Just spoke with the FORD GT Hotline...what a crock!


L

lthlvpr

GT Owner
Mar 8, 2006
299
Just got off the phone with the hotline...now I know why FORD is in trouble as a company...

The person exhibited poor customer service, was not understanding, and was not willing to do anything for me about the bolts.

They would not acknowledge the problem, but admitted that they can tell you if you have the upgraded parts. How and why would they do this if there was no problem.

Then they claimed they could do nothing unless the problem occurred in my car. So they recommended that I continue to drive it until it happens. Well, I can tell you that if I am doing some spirited driving, and this happens in a turn I would likely total the car and put myself and the passenger at risk.

So, in the end they are going to do nothing for me. Unbelievable. What are you guys saying to get them to cover it under warranty?
 
I had the same question as you. What if the bolts fail in an untimely fashion? Considering what was at risk I simply had my McCoy Ford mechanic look at them. I was willing to pay for the updated parts as I really don't give a SH*T about $180.00 compared to the consequences of them failing. They were loose so Ford paid for the work anyway. If this is an issue for any GT owners simply pay for the repair. The peace of mind is worth $180.00, is it not?
 
ABSOLUTELY and UNCATAGORICALLY. Ordered mine for peace of mind.

Hind site is 20/20.
Better to be waiting on an order rather than for parts to come in and for your GT to come home.
 
As previously posted, I changed mine to the upgraded parts before the problem happened. I can't judge if it would have ever happened - but I feel happier knowing it's done.

It's disappointing to learn that the call handlers dealing with customers who own "The Pace Car For The Entire Company" are less than efficient.

Surely it would be better for owners to replace the parts and ask for Ford to cover the cost afterwards given the small amount of money involved? I realise it's a matter of principle, however getting stuck in your GT is not amusing.....

I made no warranty claim on mine - just replaced the parts assuming that no event had actually arisen giving rise to a claim - if you see what I mean.
 
Are you sure the replacement parts are only $150???
I thought that was just for the 2 bolts and washers, but you also have to replace the 6 bolts/washers on the outside as well (these are torque to yield).
Any know what the total cost is?
thx.
 
Parts Needed

Center Punch - don't know the cost. I've listed the kit/parts/ notes on my service order:

Cause: Verified Concern - i.e. No gears - Forward or Reverse
MT NO LABOR TIME STANDARDS
781 WF94
12 4G7Z*4529*AA Bolt
1 4G7Z*7B368*BA Washer - Output Shaft Flange
2 *N808405*S100A Nut - Adjusting Screw
1 TA*16* ADHESIVE
FC: P09 24
PART# 4G7Z*7B368*BA

----Normal Gear Engagement in all gears with no vehicle movement.......
Found Rear Axle Seperation From Axle Stub Shaft. Inner Retainer Bolts have sheared off. ........ Extracted Broken Bolts ........Replaced Axle Flange Retainer Washer & Bolts.......Left & Right Sides.....Torqued to Spec in Sequence...........checked Fluid Level in Transaxle......Road Tested and re-checked for Fluid leaks.........Recheck Axle Nut Torque.


I hope this helps others that have this problem.
Jeff
 
Here is the Ford allowed warranty charge for replacing the flange bolts and washers both sides:
2.8 hours $196.59
12 CV to flange bolts $5.40
2 flange to t/a bolts and washer kits $114.28
2 Ford adhesives (locktite?) $10.76
Indiana Sales Tax $2,762.50 (just kidding)
Total $327.03.

My car is a 2005 vin 498. My thought still is; if Ford will not fix it when it is not broken have the things replaced anyway for piece of mind.

For those that bi*ch about Ford not replacing these bolts under warranty before they fail or issuing a TSB consider this about my 2003 911 Turbo (bought new). Faulty clutch hydraulics 3 times, faulty fuel pump 3 times, faulty radio 6 times, passenger air bag door falling off 5 times all within the first year of ownership and guess what-no TSB. My wife's 2005 BMW X5 ran on 7 cylinders all of the time she had it-no replacement software and you guessed it-no TSB on that P.O.S either.
 
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Looks like if it's not roll'n over after a blow out or exploding on impact...... we're on our own. :bored
 
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SteveA said:
Looks like if it's not roll'n over after a blow out or exploding on impact...... we're on our own. :bored
Click to expand...

I wonder if this Lambo owner is on his own

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o_UV-iMDJ0
 
Bolt Replacement

OK...called Ford GT Hotline. Talked to a very helpful person who said she would take my VIN and check with engineering. She called back in a couple of hours and said that they would replace them under warranty to provide me with "peace of mind". I did tell her that I take mine for long trips and therefore a failure could be very complicated.

She talked to the dealer, helped them order the parts and said the parts and instructions would be at the dealer the next day. The next day the parts arrived and we made an appointment for today to install them.

Arrived at the dealer and they could not have been nicer. Invited me to go back into the garage and watch the repair if I wanted to. I said YES.

The package consisted of four bolts and two washers. Interesting to note the washers in the kit were black and the ones we took out were also black. The bolts we replaced were tight and appeared to be torqued properly.

The repair kit did not include the 8 bolts that you have to remove to get to the replacement bolts. The dealer ordered those also and will install when they arrive.

Gave me a free oil change while I was there and ordered a package of the machine screws that hold the plates under the car. They said that it would be good to have a few spares.

My VIN is 0314, my build date was 12/20/2005 according to the Ford Computer.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Don
 
scode said:
I wonder if this Lambo owner is on his own

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o_UV-iMDJ0
Click to expand...


Remember the pic/post of the hotdog taped over the bumper of the GT? That little flame/fart doesn't seem so bad now. :frown
 
SteveA said:
Remember the pic/post of the hotdog taped over the bumper of the GT? That little flame/fart doesn't seem so bad now. :frown
Click to expand...

No kidding. I read on a different board that it has happened a few times to Lambo's lately.
 
05 cars only???

I have a late 06 GT, anyone know when the "cut off" VIN for the suspect half shaft bolts are?
JJ
 
Tungsten-
Were you having any problems with your car or did they replace the parts under warranty just because you were concerned. They told me time and time again, that they have not just sent a dealer parts for an owner because of concerns. They would only send the dealer parts if the car exeperienced a failure....

If this is true then they are blatantly lying to me.
 
Axle flange repair kit

I've done more than a few of the bolt and washer upgrades, so I can speak from experience. The reason the kits don't include the 12 half shaft bolts is that, even though they are torque to yield, they can be reused 1 time. If, for whatever reason, they needed to be removed again, then they would have to be replaced. As far as the axle nut, it shouldn't need to be removed. The axle shaft can just be tie straped to the side while repalcing the flange bolts and washer.

I'm not sure of the cut off number, but most, if not all 06s should be ok.
Hope this helps
Rich :biggrin
"Have tools Will Travel"
 
Transaxle bolt recommendations

Punch-
I agree, the six TTY bolts (4G7Z-4529-AA) per side should probably be replaced per the service manual. As you know typical bolt preload torques (for SAE grade bolt materials) take the preload up to 90% of "proof strength" which equates to approximately 90% of the material yield Strength (YS). Reference J.E. Shigley Mechanical Engineering Design, 2nd Ed.
To torque the bolts up to YS (assuming we actually know the thread coefficient of friction with various locking liquids or lubricants the mechanic may or may not apply) may or may not damage the bolt. It depends if the bolt stress actually exceeded the YS or not. Best just to replace them given all the variables and the inaccuracy of the "turn-of-wrench" torquing method specified by the Ford manual.

Note, you do not have to remove or replace the axle nut (N808405S100) to service the half shaft bolt replacement with the service kit (4G7Z-7B368-BA).

Bill
 
Bolt Change

In answer to the question of why did they replace these for me? I don't really know. I did not tell them that I was having problems, only that since I drive the car for long trips, 300 to 500 miles at a time, that a failure on the open road would really create a significant problem for me.

When they did the replacement, they did not remove the nut. They simply moved the shaft to the side. It was really very simple once you had the car in the air with the wheel off.
Don
 
Easy Punch

Easy Centerpunch Buddy.
I was simply stating why the bolts were not included with the kit. I worked on the first car that the flange bolts failed on. (06 prototype, built around Sept of 05) It was a Ford test car. Actualy, the first 06 we built. It is still being used by Ford engineering as we speak. The GT driveline engineer, the people from Ricardo, and myself worked together on it. I tossed in the dumpster a 20 pound box of the old flange washers and bolts that I had changed after the fix was known. Would I change the half shaft bolts? Absolutely!

I do not work for a Ford dealer, nor do I represent Ford Motor Company. I retired from Ford in June of this year after spending 3 1/2 years on the GT program, as a GT repairman, builder, and FCPA GT testdriver.

BTW, thanks for the great picture of the shift cables on the other post. I guess I sometimes forget that not everyone has worked on these cars, and I'm sure the picture helped a bunch :thumbsup
 
I talked to Lynne yesterday at the GT Hotline and she told me not to be concerned about the bolt problem. I gave her my vin & tranny #'s and that she would get back to me. I still haven't heard from anyone yet. This whole thing makes me nervous as they don't seem to be taking this situation very seriously. I do know that a failure at speed could be deadly. It is a simple & cheap fix. JUST GET IT DONE! :frown
 
XR750 said:
I have a late 06 GT, anyone know when the "cut off" VIN for the suspect half shaft bolts are?
JJ
Click to expand...

I have a late '06 GT also. Does anyone have a guess? Otherwise, I will get off my a$$ and call soon.
 
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