Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone else is having the same problems I am.
I have a 95 Mystique with the 2.5L / auto. Heater Core needed to be replaced two months ago. Important here in Michigan. Anyway, pulled the old one out, went to the parts store and got an aftermarket replacement, and the hose connections were 3/4 in. The old part had 5/8 in hose connections. The parts store contacted the manufacture of the part as well as other manufactures that make the same replacement part. When all was said and done they said the part must have been an early production part and that a aftermarket replacement part was not available. Soooooo....I had a radiatior shop fix the core for me. I did not try to get one from the dealer due to the cost and knew absolutly nothing about the issue (of course).
So, last week the starter goes out. I get a replacement from the same parts store (bendix part). I pull the old one (boy was that fun) set it on the tool bench, set the new one next to it, and low and behold, the solenoid had the contact for the ignition wire on the opposite side. If any of you have done this repair, you know the wireharness is molded to fit the solenoid. I contated bendix, they took the numbers off of the old starter and told me that I had the correct replacement but that I might have had an early production run part. Soooo...I cut the wire off of the harness, crimped a new lug on the wire and put the starter back in.
I used to work in the auto industry (not Ford). There was no way we could get away with using parts on a production vehicle that was not a production part. The used to call it PPAP. Prodution Part Approval Process. And the parts needed to be fully PPAP'd to use in production.
Sorry for the long post, but has anyone else run into this issue? I did buy this vehicle new. It was delivered in January 1995, ordered in November 94 (seat maker went on strike which delayed the build)
Anyone have any idea what's Ford's responsibility would be in a situation like this? Being the car is so old now, I would think that they would disown any liability. But I only have 80 K on the car and really like not having a car payment. I understand that parts start to break after that long...but when you can't get the correct replacement parts!?
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.
