Ford is replacing my engine

[Brenda]

I have a 2001 with 39,000 miles. I drive my car hard. Last Sunday I was out for a drive, the top was down, and the sun in my face (yes it is a convertible). All of a sudden there was this awlful noise from the engine. The only thing I knew to do was to park it and check the oil. The oil didn't register on the dip stick! I was really surprised as I have my car maintained at the dealer that it was purchased from every 5,000 miles. I park my car in the same place at work and at home........nope, no oil in my parking spots. Where did that oil go????

On Monday morning I had it towed to my dealer. There isn't an oil leak. So they pulled the engine and dropped the oil pan. Yep, it's a spun bearing in the #1 cylinder. (I'll be honnest will all of you. I don't really know what that means and I don't really care. How an engine works has never been my thing. What is important to me is the performance of my car and the thrill of driving it.) The Ford rep had to go to the dealer and look at it. His recomendation was to replace the engine. Whew.......thank goodness I have an extended warranty. I will know on Monday when the engine will arrive and when I can expect to get my car back.

Question:
Is there anything I should know or ask?

[Mike Kievit]

Make sure you get the signature valve cover back on there. Find out what the extended warranty for the new/rebuilt exchange engine is.

I know there are other people on here that have had the same issue. Some of us guy's are paranoid about are rides.
I'm in the engine business, and I can only hope that an exchange engine gets the same assembly procedures that the original factory builders performed. Obviously you don't want another spun bearing, but that is for whom ever to figure out why.

Suggestion on the replacement engine: Switch your oil change interval to 3,000 miles. On my '99 I use a quart between 1800 and 2600 miles so I change it then.

I will be at 39K this week, I have a friend who has over 120K on his, and all he has done is tires, brakes, and clutch.

I'll be hoping for a speedy replacement for you.

Mike

[Brenda]

I was told by my service rep that the original valve covers will be put on the new engine. He also told me that the new engine will be covered with my existing warranty which will expire after 60 months or 75,000 miles.

Is there any way for me to insure or tell if the replacement engine gets the same assembly procedure as it would have at the factory?

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it.

Brenda

[Rocket]

Hey Brenda,
Welcome to the SVTOA site. Good Question. Why would the dealer put the old valve covers on a "new" motor? Sorry not alot of help here. Ask the dealership why the "new" motor doesn't have the valve covers that are signed by the guys who hand built the new motor. Just a suggestion. Good Luck.:tmb:

[Mike Kievit]

The new engine is probably a rebuilt engine, that is why you get your old covers off of the old engine.

I have been involved with new engines in the boating industry that have failed w/in 10 hours.
Alot of times a hand built engine is better than a mass asembled engine. You just hope that the builder takes pride in his/her work.

You should be fine with your repalcement engine.

[Brenda]

My new engine is at the dealer. I should get my car on Thursday, no later than Friday. I will ask about the valve covers and the rational behind using the old ones.

Just an added note:
When the 2001 Cobras hit the streets, there was a lot of of us that had "pingers". My engine started pinging in the fall of 2001. I took it in and they made the adjustment to the chip. It still pinged. I reported that it was still pinging and they checked again and said no additional addjustments have been recommended by SVT. I started using an octane booster which made a difference.

I wonder if the pinging issue is related to the demise of my original engine?

[wals9331]

I dont know if the pinging killed your engine, but I did hear that all the "fix" does (the one that supposedly fixes the pinging) is that it kills 8hp from the upper rpms of the engine. What a lame fix....

[Mike Kievit]

Just curious how the new engine is?

MK

[Mustangscotty]

where did all that oil go??

[Brenda]

As far as I know, they don't know where the oil went. The exhaust didn't look like the engine was burning oil. They determined it was not an oil leak. Will they ever know? And if so, will they ever tell me?

The new engine has about 1,000 miles on it now. It is running like a champ. This one doesn't ping! I must say, this whole process was painless. They had my car for almost 2 weeks. It took Ford from Monday to Friday to send a field rep to the dealer to authorize the replacement engine. It is a rebuilt engine, however valve covers are from the old engine. I took the oil cap off and looked inside and it was clean.

I must say my dealer Galpin Ford, is the best. They understand the value behind good customer service. Maybe that is why they are the largest Ford Dealer in the nation?!

GO GALPIN!

[COBRA90GT]

Good to hear the dealership/SVT took care of you. Is the new motor still holding up ok?

[SVTgirl]

also glad to hear they took care of you.

I blew my tranny at 5,000 kilometres, they replaced it under warranty. It blew again at about 20,000 kilometres and they would NOT warrant it. - - so in went a 6-speed.

My motor blew at 28,000 kilometres and they would NOT warrant that either. So in went a serious motor.


No just turned 30,000 kilometres last night. Car spends more time in the shop than it does on the road.
They don't have the same service up here in canada. :mad:

[reflexr]

Well, l just got the Cobra back from Galpin and I have to say all my woes have been addressed. The new engine which finally checks out as a 2000/ 2001 Cobra. The new engine runs great sounds like the original, and so what if it lacks the signature plate, I'm just glad to know the part number matches a Cobra! On top of the 3 year/ 36000 mile warranty! It sucks that I had to take the car there 4 times but the last, oh the last, no one could deny the noises coming from the engine bay. I originally posted the events leading up to this, but, alas, the post was lost, during this latest computer mess up. I have to say I am happy, Galpin finally delivered, but I must say that I had to complain to Ford, SVT, and Paul Trupiano(head of Galpin Service) to finally get things done. Actually it was the engine letting go that got things done. But their awareness of the problem beforehand(4 visits) helped. I am now getting ready to have it dyno tuned, hopefully locally, and start adding power to this sweet sounding peice of al- u- minium.
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2001 Ford SVT Cobra Mustang
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