[msbmustang]

Hi Everyone,

My local dealer just faxed me TSB 08-3-4 that supersedes TSB 06-4-1 both of which address the Transmission cross-member exhaust mount rattles/buzzes/vibrations. I have always had a very loud rattle (on every single bump in the road) in the center stack area or slightly left towards the drivers side which I thought was from something loose behind the radio. Several weeks ago I removed the radio and everything around it including the dash board display. I then drove the GT-500 over some rough roads and the noise was still there. Did some more online searches and found the original TSB 06-4-1 which seemed to describe my problem. Called my local dealer today to see if it was covered under warranty and it is not. He then told me TSB 06-4-1 was replaced by TSB 08-3-4. This new TSB basically says don't do the first one but now do TSB 08-3-4 which is dated Jan 31, 08. YESTERDAY! Good thing I waited to do the first one until this weekend!

I did a web search and could not find an online copy of TSB 08-3-4? (Maybe it is too new?) Does anyone know where I can download one? (The faxed copy my dealer sent me is OK but not very clear).

Also has anyone else noticed this problem? Has anyone had the orig mod/TSB 06-4-1 done to their 05/06/07GT or 07/08 GT500?


Thanks and Best Regards,

MSB Mustang / Mark

[stlwagon]

Does it describe the same problem as the old TSB?

[msbmustang]

Yes it is the same problem but the solution is a little more complex. They have you remove the first solution and then cut some stuff off to let more things float.

[stlwagon]

Originally Posted by msbmustang

Yes it is the same problem but the solution is a little more complex. They have you remove the first solution and then cut some stuff off to let more things float.

I'll keep an eye out for it and post it as soon as it's out there.

[Brent05redfire]

can't you contact the dealer that faxed it to you and go get a hard copy in person?

[msbmustang]

The faxed copy I have of TSB 08-3-4 is just barely good enough to try and do the fix (I just read it/studied it several times) but not good enough to scan and post on this board. Since it was dated Jan 31, 2008 it is probably not up on the web yet. It does say it only applies to Mustangs built before 12/3/2007. My GT500 build date is March 2006-#12 in the production run and I just hit 65k miles. Ford put the first 50k on it.

I just read the faxed copy of the TSB several times and I think I understand what to do. I am now waiting for the rain to stop here in HMB so I can jack the car up and crawl underneath to try it. If this solves the vibration noise in the center stack area I think everyone will want to do it. Interesting that the first fix did not work and it took Ford a year to figure it out especially since they said that the brackets that need to cut were "...a production assembly aid and are not required." This change basically isolates the exhaust pipes from the transmission bracket. If they were just a production aid why did they leave them there? Did they think they looked good after assembly and just left them there?

Anyway, I will report back later if I can get under there and get it done today, if it stops raining. Hope I can cut the brackets with a hack saw blade because my wife’s last project did in my Sears reciprocating saw!

MSB Mustang / Mark

[stlwagon]

Originally Posted by msbmustang

The faxed copy I have of TSB 08-3-4 is just barely good enough to try and do the fix (I just read it/studied it several times) but not good enough to scan and post on this board. Since it was dated Jan 31, 2008 it is probably not up on the web yet. It does say it only applies to Mustangs built before 12/3/2007. My GT500 build date is March 2006-#12 in the production run and I just hit 65k miles. Ford put the first 50k on it.

I just read the faxed copy of the TSB several times and I think I understand what to do. I am now waiting for the rain to stop here in HMB so I can jack the car up and crawl underneath to try it. If this solves the vibration noise in the center stack area I think everyone will want to do it. Interesting that the first fix did not work and it took Ford a year to figure it out especially since they said that the brackets that need to cut were "...a production assembly aid and are not required." This change basically isolates the exhaust pipes from the transmission bracket. If they were just a production aid why did they leave them there? Did they think they looked good after assembly and just left them there?

Anyway, I will report back later if I can get under there and get it done today, if it stops raining. Hope I can cut the brackets with a hack saw blade because my wife’s last project did in my Sears reciprocating saw!

MSB Mustang / Mark

Ok... Let us know. You might also be able to cut with a Dremel outfitted with a cutting wheel.

[msbmustang]

Dremel tool! Never would have thought of that. Thanks! I have several of them so I will give it a shot tomorrow. If it stops raining that is. Took me an hour to thaw out and dry off after getting under the car just to look at it. It is clear to me now this is a problem because the metal rod that comes off the exhaust pipe had compressed the rubber insulator and it resting on the metal bracket that connects directly to the floor pan in the front part of the car. Any bump would cause the exhaust pipe and hanger rod to bounce a bit and that might be what I am hearing. I will report back when I get the hanger bracket cut off.

Also, does anyone else hear this noise from the center stack or dash area when they hit a bump?

Mark / MSB Mustang

[msbmustang]

Dremel tool did not work. Just bought a new saws-all at home depot. Will cut off the left and right brackets tonight or tomorrow morning if all goes well.

[stlwagon]

Oh well... It was a thought.

[a_manifestation]

This may sound stupid, but I thought TSBs were not affected by warranties. If the car is out of warranty a TSB would still be done by the dealer. I have just read two posts where people were doing it themselves. My warranty is out in 1k miles, I better get on the ball about it if so.

[stlwagon]

Originally Posted by a_manifestation

This may sound stupid, but I thought TSBs were not affected by warranties. If the car is out of warranty a TSB would still be done by the dealer. I have just read two posts where people were doing it themselves. My warranty is out in 1k miles, I better get on the ball about it if so.

Unfortunately not true... They're not like recalls.

[cman]

Does this only apply to the GT500 or should all of us with GT's be looking at performing this TSB?

[stlwagon]

Originally Posted by cman

Does this only apply to the GT500 or should all of us with GT's be looking at performing this TSB?

It applies to the GT too.

[msbmustang]

Hi Everyone,

I finished the TSB (TSB 08-3-4) MOD this weekend and it has Greatly reduced the noises up through the center stack area! I had to purchase a Saws-all to make the cut but since I saved the $100 deductible (by doing it myself) that paid for the saw. (A saws-all is a a very useful thing to have around the house anyway!)

Took me about 2 hours. I would suggest that anyone who has noises on hard bumps coming from the center stack area do this mod. It is interesting that TSB 08-3-4 says this bracket was a production aid which means it should have been removed after the production process was completed. Someone at the factory tried to save a few bucks by leaving it there and it cost me months of troubleshooting to find this vibration/noise. This problem does apply to GT's and GT500's. It is a little worse on the GT500 because the exhaust pipe is slightly bigger and thus the hanger rod goes down a little lower in the bad hanger bracket and hits the bottom a little sooner.

I do still have a few new noises (now that I put in new upper and lower control arms from hotpart.com and the Koni yellow adj shocks) but overall the noise is tolerable now! AND...the wheel hop is gone!!! Handles much better too.

Time for new tires now.

Mark / MSB Mustang