mtl1977

Whoops. The media.ford.com PDF states the I-4 comes with the six-speed automatic...the text above states 5-speed automatic. Apparently the proofreader took an early buyout.

This filter design (for US market Fords) seems to have started on the 2.3L I-4 from Chihuahua on the 2005 Escape Hybrid. I have a feeling they thought it was a "green" design since you are only throwing away a paper filter and the two o-rings. MASSIVE BRAIN FART! The design f-ing sucks. Murray's doesn't sell a filter wrench that fits. They were amazed that the black pile of plastic in my hand was for an oil filter! I'll bet the 2.3L Rangers/B2300s also use this stupid design. I think ChEP builds their engines too.

Back when Ford was doing the legal BS over the Futura name, I saw a Fusion prototype with a 'FOUR HUNDRED' badge. I guess its a 4/5 size FIVE HUNDRED.

"Auto (wife demanded it)" Grow some ba...

One award the Navigator gets - the most obvious use of product placement in a TV show - check out the beginning of that new 'John from Cincinnati' show on HBO. Ford could take credit for the Phil Leotardo/Expedition hit...

There are likely a dozen or more small changes. The TCM reflash probably did not cause the Job # change, it was simply postposed until that Job # date. Ford only allows part number changes at certain points during the model year. Lots of time and money is spent between engineering, FCSD service part issues and then plant integration and end of line testing. Real pain in the ass to make an update.

The dealer should be able to tell you the exact build date (date the body was dropped I think it is). The Analytical Warranty System (AWS) provides this information and dealer sale and warranty data is entered into AWS. They should have access to this data somewhere. Ford and supplier engineers also have access, but jobs are scarce in Detroit. No one is likely to take a chance looking up your data.

"all of these companies need to stop the development process and start the production process." Yeah, and if Ford did the same during CD3xx development, the car would resemble a G6! :eek5: :eek5: "It's like these jerkoffs that stick the stupid adhesive portholes to the front fenders of their Cavaliers. Jesus..." The real jerkoffs are the ones with fart cans on Cavaliers and Civics...with auto transmissions. Yeah, like that just made it a street racer.

Now that was funny...you mean that customer service hotline that seems to be based out of India? What a freakin' joke.

I like bright taillights. Helps to avoid this. http://mlav.com/car/escape/crash032704/crash.html[/url]

Just got back...fun ride on the motorcycle from Plymouth to Detroit. The country of Mexico had one of each CD3XX on display. Plus there was an MRT modified Fusion and a stock '07 Fusion stuck way in the back. The King Ranch F-450 was sweet. A few shots - from the point and shoot. Cobo (NAIAS) is nice to shoot with a DSLR, wide angle and polarizer.

Check the build dates (or engine part numbers)? Perhaps a running change...

Running out of fuel - 1) the lean mixture could cause major detonation issues. 2) Lots of NOX emissions. Only if you care Mr. Gore. Go pay that $30k electrical bill! :rolleyes: 3) The garbage collected in the tank could be caught in the pump and/or fuel filter. 4) As mentioned - the pump could be damaged by lack of lube. 5) Ticket - careless driving??? 6) Getting honked at?

I heard they wanted to use the 3.0L engine on the SVT Contour, but there were some packaging issues in the Mondeo engine bay, like the placement of the water pump that is cam driven off the back of one cyinder head. I also heard that the 2.5 liter was slightly over 2500ccs, so it was in a higher class in Europe and/or Japan - so Ford had to spend a crapload of $$ to get the displacement under 2500.

So does the Mazda6 and some Volvos...

Uh oh, here we go. More worthess internet rumor bullshit.

Bureaucracy at its finest. Engineering and FCSD...

These Al crush washers/gaskets are common it seems with Japanese parts. My company (Japanese) insisted the service manual called for replacement of the drain plug washer on the product I work on too. The dealers don't stock them. My Escort GT (Mazda 1.8L DOHC I-4) and Honda motorcycle both use Al washers. Neither have ever leaked. My Mustang and F-150 have drain bolts with a rubber ring under the head to seal against the pan. I wonder if the thread pitch/diameter is the same...

Cold start NVH. All of my cars do it if you don't start them for a while...such as after a weekend of no use.

"What really burns me is that my Continental(s) get better milage than either Boz's Fusion or my MKZ. " Must be all the detuning of the DOHC "InTech" engine to keep the AX4N trans from exploding...

Now that was the funniest s&^# I have ever seen on TV, err, I mean from TV.

Thats a pretty old trans design. Could require a little break-in or maybe manufacturing variance is an issue. Its a lease with less than two years to go...and warm weather is coming. Hopefully it goes away in the spring. If not, the next owner can worry about it...when it is out of warranty.

My car is doing this on the drivers side - and it did not do it when the car was new. A black rubber seal fell off on the door B-pillar and I thought that replacement would fix the issue. It did not. Apparently a seal must be moving out of place over time and causes this to start. I start to hear it at about 45 mph.

Got the car back on Friday - March 2. New trans, clutch, flywheel, TO bearing...plus other warranty stuff. The new trans is tough to get into first and second when cold. But the trans is new, Ford doesn't reman manuals from what I understand. The floormat issue - you get a whole new set when the driver's mat wears a big hole under your right heel. That is was nice. The trim piece replacement on the door B-pillar did not fix my wind noise issue. The old piece fell off at 4k miles and I though the open hole was the source of the noise. New front passenger wheel bearing - I found slop in the wheel and retorqued the half shaft nut. Apparently a lot of water got down into the bearing and rusted the hell out of it while the nut was loose. Overall they did a good job on the repair. The only thing that feels different is the cold shifting.

Isn't HD digital? There are probably digital data packets sent on the same frequency? Uh, yep - here you go. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hd_radio This is going to be great when the government mandates all HD for TV and radio...hopefully HD to analog converters will get cheap since every old analog TV/Radio/VCR/whatever is going to need one. Maybe this is a business to get into and make a trillion $$.