02 Hydraulic cooling fan

[steve]

I just returned from the dealer Camelback Lincoln Mercury in Phoenix AZ with disturbing news. 6/2/10 Dash lights failed and dealer replaced Alternator and Battery. $694.00 !! 6/9/10 A/C wasn't blowing cold Dealer replaced Compressor, Condensor, and a cooling line. $1,802.00.
200 miles later the engine started to overheat, A/C cut out, I was near the dealer took it in. They couldn't find a problem. I left it with them and they drove it until one of their service tech's had the same problem and noticed the hydraulic cooling fan was turning too slowly. They replaced the cooling fan with the upgraded one and replaced the fan pump reservoir, thermostat, gaskets and new fluid. $1268.39. When I picked it up they told me the engine was ruined and needed to be rebuilt or replaced. They told me to drive gently as the engine will overheat if put under load. I now have a coolant leak under the engine compartment and cannot drive it. I would appreciate any input or feedback from all of you out there with 2002 T-Birds as to what I should do to get this issue resolved.
Thanks! It has been a great car up to 93, 917 miles.

[DBeaton]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Sounds to me as if you have a very nice 2002 Boat Anchor on your hands!

[AZTB]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Steve...try another dealership. Try Sanderson's on either 51st Avenue in Glendale or Bell Rd in Phoenix. If you go to Glendale, ask for service writer Dave.

[PaulD]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Buy another one and keep this one for parts

[V8 Cat]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

It has been a great car up to 93, 917 miles.

Steve, I guess you just determined the life of these cars. For your sake, I wish you had found it out before you sunk a ton of money in it, but you did the research for others. I've been in your place a few times with old cars. You keep investing in them thinking the current "fix" will be the last, but it never was in my case. I just kept investing in a "money pit" with no hope of seeing the end. PaulD gave you some pretty good advise if you have a place to store it. Sell the parts on Ebay. If it were mine, I would not sink anymore money in it even if you could find a used engine. There is too much technology in these newer cars that is so expensive to fix and that's if you can get the parts. For a 2002 Tbird with a serious engine problem and 93,000 miles, there is not much of a market.

[00mustng]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

...call me cynical and wary of dealerships (because they made me that way)....but it sure sounds like Steve got raped but good!....Time for another opinion or two....

[Swalker]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

I think so!

[DavidA]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Guys:

The man asked for some suggestions not criticism, (his first post). Firstly, there are many of us with more than 93000 miles on these cars, some have close to 200,000 miles. Answering him, (your second post), calling it a boat anchor is far from helpful.

I think I'd look at the dealer's conduct in this case. They should have at least done a full assessment once the the car was in for the A/C problems.

If they turned the car loose after that second trip to the dealer, they may have some culpability since the fan is an integral part of the a/c cooling system.

I doubt you'll be successful in getting them to accept some of the blame, but it is certainly worth a try.

[Gobird]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Steve, As David stated and look for a different dealer. In the third year of ownership my fan went out and acted just like yours. The car is built to cut out and do just what yours did when overheating. This dealer didn't know what they were doing. It does sound like you have been taken by them. I know this doesn't help much now but try another dealer and get another opinion. My fan was replaced while still under the 3 year warranty, I just had the thermostat replace this past year.

The fans were a problem on the 02's and that's why they went back to the electric fans in 03.

[MATBird]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Spence: Did they replace your hydraulic fan or do you have an electric one now? Or, was it just a thermostat?

[Sealy]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

I'm going, first, with the new service deparment approach. These people seem to be from the poke, hope, and overkill school. The lights don't work, replace the charging system? The car overheats, replace the cooling system? There are small and relatively cheap components that have a major impact on the overall operation of the vehicle. Start at the bottom and work your way up is the way it is generally done.

Second, these cars - and cars like them - are not governed by the same rules as grocery getters. If your Hyundai Accent acts up, you replace it. If your T-Bird acts up, you factor in your enjoyment of the vehicle, what you can reasonably afford as an ongoing committment, whether you can still trust the car for what you expect from it, etc, etc. It's a difficult decision, but only you can know when it is the right time to move on. That said, there are lots of replacements out there - some that can be had for not much more than the cost of your repairs you are adding up.

Good luck and Happy Birding (in the future)!

[Gobird]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

George, The fan was replaced with an original and it has now been on for over 5 years with no problem.

The thermostat was just replaced this past year. It wasn't touched when they replaced the fan 5 years ago.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Steve, I don't think you have a car problem but a dealer problem. Seems he likes to
replace everything in twos. I can live with the battery and alternator but then the
compressor and condenser. As far as the coolant leak you didn't have one prior to the
fan being replaced. In order to replace the fan the cooling system must be drained and
refilled. The dealer was the last one involved with the coolant and now you have a leak. You should be taking the car back to the dealer but I have to be honest and tell
you I'd be afraid to. See Jim's post 3 and try one of those dealers. You have got so
much money into this now go for a few hundred more. Get a second opinion from
another dealer as far as the engine being ruined and the cause of the leak. Best of
luck to you.

[AZTB]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

Steve, I don't think you have a car problem but a dealer problem. See Jim's post 3 and try one of those dealers. You have got so much money into this now go for a few hundred more. Get a second opinion from another dealer as far as the engine being ruined and the cause of the leak. Best of luck to you.

Sanderson's in Glendale repaired the VERY same situation in my '02 back in 2003. They're a reputable group of people whose only interest is in helping me get the most enjoyment out of both of my Thunderbird's. As I stated in my earlier post, if you're so inclined, contact Dave in the service department at the Glendale store...and tell him I sent you in (he'll remember the '05 Inca Gold).
Best wishes,
Jim

[rpatton3]

Re: 02 Hydraulic cooling fan

I think I would go down fighting. If your engine is "ruined", why would the A/C work be done in the first place?

A letter to the editor of the newspaper in a small town works wonders on most problems here in Arkansas