Catalytic Converter back order
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Catalytic Converter back order
My '04 F150 broke down towing our camper back from Yellowstone and turns out the cats went bad. It is covered under the emissions warranty, but they tell me the cats are on back order until September, which means I'm out a truck for 2 months that is also stuck in another state. Anyone have a suggestion as to what to do? No one seems to have the right answer. If a part is covered under warranty, but they can't get an OEM part, could they authorize an aftermarket substitution??
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This seems nuts, but that's the way it is, I guess.
A couple of things to consider:
-Do you have annual smog checks?
-If so, does your state require new OEM or approved converters? AFAIK, California is the only one doing that--so far. Check of your DMV via the internet should tell the tale. If not, why can't they find you a used set?
-How much longer are you keeping the truck? If you are planning a trade or sale in the next year or two, the emissions warranty on the new cats is not an issue imo.
-Can you get them to gut the OEMs and hook you up to get home?
-If not, can you get your old parts, drive it off with the open pipes and hook it up yourself?
Only Ford can answer the aftermarket question. Check these guys for a possible fit:
http://www.bearriverconverters.com/
Sorry for the rambling nonsense answer, but I can't think of anything else.
A couple of things to consider:
-Do you have annual smog checks?
-If so, does your state require new OEM or approved converters? AFAIK, California is the only one doing that--so far. Check of your DMV via the internet should tell the tale. If not, why can't they find you a used set?
-How much longer are you keeping the truck? If you are planning a trade or sale in the next year or two, the emissions warranty on the new cats is not an issue imo.
-Can you get them to gut the OEMs and hook you up to get home?
-If not, can you get your old parts, drive it off with the open pipes and hook it up yourself?
Only Ford can answer the aftermarket question. Check these guys for a possible fit:
http://www.bearriverconverters.com/
Sorry for the rambling nonsense answer, but I can't think of anything else.
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I sent a PM on your behalf to a fellow FTE'er parts man. If there are cats for your vehicle to be had, there is a chance he will find them. But first--post the info about your truck.
Engine, trans, date built, GVWR, state first sold, even the VIN minus the last few numbers (put x's in for the sequence numbers if you like)
Date and GVWR are on the tire pressure sticker in the door jamb.
He has to have this to locate the specific part.
Good luck.
Engine, trans, date built, GVWR, state first sold, even the VIN minus the last few numbers (put x's in for the sequence numbers if you like)
Date and GVWR are on the tire pressure sticker in the door jamb.
He has to have this to locate the specific part.
Good luck.
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Truck is '04 supercrew with 5.4 engine. vin is 1ftpw14594kcxxxxx. Sold in Colorado. Can't get date manufactured cuz truck is in Wyoming. We have thought about many of your suggestions, but if we do any of them will it void our warranty? The guy at Ford hasn't been very efficient with getting info to us. I'd be happy to tow it back here and have our local dealership fix it, but it's a 12 hour drive round trip and we've done it twice already just to get our camper back. That'd be great if he could locate the part. Ford says they've had issues with suppliers as the parts have been stolen for their titantium or something, so there has been a shortage of them. You would think someone in this country has some.
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Here is why you can't get some cats.
The factory that made them(Monroe,Mich) was shut down!
So ford is trying to produce some in another closed plant in Maumee ohio,but this factory was sold by ford and the guy that was going to run it went belly up,so now ford is producing cats in maumee,
A lot of plant closings to fast.
Hope you never need inside plastic fenders.
Your only options are to work with the stealer that has it,(but he won't gut the cats you can bet on it.) and he won't use used parts as it is waranty(spl) work.
Or go get the truck and all the parts and take it to your local stealer,and you still have to sit around for new parts.
They won't gut the cats as the fine is toooo biggg and then ford will not pay them under the waranty.
Sorry this was so for from home.
You may try posting at blueoval.com
it may help.
good luck
Russ
The factory that made them(Monroe,Mich) was shut down!
So ford is trying to produce some in another closed plant in Maumee ohio,but this factory was sold by ford and the guy that was going to run it went belly up,so now ford is producing cats in maumee,
A lot of plant closings to fast.
Hope you never need inside plastic fenders.
Your only options are to work with the stealer that has it,(but he won't gut the cats you can bet on it.) and he won't use used parts as it is waranty(spl) work.
Or go get the truck and all the parts and take it to your local stealer,and you still have to sit around for new parts.
They won't gut the cats as the fine is toooo biggg and then ford will not pay them under the waranty.
Sorry this was so for from home.
You may try posting at blueoval.com
it may help.
good luck
Russ
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If it's an issue of you not having a truck for any length of time, gut them and get it home or forgo the warranty and get an aftermarket cat in there.
What's more important? Working truck or warranty? That's your call...
What's more important? Working truck or warranty? That's your call...
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Ideally I would have liked to not have gone through this mess in the first place. Seems like having to spend a good chunk of money on something that is covered under warranty doesn't make a lot of sense, but then having to drive a Ford focus instead of a truck limits what I can do as well, so I wish it was an easier decision. The other issue is I still have to find a way to get the truck back home, and a Focus isn't gonna tow it, so I seem to be at the mercy of Ford.
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MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SE Georgia
have you priced out a replacement cat?
I know the repair should be free...but it looks like it will be some time before a resolution appears.
you only need to 2 front cats. the 2 rear cats on your 2004 are redundant and not needed. so if you have a junkyard nearby, see if you can just yank a set of cats off any 2004-2008 F-150 with a 5.4.
I know Magnaflow sells aftermarket cats as well. But it sounds like you live in the Republic of Kalifornia and that would be a big no-no
I know the repair should be free...but it looks like it will be some time before a resolution appears.
you only need to 2 front cats. the 2 rear cats on your 2004 are redundant and not needed. so if you have a junkyard nearby, see if you can just yank a set of cats off any 2004-2008 F-150 with a 5.4.
can't see them being more than $100-150 for a set of used ones
and then about $50 for a local shop where the truck is to weld them in there
and then about $50 for a local shop where the truck is to weld them in there
I know Magnaflow sells aftermarket cats as well. But it sounds like you live in the Republic of Kalifornia and that would be a big no-no
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I am not 100% positive, but I believe there is a federal law which prevents used catalytic convertors from being sold and or installed, and hefty fines assessed.
There also are laws preventing bypassing and eliminating the convertors, so your real choices are warranty convertors via ford, or aftermarket convertors on your dime.
I believe there is a sponsor of this forum selling high quality replacement convertors.
There also are laws preventing bypassing and eliminating the convertors, so your real choices are warranty convertors via ford, or aftermarket convertors on your dime.
I believe there is a sponsor of this forum selling high quality replacement convertors.
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I am not 100% positive, but I believe there is a federal law which prevents used catalytic convertors from being sold and or installed, and hefty fines assessed.
There also are laws preventing bypassing and eliminating the convertors, so your real choices are warranty convertors via ford, or aftermarket convertors on your dime.
I believe there is a sponsor of this forum selling high quality replacement convertors.
There also are laws preventing bypassing and eliminating the convertors, so your real choices are warranty convertors via ford, or aftermarket convertors on your dime.
I believe there is a sponsor of this forum selling high quality replacement convertors.
AFAIK, only California now requires either new OEM or certified aftermarket cats. (fraud, theft of cats driving that law) So used or aftermarket cats are probably legal, but then she is due free cats under the warranty.
Unless Numberdummy can come up with some (my PM was to him) you are probably going to have to sit it out.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,604
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From: SE Georgia
have you contacted FTE Parts Guy - Ed?
He is based in Seattle and is one of the better Parts Vendors we have here on FTE.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214072
He is based in Seattle and is one of the better Parts Vendors we have here on FTE.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214072
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
have you contacted Parts Guy Ed?
He is based in Seattle and is one of the better Parts Vendors we have here on FTE.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214072
He is based in Seattle and is one of the better Parts Vendors we have here on FTE.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214072
Ask Ed to run the cat part numbers on the Ford Dealer Parts Locator System to see if anyone has them.
I cannot help in this situation, as I have no parts catalogs after 2002.
btw: Ed is now known as Parts Guy Ed (partsguyed.com aka y2kfordparts.com)
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Looking at the website for both the left and right, I'd be out $2600.00. That kinda money would be better suited elsewhere, so looks like I'll be waiting this one out unfortunately. Thanks for all your help!