Blue Oval News Reports 2003 Cobra Production Stopped

[BlueOvalBolt]

Apparently production has stopped due to concerns with the motor. Maybe they will look at the vibration issue at the same time?

A Lightning owner on F150online who drives past the Dearborn plant twice a day confrims there are literally hundreds of Cobras and Mach I's parked in what is generally always a vacant lot. Something's up.

http://www.bonforums.com/mustang/cobra_03prodstopped102902.htm

[rachrse]

Do you have any idea what the problem might be. So far I have not had any vibe problems. Car seams to be flawless accept for the driver window not wanting to go up and down but that is being fixed today. Rachrse

[BlueOvalBolt]

Sorry, don't know anymore than that, BON doesn't go into any detail.

[XFIRECHIEF]

Thanks a bunch for the news, keep us informed.

To be honest, I haven't noticed any problems with the motor yet but only have 1600 miles. As for vib. took it out yesterday & did notice slight vib. Was waiting for the new rims to come in so I can get wheels balanced & then have dealer check out allignment too.
If snow comes will wait for spring anyways as Cobra goes in storage when snow flys.

:bna :bna

[ASP1]

Latest info received from Ford is production was halted the week of October 7th to investigate a quality issue that surfaced at the plant (no indication what the quality issue was). Cobra production is scheduled to resume November 15th with no impact on total Cobra production scheduled for the 2003 model year.

Shipments of all units held at the plant resumed Monday,October 21st.

Job #1 (initial production) for the Mach 1 is scheduled to begin the week of 11/04. :cbra: :cbra: :cbra:

[rachrse]

Thanks for the update I hope it is not some major problem just got 2000 miles on the car. Rachrse

[ASP1]

Just spoke with SVT folks who indicated they were aware of the Blue Oval article and indicated it had some erroneous info concerning the Cobra engine and reason for production stoppage. SVT indicated it was purely a quality check and found no problems. That's why the stockpiled Cobras started re-shipping on the 21st. It's good to know no problems were found... certainly have had no problems with my 03.:cbra: :cbra: :cbra:

[GaborVincer]

Blue oval news is a rag. I can't understand why people beleive the garbage they write. From the first paragraph stating that the 2001 and 2002 Cobras have been generally trouble free.. I know for a fact their is no such a beast as a 02 Cobra.

The informant that blue oval news used for this article is in fact a chevy lover that has come from Mars and is posing as a human....:fryem:

My beleifs are as follows:
Beleive nothing that your told/read
and beleive half the things you see.

[rachrse]

Just got my 03 back from service window working fine motor just went out. The tech that does the work on my cars and has for about six years says he could not find anything wrong with the car , and he always checks every thing out when I take it in for service. :bna :bna :bna :bna I'm a happy man Rachrse

[BlueOvalBolt]

The following is from The Detroit News regarding the interruption in production.

Cobra production halts over quality glitches


By Mark Truby / The Detroit News

DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. has halted production of its high-performance 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra due to quality concerns, according to a company official.

Ford stopped building the limited-edition version of the Mustang about two weeks ago, said Alan Hall, a spokesman for Ford's Special Vehicle Team operations.

Hall would not specify the problems that led to the stoppage, but said that they have been fixed and that production at the Dearborn Assembly Plant will resume Nov. 12.

"It was something that was caught at the plant and it's something that hopefully has been resolved," Hall said. "It was part of our regular process to ensure quality."

In 1999, Ford recalled 5,300 1999 SVT Mustang Cobras after admitting the vehicle's engine did not produce its advertised 320 horsepower.

The recall came after Mustang Cobra owners complained of a shortfall of as much as 50 horsepower. Ford traced the power problem to the engine's cast aluminum intake manifold and its exhaust system.

The issues with the 2003 Mustang Cobra, which produces 390 horsepower, are not related to horsepower, Hall said.

The automaker still plans to build 12,000 Mustang Cobra coupes and convertibles this year. The $35,000 car is popular among weekend racers.

Ford has been expanding is stable of high-performance cars and trucks, which can pad profits and stimulate consumer interest in the entire brand.

You can reach Mark Truby at (313) 222-2082 or mtruby@detnews.com.

[HAGREEN]

i can't find bilstein shocks for my truck due to the dockworker slowdown. bilstein tells me they come from germany. maybe they are just waiting on shocks

[Cobra40]

My 03 has developed a clicking. Can't hear it from above but very noticable if you listen from behind the from wheel. I've been told it is something to do with the crank. Some have had the crank re-torqued and fixed it temporarily but it returns in a couple hundred miles.

If you coupe owners haven't hard it, pull up next to a wall or get under the car.

Anyone else noticed this sound? What have you found out about it?

[XFIRECHIEF]

I'm I mistaken or should there be some sounds coming from a 380+ HP engine. I use Amsoil Synthetic Oil & really don't here any extra loud noises. I would expect to hear a little engine noise though & not be too worried as it is under warranty for 3 yrs.

:bna

[Cobra40]

The clicking I hear was not there for at least the first 1000 miles.

It sounds like a lifter but is significantly louder when you listen from below engine. Has anyone else heard this clicking.

Oh yea, the frequency increases with speed & RPM.

This should not be dismissed as a "little noise" from a 390 hp engine.

Anyone else...

[XFIRECHIEF]

I am not sure what you have wrong but what I am trying to say is It's under warranty so drive it hard now while still under warranty & have fun with it. If its that bad after 1 or 2 k it won't last too long before they will have to repair it, FREE
If I hear any noise I'd take it in right away to get it on record.
Good Luck

[Quick_Silver]

I had the same thing happen to my car at 800 miles. It only got worse. There is a service mesage indicating that the problem is that the cam fastener bolts are not properly torqued. It seems the heads come to SVT pre-assembled complete with cams and fasteners. The fix is to take the covers off and torque them down. I just got mine back after the dealer performed the fix and the clicking is gone. You can tell its the cams because the clicking frequency is 1/2 indicated rpm. The engine idles at ~700rpm. you should hear roughly 350 clicks per minute if you have the same problem I did.

[MadMax]

:( As a new 2003 Cobra owner, I'm less than thrilled to hear about possible motor problems. Some guys on this site are talking about rear main bearings, others talk about camshaft problems, vibrations,clicking noises....jeez ! What's a happy owner of a Mineral Grey Coupe with 1300 miles supposed to think? I know, I know, it's all covered under warranty but hey I didn't buy this car for it to get all torn apart by folks who aren't on the engine plate!!! So far I have not had any of the things mentioned go wrong with my car but I've also taken it easy on the motor during break-in.

[Stunt Stangs]

Are you confusing fuel injector ticking with engine ticking? My rattles or ticks a lot when exhilerating but not when idleing.

[GaborVincer]

Originally posted by MadMax
:( As a new 2003 Cobra owner, I'm less than thrilled to hear about possible motor problems. Some guys on this site are talking about rear main bearings, others talk about camshaft problems, vibrations,clicking noises....jeez ! What's a happy owner of a Mineral Grey Coupe with 1300 miles supposed to think? I know, I know, it's all covered under warranty but hey I didn't buy this car for it to get all torn apart by folks who aren't on the engine plate!!! So far I have not had any of the things mentioned go wrong with my car but I've also taken it easy on the motor during break-in.

MadMax,

A while back when a new car or motor package came out everybody use to say wait a year so they can iron out all the little production problems and this is what these problems are. I work in the automotive industry and let me tell you that their are ongoing engineering changes that happen all the time . The problems that are happening now with the car are being addressed and are going to be solved. Not to say that the 03 Cobras are having problems that are extreme as the recall of the 99 Cobras short fall of horse power. Like you said the cars are under waranty.:D

:allhail: :cbra: :allhail:

Back to the "rear main bearing" the failures are hapening to motors that are run for 2-4 weeks at a constant rev and they do exceed the red line. The cars I would worry about are the one with pully changes at the blower and ones that are chiped. If their is a weak point in the motor that is were I would be looking to do mods. I have heard this said a few time and I quote " If it breakes make it stronger":tmb: