Ford makes progress in quality study; Toyota brand slips

[dgl24087]

From BlueOvalNews (Ford News, Ford Forum)

Update - Ford Motor Company has told dealers not to sell or deliver certain 2008 F250, F350, F450 or F550 models with the new 6.4L PowerStroke diesel engines made from 03 April to 21 May at their Kentucky Truck Plant under a special service instruction advisory.

According to Ford, some of the vehicles have faulty fuel injectors in cylinders 1, 5 and 7, which were damaged during the engine testing procedure at a supplier's facilty. The bad injectors will cause the vehicle to run rough, hesitate or stumble on acceleration.

The Special Service Instruction number is: R07T07.

 

[Kendall69]

Toyota is and always has been a JAPANESE company doing business in America.

Dumped a Hummer H1, when ( 6.5 diesel nuff said. )
Dumped Ford when they couldn't fix my air conditioning, said it was "within spec" for the air to blow at 72 degrees.
Dumped my GMC 3500 Dually when they said overheating is within spec, and that fan roar CONSTANTLY is normal.

Still deciding what to get next.

Interesting article in Forbes this month. There was a tool and die company that was going to close because so much business was going overseas.
They could not compete.
Toyota, started purchasing from this company at 50% more than they would have to pay if they also purchased overseas.
The company eventually started making a profit. Toyota worked closely with the company to make them more efficient, which brought the goods purchased to an acceptable 15% over the overseas price.

Now that's an amazing story.

The days are long gone when a person can say "Made in America"

 

[Diamondpilot]

Ok

You know what they say about opinions. Here is mine. I am 33 and owned 15 vehicles. 1 Gm, 1 Dodge, 1 Toyota, 1 Honda, and 11 Fords. You can see what my favorite is. Anyway the Gm had a 2 trannys and a engine before it had 45,000 miles on it. Will never own another. The Dodge had 2 trannys, AC compressor, power steering pump, 8 radiator fans, and numerous other parts before it had 75,000 miles on it, will never own another. Now you gm and mopar guys keep your cool I will explain. The Toyota had 181,000 miles when I got sold it. It was rusting badly but very reliable. The only thing to be done was a clutch job. The Honda I had for 2 years and 36,000 miles and never spent a day in the shop. The Fords I have had were a Escort, keep it for 80,000 and put a water pump and a clutch in it. A Ranger, had it for 100,000 miles and never turned a wrench. A Mercury Mountaineer, had a recall on the back gate but other than that no problems for 80,000 miles. A Mercury Milan, still have it but no problems at 32,000 miles. 5 F-150's, one had a recall on the lug nuts but other than that never in the shop for the 70,000 to 90,000 miles I had each. A 6L PS F-250 and a F-350. The only problem I had with them was the F-350 died, just died doing 70 mph towing 16,000# boat. The local dealer sent a wrecker and a truck off the lot to get the boat. Ended up being a bad dash cluster that was never going below 1/4 tank. I simply ran out of fuel. The dealer took the cluster off a truck on the lot so I could get going instead of waiting a day for the part.

End result, it all in the dealer support. The GM and Mopar I had trouble with were sold to me by the same dealer and I could get no where with the corporate offices. My Toyota dealer was great and gave me a loaner truck while mine was in the shop. I can't say anything about the Honda dealer because it never saw a wrench. The 2 Ford dealers I have done business with have been top notch and I would expect them to treat me the same if I did have a problem. If not they know they would lose a customer that buys a vehicle every 18 months.

Chris

 

[_RaT_]

Well, judging from the responses here, I can certainly see a wide variety of experiences from the same manufactuer. The last poster has had great luck with Ford while mine has been so so. The most reliable vehicle I have ever owned bar none was a 1972 Datsun 1600 PU. Of course, it had headlights, tailights, a horn and turn signals so electrically, there was not to much to go wrong. The rest was as reliable as anything manmade can get. My end comment is for folks to get the product they determine not only gives the most value for their money, but best fits their needs. To "buy American" may make some feel good, but if buying American results in the purchaser getting an inferior product, its a loose loose. The same applies to foreign manufactuers. The buyer gets something less then they may have wanted and gives the manufactuer a pat on the back for making less then the best.

 

[jcmseven]

Don,

I like the fact that Ford is doing this. Before, say with the early 6.0L, they might have instructed the dealers to wait and told no one, and just saw how many came in with failures as a result. This action is an improvement to me. I also again think the 6.4L is a really good engine, the events noted in the Blue Oval news indicates this was a handling damage issue, rather than a design or manufacturing flaw.

John M

 

[dgl24087]

I also read on the site that Navistar is suing Ford, claiming that the new Lion 4.4L diesel that is destined for the F150 in 2009 or 2010 is a mid to late 80's Navistar design copied by Ford. The engine is slated to be produced in Mexico. Seems like this dysfunctional relationship may end soon. The 4.4 is capable of being bored and stroke to 6.7L. Seems like Ford has had it with Navistar.

 

[jcmseven]

Rat,

My opinion on this is that the domestic manufacturers ARE trying to make a good product. True, for years they have told us what we needed, rather than the opposite, and they at times have not handled themselves well. But I really challenge any of us to go out and find a major difference in build quality between two similarly priced vehicles from one of the major domestic manufacturers and an import at this time. The gap has closed or IS closed already. I have owned many domestic and imports, and currently have one of each. I have had no trouble with either. While I do not agree with the business model adopted by the "big three" in recent years I cannot argue that they have gained back lots of ground, and in many cases surpassed the imports. We as consumers are partially to blame. Now that the domestic makers are making good cars and trucks, we as a group do not buy them. We ask for "made in America" products, yet when they come out and are viable options, too many of us still go import. I am as guilty as the next person, but I am making an earnest effort to change. And Don, I think you are correct. Although I really like my 6.4L Ford with the Navistar built engine I do not see this relationship going much beyond 2010 between these two, unless a miraculous change occurs which I do not foresee.

John M

 

[radman1]

From BlueOvalNews (Ford News, Ford Forum)

Update - Ford Motor Company has told dealers not to sell or deliver certain 2008 F250, F350, F450 or F550 models with the new 6.4L PowerStroke diesel engines made from 03 April to 21 May at their Kentucky Truck Plant under a special service instruction advisory.

According to Ford, some of the vehicles have faulty fuel injectors in cylinders 1, 5 and 7, which were damaged during the engine testing procedure at a supplier's facilty. The bad injectors will cause the vehicle to run rough, hesitate or stumble on acceleration.

The Special Service Instruction number is: R07T07.

Based on what I read, those injectors on those cylinders are tested prior to installing on the engine. When tested, the polarity was reversed from the norm. Thus some of the injectors are now bad on vehicles equiped with vin numbers between those dates. The injectors will be replaced before being sold and if sold, recalled and fixed. The trucks run but can have surge and power issues. Not really an injector problem, but rather someone got their "wires crossed" when testing. The injectors are suppose to be fairly easy to replace. It is better to be proactive and replace them rather than wait to see if they have a problem.

 

[Musclford]

50K on my 2002 F250 - Replaced warped rotors (Tow 10K trailer), replaced Tires, and my drivers door window makes a ticking sound when going down..

Sometimes if won't even go all the way down by itself....

Darn Ford Trucks....

I love them....

 

[ducati996]

Im glad I started this thread - makes me appreciate my F550 and Navigator all the more. Wait I'll be back I have to go outside and give them both a hug before i go to sleep


Duc