ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL EVERY 800 MILES. TT
1996
WHEELS:RIM
MY 1996 FORD AEROSTAR HAS 14X6 ALUMINUM ALLOW WHEEL RIMS. THE RIMS HAVE 7 TRIANGULAR SLOTS AND 7 WIDE/FLAT "SPOKES". ONE OF THESE RIMS IS CRACKING. THE CRACK IS PROGRESSING FROM ONE SPOKE TO ANOTHER. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALL TOGETHER. AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF SEARCHING FOR A USED REPLACEMENT RIM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SUSPECTED THAT THIS MAY BE THE CASE WHEN I COULD NOT FIND ANY ON-LINE COMPANY THAT HAD THESE IN STOCK (USED OR NEW). TODAY I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN AT ACKERWHEELS.COM AND LEARNED THAT THIS RIM CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. SHE WARNED ME THAT IF I ORDERED ONE FROM THE DEALER TO LOOK IT OVER CAREFULLY FOR CRACKS. I ASKED HER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHE SAID IT WAS AND THAT I SHOULD NOT EXPECT FORD TO RECALL IT. I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF MY OTHER THREE RIMS ARE NOW SUSPECT. WHAT CAN YOU DO? *JB