WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 476 CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD REFUSE TO ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. LUCKILY IT WAS EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING, AND NOT HIGH-TRAFFIC TIME, WE SUCCESSFULLY PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. OUR MECHANIC HAS BEEN WORKING ON AND RESEARCHING THE ISSUE. TURNS OUT FORD IS AWARE AND HAS ISSUED A "SERVICE BULLETIN" THAT THE COMPUTER IS FAULTY, AND AFFECTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SPARK PLUGS, AND COILS. A QUICK SEARCH ON CAR COMPLAINTS TOLD US WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A TIME RATHER THAN MILEAGE FAILURE. WHILE MOST ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MINIMUM $2,000 FIX, WE ARE THANKFUL IT DID NOT CAUSE HARM TO US OR ANYONE ELSE. HOW MANY 2005 FORD ESCAPES ARE ON THE ROADS THESE DAYS? *TR
2005
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT SHUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AS TO NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNS OF TROUBLE WITH MY AUTOMOBILE PRIOR TO THIS DAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PCM AND 5 OF 6 IGNITION COILS FAILED. BUT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FINE. I REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT I REPLACE THE PCM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER AND SPOKE TO A FEW DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANICS. IT SEEMS THAT MY AUTOMOBILE IS NOT THE ONLY THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT FORD ACTUALLY USES A DIFFERENT IGNITION COIL PART NUMBER NOW. I LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND HAVE A RECALL FOR FAULTY PARTS. THEY CONTINUALLY TELL ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE PCM TO FAIL AT TIMES. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY. *TR
