[marshmaguy]

Hi, I bought a new 2006 Mustang Convertible Premium with the V-6--interior upgrades, Pony Package, etc. VERY nice car and plenty of power. I have one issue though that makes me wonder if there's some sort of imbedded Tranny problem thats gonna come back and really hit me hard in a few years--AFTER the Warranty is up.

I've brought this issue up with my Dealer, and he can't find it--because it NEVER happens when he checks it out. I understand--it only happens to me every few weeks.

OK, I drive for an extended period of time, 60-70 MPH (much of it on Cruise Control). I pull off the Highway and stop. The Red Light turns Green--I hit the Gas gently and....delay....sputter....boom it takes off.

This ONLY happens after I drive the car steadily for a half hour plus--then stop--then drive. This doesn't even happen every time I go through this sequence. Maybe every 2nd time or 3rd time.

Could it be I need a Higher Octane Gas? I use Regular. The Dealer says that shouldn't be the issue...

The Dealer looks at me like I'm crazy, But knowing the history of Fords and Transmissions I have a sneaky suspicion they may know whats wrong but are blowing me off.

I've got 16M miles and I just worry this problem will explode at like 37,000 miles, right ??

Thanks for your help

[pcfrisch]

I think there is a TSB on this, fuel pump problem.
Found it.
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...tml#post552506

[stlwagon]

You're on it Pete! Sure sounds like the classic fuel pump problem..

[marshmaguy]

Hey. you guys are awesome. Pete, I owe you a beer!!!

So I called the Ford Dealer back--you know the folks who had no idea what I was talking about the FIRST time I complained about this? I tell him about the TSB, and he tells me they can't fix this until THEY diagnose. BUT, they are in a major city and you can't drive for a half hour at 60 MPH unless its like 3 in the morning. They tell me customers call with TSB's wanting new parts all the time, and Ford is cracking down on this. He says Ford needs evidence. So I tell the guy --for evidence how about multiple documented complaints from customer about a problem they could not diagnose.

SOOO, I'll be sitting around the Ford Dealer for probably an entire day for some one to determine what you guys figured out in 5 minutes.

I LOVE my Mustang, I LOVE the Mustang Community, I absolutely HATE the Ford Motor Company. And their Dealership Network is pitiful.

Thanks for letting me vent. And thanks so much for your expertise.

BTW, this is probably one of the highest volume Ford shops in the USA. Why can't they do a web search of the Ford Motor site to find out what you guys know???

As for the Ford Customer Satisfaction Surveys...they hand out TO EVERY CUSTOMER--a note that says "if you rate your experience VERTY SATISFIED that equals FAIL. You must rate COMPLETELY SATISFIED".

Is that manipulation or what? And you wonder why mediocrity is rewarded???

[stlwagon]

I wish you luck! Keep the pressure on them.

[marshmaguy]

Stl, Thanks!

A like your car description "GT-less than stock".

Thats kinda like "Billionaire--less than Buffett and Gates".

It IS a GT. One of the great cars on the road--anywhere!!

Thanks again

[pcfrisch]

Yup, keep the pressure on, that is crazy, if there were no problem, there would be no TSB. They are really pushing it.

[marshmaguy]

Great point about no problem--no TSB.

But here's what they imply Ford is telling them: Look, because these TSB's are out there on-line..customers without problems are LOOKING for a problem that doesn't exist so they can essentially get a free Parts replacement.

Here's the line of thinking: say I have a Mustang with 34,000 miles on it. Lets say (and this is just a made up number) thast a Fuel Pump has a Life Expectancy of 100,000 miles. Mustang owner does a search of TSB's and finds this really hard to diagnose problem that my car has. So Mustang Owner comes running into the Dealer waving the TSB making up the story that his car has this problem. Dealer does the work--gets compensated for Parts and Labor---and FORD winds up paying for unnecessary work.

Lying Customer now has a 134,000 mile Fuel Pump instead of the 100,000 mile Fuel Pump that all the honest owners received.

To me--this is a pile of crock. Either Ford has the most dishonest customer base on the Planet--or my Dealer is full of himself.

But then I got to thinking--what incentive is there for the Dealer to make this up? Wouldn't he like to book the profitable Warranty work?

My Dealer claims Ford had rejected Warranty Claims he submitted because of "inadequate diagnosis" EVEN WHEN THERE WAS AN ISSUED TSB and that this has cost the Dealer a lot of money.

Have you guys heard of anything like this? Is this BS?

[pcfrisch]

Well, here is the deal, your car (I think) is still under warranty. They have to fix your problem. The TSB does say they are supposed to diagnose the problem first (duh) I don't understand the dealer's problem. TSB or not, they have to fix whatever it is. Talk to your salesman, with this economy, I don't think he would be interested in losing a customer. He can put pressure on them. I have taken it to the dealership manager about a problem with the service dept. over a power steering pump explaining how many cars I had bought from them in the past. He took care of it.

[marshmaguy]

Thanks for the advice. I'll do that. Though the effort in "diagnosing" a problem that requires driving on the Highway for a half hour or more--a problem that happens every 2nd or 3rd time you do THAT---will be interesting.

Yes, my car is under warranty, but the darn thing will be a high mileage clunker before they get through this "diagnosis" Marathon....lol

Thanks again!

[pcfrisch]

Good luck and let us know what happens. Think about this. If they pay a mechanic to take your car multiple times in order to recreate the problem vs just replacing the dang pump, it's going to cost them more.
Just look at the gas tank issue, (nozzle shutting off) they still haven't fixed that one after replacing tanks left and right. No wonder they are hesitant.

[FYouGitive]

Originally Posted by marshmaguy

Thanks for the advice. I'll do that. Though the effort in "diagnosing" a problem that requires driving on the Highway for a half hour or more--a problem that happens every 2nd or 3rd time you do THAT---will be interesting.

Yes, my car is under warranty, but the darn thing will be a high mileage clunker before they get through this "diagnosis" Marathon....lol

Thanks again!

I had that happen to me one time: came off the I-805 after a trip up from the border, 30 minutes or so of 70-80MPH, stopped at the top of the Mesa College offramp, and when the light changed, pushed down and got no answer; just sat there in the traffic lane for 2 or 3 seconds, then caught and went. Never happened again, so far, but I always think about it, and stop a few extra feet back from the limit lines, so I can see if it's going to happen before getting into a vulnerable position.

Seems to me the stealership is being reasonable, given the problems they face, particularly with regard to "diagnosis" of a problem that takes an investment to confirm.

Also seems to me the stealership has an obligation to do the diagnosis, since this is not a simple inconvenience defect: it's a safety issue, since the hesitation could result in a collision and serious injury. You expect the car to move into the flow of traffic when you push the go pedal, and it leaves you vulnerable to oncoming traffic.

My Seems Generator also turned out this question: if the stealership doesn't want to invest in the diagnosis, who would they trust to do it for them? I'll bet you could get a State Patrolman interested. If he swore in an affadavit that the pause happened in your car, and is a safety defect, would they act on it? Someone the stealership trusts must be willing to take a few rides with you.

Maybe the local TV Consumer Reporter would like to make a short feature on the danger to you (and to others) and chide the stealership for not acting on a known public safety issue.

Failing that, they can't justify turning down your request for repair without making an effort at diagnosis. Must be some compromise in there somewhere.

Any road, I remember someone with the hesitation had a work-around, something like revving the engine at a stop after freeway travel.

Keep us up-to-date.

[marshmaguy]

Frank, thanks for sharing your story.

I see both sides on this issue, and totally agree that there's some area for compromise. But when I read a TSB that reads word-for-word what my complaint was about my car---then I hear you describe the exact same scenario---and the high volume Ford Dealer has no idea whats going on.....

I guess you have to believe they don't have a computer to search TSB issuances, or if they do--they just don't use it.

AND...

They somehow, despite servicing MANY Mustangs NEVER ran into this issue before because they had no idea what I was talking about.

I'm bringing it in in a couple of weeks..will keep you posted.

BTW, Frank. Glad to hear your incident was on THIS side of the Border! Good luck

[marshmaguy]

Hi,
I promised you an update. The work got done with no problem today. They installed a new Fuel Pump even though they were unable to "diagnose" the problem by driving the car --for obvious reasons.

The Key point they said was that I raised this precise complaint about a year ago...and they did not know what was causing this. Showing them the TSB it was very clear that this was the problem I had formally raised to them a year ago and continue to observe--and that is adequate cause.

What I take away from this is--make sure to tell the Dealer to take note of ANY problem--even if its something relatively minor and/or something they can't immediately figure out. It could pay dividends LATER.

This could have been a major hassle had I not brought it to their attention a year ago. They probably would have needed the car for several days and had to drive it for long periods of time to diagnose.

Thanks again so much for your help!!!

[FYouGitive]

And thank you for the update. It's good to know there is some chance of a decent resolution after much apparent frustration.