year old Winnie on a Ford chassis. It's waaaaay out of warranty, right?
I believe your expectations from an 800 number at Ford were totally unrealistic. If you need to find a dealer to help you the folks at Customer Service can and will help. If you want a second opinion you need to go to another Ford shop or an independent to get the opinion.
If you want a definite answer and an estimate of costs it will cost you money because it will require work, right. No one is going to work on your Winnie for free. Not a Ford dealer nor an independent; why should they?
If a mechanic hears bad noises from the bottom of your engine the assumption is lower end problems. Could be one or more rod bearings or crank bearings, or something more or less serious. Generally if one bearing is bad the rest are not far behind. The condition is often caused by serious overheating caused by cooling system problems or a low lubricant level. Either of these conditions severe enough to cause a bearing failure have probably caused other damage as well. Thus the recommendation to replace the engine with a factory rebuilt engine. Sounds like good advice. But, if you're in doubt, by all means pay to have the engine removed and torn down before deciding upon a course of action.
Butch Davis
Dutch Star 3456
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RVER
West of Boston, MA
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Joined: 10/29/2000
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if the engine was overheated due to low lubricant(oil) etc would not the temp guage tell me it is overheating? the oil gauge and temp guage have stayed well within limits at all times. This did start after going to Vermont and on the way back we stopped ate and got gasoline. When i started out from the gas station i heard the noise,)not pinging) but a ticking noise which actually was quieter on the road then idling. I traveled another 125 miles and it did not worsen, heard it again when we were off the highway at a light. I took it the next day to an independent truck place and they feel it is in the bottom of the engine but not sure think it is drivers side. There are two new manifolds and a Y tube 1 1/2 years ago.
i just think i should bite the bullet and buy a truck and 5th wheel and trade this in NOW before it goes kaplunk.
Ford technical assistance line was terrible. At least if they had someone on the line who knew something of which I speak.
I will buy a Chevy Duramax because I do want to deal with ford aagain and the diesel ford 6.0 liter is having alot of problems.
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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It could be a manifold again. How does it run? power? noise? etc... The Ford 460 is known as a strong motor but does generate alot of heat. If nothing was done to help remove the heat when the manifolds were replaced expect the same result. The original manifolds broke/cracked/leaked for a reason. If that reason wasn't corrected don't you think they'd do it again? The description of your condition would lead me in that direction, but like a tech on a customer service line, thats just a guess.
As for someone on the other end of an 800 number answering your question, even if they were techs, it would just be a guess. Any help line I've ever called uses a flow chart of common problems and fixes. At least she didn't lie to you. Personally I've had GREAT service from the Ford RV Customer service line. Good luck.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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djevans
Tennessee
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Joined: 03/24/2002
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RVER . . .
I haven't been following your "issues," but FORD's 460 is one of the better, if not the best engine ever built for RV "gas" use in my opinion.
I'm assuming you have a manifold issue from what's been posted here, and I'm sorry to "hear" you're having a problem of any kind.
Overheating (cooling wise) isn't typically a FORD problem, that happens a lot more to GM engines.
Manifold issues ARE most definitely a FORD issue, and even cracking of the back end of the head can occur. Very shortly after buying ours, we install BANKS headers, true enough, for more power, but very much also to avoid any issues with the manifolds and the heads.
If you recently had a major engine rebuild or repair from FORD, I can't imagine them not helping if it's still under warranty. I'm not sure what FORD can do for you if you're out of warranty though. Is your engine "covered" some way?
Don . . . near 36.171N 086.784W, TN near here
WA4ZFN
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C - Saturn VUE
350hp Cummins ISC
- - - P i c t u r e s - - -
I'm confused, WAIT! Maybe I'm not!
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Stan Birch
Newmarket, Ontario
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Joined: 07/06/2003
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RVER,
I don't intend at all to be unkind, but after reading your posting, I haven't the slightest clue as to what the problem with your engine might be. Notwithstanding, with a ten year old rig, I can't imagine Ford being in any way interested either.
When you bought your rig, you paid for the rig, plus a 3 year/36,000 mile insurance policy. At the end of three years, the insurance policy you paid for, expired. End of story.
You had the option of paying for additional insurance in the form of an extended-warranty insurance policy. Did you do that? Nope. Not that they are worth a fart; but you have now chosen to adopt the role of a self-insurer; and consequently chosen to accept the risks associated with that choice. 'Course, after discovering the enormous cost of extended-warranty insurance, most of us, and particularly those who are meticulous in maintaining their rigs, bet that they can do a whole lot better than the house-odds offered by the extended-warranty insurer.
Although I don't in any way disagree with you, that "Ford Service Sucks"; but that's also true of Workhorse as well. So far, you've failed to present any evidence whatsoever, suggesting that Ford has in any way failed to meet their contractual obligations.
'99 Winnebago Adventurer 32T, Ford V-10
'00 Yamaha XT 225
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MBGOVE
Minnesota
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Joined: 05/14/2001
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Sorry you are unhappy but consider the reality of the situation. Ford/GM/Chrysler/BMW/VW/etc spend ten's of millions of dollars each to train their dealerships, not to put people on the phone. Self diagnostics for a complex piece of machinery just does not work over the phone. Putting highly trained people on the phone cost a significant amount of money and these days most people are looking for the lowest cost and not willing to pay for service.
Go to another "independent" Ford dealer if your are not satisfied with the answer from the first one.
I found your statement interesting "...they did not want to spend $80 and hour...", it would be your money they are spending, not theirs.
What I think they were saying is that it looks to be a major problem that would take a lot of labor cost just to prove the problem so why not just get a new engine and guarantee the fix.
Only 3400 miles a year is hard on a engine.
Mike
2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder - CAT C13 525/1650
2004 Ford F350 CrewCab - PSD/TorqShift
2001 FourWinds Dutchmen C - Ford E450 V10
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RRTom
California USA
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Joined: 07/21/2001
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Mike,
This is NOT a disagreement about your statement that only 3400 miles a year is hard on an engine. I am only trying to educate myself, with your help.
Why is it hard on an engine?
Thanks for contributing to my education.
Show me your Flamingo
Floyd's Mom and Dad
Tom and Lerinda
2005 Fleetwood Providence 39L
FMCA F340565
Rallies: 9 (so far)
Website: www.Feathered-Friends.net
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