Subject: 
2004 Super Duty 6.0 Diesel Warranty DENIED # 5 cylinder


Thu, 7 Apr 2005 21:21:27 EDT
Date:    




Here's a real screwed up mess. I own a 2004 F-250 crewcab FX4, has the new  
6.0 powerstroke. My trouble started on the first tank of fuel, 200 miles or so. 
 This never improved for eight thousand miles. I took it in to the local  
dealership in Beeville Texas, where  a tech dumped the computer and  reloaded a 
new program, Bam, 450 plus miles on 3/4 a tank. Though this lasted  the first 
tank only, the next was back to the normal 200 miles. Anyway, back to  the 
dealership I go, where this time the same tech does the same thing, and says  they 
have had some trouble with this new 6.0 diesel. He told me a number of  
owners were putting after market programers in, which increased mileage, told me  
he could order this product at the dealership and put it in for me,  a 
SUPERCHIP PROGRAMER, would take 5 or 6 days to get. Being I only had a  short time 
before returning to a job in Louisiana, I told him I would go and get  the 
programer else where, which I did. Cost me around 400 dollars, had it  installed the 
same day, the tech there insured me my warranty was not going to  be affected 
by installing this product. So away I go, the power was  unbelievable, was 
like driving a GT Mustang. Something I forgot also besides  poor fuel mileage 
was trouble with the boost hose that comes  off the  turbo to the front grill 
had blown off a couple of times, no big deal for a  country boy, just put it 
back on and tighten the piss out of it. OK my troubles  have been solved with the 
new programer I thought. Mileage was still  nothing to brag about besides I'd 
lifted the truck and had oversized mud tires  on it, no biggie. Anyway here 
is where my nightmares really begin, I gotten in a  real bad mud hole and the 
boost hose blew off which sucks the power away  immediately, got stuck, big 
deal I'll just put the hose back on and on my way  I'll be. Wrong, this time the 
hose not only blew off but also ruptured also, so  no power, had to be pulled 
out. So the now I head in to the Beeville  dealership to replace the hose, the 
service manager, Robert, tells me that FORD  has a new hose with better 
clamps, they were having lots of trouble with this,  he stated that they had a 
truck in back with the same exact thing where they  even were going to fix a dent 
in the hood from the this hose blowing off, I  think cool because now my truck 
has a small ding in the hood from the hose, So i  leave my truck to get a new 
boost hose and fix the ding, Thirty minutes later he  call me up and ask me 
if I've installed the programer which I had and was still  installed, He then 
informs me that FORD would not warranty the hose or the hose  damage, OK I 
thought, order me the hose and forget the hood no big deal, I'll  pay for the 
hose, almost 200 bucks. So now I tell him, if the programer voids my  warrant I'll 
just uninstall it and get rid of it, which I did, back to around  200 and 240 
miles a tank, with the programer I was getting around 350  miles but ohwell. 
When all  this took place my truck had  between 15 or 18 thousand miles on it, 
around six months old. I drive  a lot. Now heres the kicker, some months 
later with around 29 thousand miles and  lots of money in fuel I notice a small 
puddle of water under my truck in the  morning and a drip. The puddle has an 
oily sheen to it so I take it in that  morning, man oh man. Mr. Robert calls me 
up and a say there is no compression in  # 5 cylinder, suggest I take it to the 
dealership I bought the truck from. so  I'm on my way, my brother-in-law 
suggest I use Croostown Ford where he is  friends with the service manager, Clark, 
OK, so I go there and tell him what I  know. They pull apart the motor only 
after I give an OK, because FORD has  documented the truck having an 
aftermarket programer install from the Beeville  dealership on two different visits, 
which there was only one time at which point  I removed it. Anyway, Crosstown 
Ford has these engine pulled apart, the  damage is extensive, the piston is 
scorched the rings shot and the cylinder wall  scared. I'm notified by Clark that 
an inspector from FORD would have to  come down and determine if they were 
responsible or if I was gonna have to  pay for repairs. Well, it turns out they 
denied my warranty, I owed Crosstown  619 dollars for taking the motor apart, 
which I paid.  I was then told they  could fix it for 10 grand. I since have had 
to purchase another truck, a 2003  dodge diesel. Now I'M STUCK with a truck I 
owe tons of money on and doesn't run.  A mechanic at Crosstown pulled to the 
side, while I was picking up my now  expensive grass killer, he told me to do 
my research online, said that ford is  being eat up with this problem on the 
new powerstrokes. The same two cylinders 3  and 5, mine was # 5. They are 
fixing only the ones that have not been documented  with having an aftermarket 
programer. Its been three months, I can't seem to  find an attorney, I've 
contacted SUPERCHIPS, no response. SUPERCHIPS online page  clearly states there 
products don't void warrantys, first thing on  the  Q&A sheet. I need some feedback 
as to where to look and  what options I may have. Thanks, Shane L, 
Beeville  Texas