5.4 Engine Fried. Need Help!!!
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Los Angeles
5.4 Engine Fried. Need Help!!!
My first posting....
I have a 2001 F150 with a 5.4 engine. I have a huge problem. Engine oil leaked out of the engine somehow and by the time I noticed it (I was on the freeway) it was too late. All the oil came out and by the time I pulled over, it was fried. Smoke coming out under the hood. Dealer says the oil filter is at fault and this is not covered under the warranty. I do the oil changes myself and I can tell you it was done properly. Anyway, they want almost 7K for a rebuilt engine!!!
1) Anybody have experience dealing with warranty issues of this nature?
2) Anybody know of a good local place (I live in West Los Angeles) where I can get it rebuilt for a sane price?
Any help is much appreciated.
Pedro
I have a 2001 F150 with a 5.4 engine. I have a huge problem. Engine oil leaked out of the engine somehow and by the time I noticed it (I was on the freeway) it was too late. All the oil came out and by the time I pulled over, it was fried. Smoke coming out under the hood. Dealer says the oil filter is at fault and this is not covered under the warranty. I do the oil changes myself and I can tell you it was done properly. Anyway, they want almost 7K for a rebuilt engine!!!
1) Anybody have experience dealing with warranty issues of this nature?
2) Anybody know of a good local place (I live in West Los Angeles) where I can get it rebuilt for a sane price?
Any help is much appreciated.
Pedro
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
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From: Missouri
What kind of filter do you run. You can get the filter manufacturer to talk with your dealer and something might work out. One of them has to pay unless they can prove its your fault. Did the filter blow up or start leaking around the seal? Are you positive there wasn't a double gasket?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94
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From: College Station, TX
if you can't get anyone to pay for the repair, then you can go the junkyard route or you can goto one of the dealers that sells engine pulls from late model wrecks. it would be a bit more expensive, but the engines are tested, and ready to install.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 395
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From: South Carolina
I'd push Ford on it if I were you. I'm getting the feeling that they're doing everything they possibly can to cut cost, including finding every excuse to avoid warranty work. I just had a problem with them on a 01 Taurus that was still under warranty. The repair should have been covered, but they found an excuse not to pay and it cost me $400. Not worth trying to fight it much for that amount, but for $7000, that would be worth it to me. You need to go higher up than your dealership, though. Go straight to Ford. Threaten to buy from the competition, whatever you need to do. Bottom line is that someone's at fault here and they need to make it right.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Los Angeles
Thanks for all the replies. Yes, it is a big pain but they won't budge. They haven't outright said it, but they pretty much feel I'm to blame since I change my own oil. By the way, if you do your own maintenance heed this: KEEP A LOG AND ALL RECEIPTS. Otherwise they won't believe you. They haven't been able to prove how the filter caused the leak though. I don't think I want to hassle with getting another engine somewhere else. Especially since I can't even drive the truck! I might take them up on their offer to trade in the truck and get another new vehicle (with extra cost of course). If I get a good enough deal, it may just be worth it in the end.
thanks
Pedro
thanks
Pedro
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
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From: Franklin, GA
Don't let a dealership do this to you. You need to "start" at the dealership, then work your way up the food chain. Man, I've seen my dad work his way all the way up to some of the head folks in Detroit over some $35 dollar issues in the past. He has always come out on top. And you will too, if you stick to your convictions, keep up a running written log from the start of this saga of ever person you have talked to concerning this issue (including names), and keep pushing the issue all the way to the top. Don't let a con at the dealership convince you that you are gullable. Call their bluff. If you know you are right, why give in?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
Ok, here's how it works. The dealer tells you it's not covered under warranty, when it IS covered. Then they charge you for the price of the new engine, then they send in and get the warranty reimbursement from Ford. Get it? They get double the money.
I'd contact the filter manufacturer and have a few words with 'em. OBTW, what filter was it?
I'd contact the filter manufacturer and have a few words with 'em. OBTW, what filter was it?
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: CT
Call another dealership. You might find a dealership willing to work with you on it.
If the oil filter was put on wrong -- cross threaded, double gasketed, not seated it would be pretty easy to tell and since you did the work you're repsonsible for the repair.
If the filter burst/cracked and your oil pressure was not excessive I'd get the filter company on the line and have the dealership write a letter.
We went through a engine replacement last year under warranty. The dealer we bought the car from ended up not being the dealership that did the work.
If the oil filter was put on wrong -- cross threaded, double gasketed, not seated it would be pretty easy to tell and since you did the work you're repsonsible for the repair.
If the filter burst/cracked and your oil pressure was not excessive I'd get the filter company on the line and have the dealership write a letter.
We went through a engine replacement last year under warranty. The dealer we bought the car from ended up not being the dealership that did the work.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
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From: Littleton, CO
Some warranty companies also employ the use of a third party or inspection agency, just to keep their own costs down. These guys go in and assess what happened, as well as the respecable cost for such problems. If the dealership has pinpointed the problem to the oil filter, for your purposes, it would be an install issue, there is nothing you can control, or anyone for that matter, if the problem is the quality of the filter product, except the filter manufacturer. Keep digging, if the failure was not your install, someone else should pay for it.
--Mike G
--Mike G
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,833
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From: Jefferson, Iowa
What brand of filter was it? I used a fram a while back, and ruined an engine. I would rather use a wix with a burned out element than use a fram, even though it does filter anything. Frams are the most undercheiving company of filters i have seen. They charge top dollar and something a hobo could have designed. They are extremly poor quality.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
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From: Franklin, GA
Now that you mentioned it, a few years ago there was a scandal going on nation wide concerning counterfit Fram filters. Cheap import junk that was dressed up just like the real things. I didn't like Fram much before the bogus imposters showed up, now I don't even consider them in an emergency "get back" fix. Just food for thought.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: South Carolina
Here's a thought...
I was a service writer for several years, and it was very difficult to deny someone warranty work without solid proof of damage by the owner. Manufacturers are not allowed to deny warranty claims stricly because a different brand of filter is used.
However, one way to address this issue would be to turn the damage in to your insurance. Regardless of the method, a significant amount of damage has occurred to your vehicle through no fault of your own. The insurance companies certainly don't want to pay if they don't have to, and would likely take the issue up with the manufacturer, or the oil filter company. In any case, they have adjusters who are a viable third party. As a prior service writer, I would never let one dealership stick me with a repair like this without another opinion - another dealership. If one dealership has an unusually high amount of warranty repair work for a given month, it looks bad - they will do almost anything to get the "warranty cost per vehicle" down. Replacing an engine would certainly blow that for them.
However, one way to address this issue would be to turn the damage in to your insurance. Regardless of the method, a significant amount of damage has occurred to your vehicle through no fault of your own. The insurance companies certainly don't want to pay if they don't have to, and would likely take the issue up with the manufacturer, or the oil filter company. In any case, they have adjusters who are a viable third party. As a prior service writer, I would never let one dealership stick me with a repair like this without another opinion - another dealership. If one dealership has an unusually high amount of warranty repair work for a given month, it looks bad - they will do almost anything to get the "warranty cost per vehicle" down. Replacing an engine would certainly blow that for them.
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Chicago
Just a suggestion, try to find a dealer that deals in mainly SD, med. duty, and heavy duty trucks. Then start looking around the service area for bulletins talking about deals. I recently walked into one in my area and they had bulletins posted with prices for powertrain pieces installed and not installed and found out I could get a brand new 5.4 for my 99 SD for around $3400 installed.
Before that though I would push as hard as you can w/ the warranty. These dealerships are extremely slow (saleswise) and would try probably do just about anything to get you buy new. Tell them that your first calling Ford, then the Better Business Bureau, and lastly the Attorney General for your state. Hopefully they have something that they'd rather keep hidden so then they will take care of the problem. If they don't make your calls, please!! Remember your not only doing it for you, but for all of us, the more these Corporations get away with, the worse it will get.
Before that though I would push as hard as you can w/ the warranty. These dealerships are extremely slow (saleswise) and would try probably do just about anything to get you buy new. Tell them that your first calling Ford, then the Better Business Bureau, and lastly the Attorney General for your state. Hopefully they have something that they'd rather keep hidden so then they will take care of the problem. If they don't make your calls, please!! Remember your not only doing it for you, but for all of us, the more these Corporations get away with, the worse it will get.
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