Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Milton, FL
Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
http://www.wesh.com/news/4424031/detail.html
doh!
Problematic Switch In Millions More Vehicles
Ford Says Switch Is In 6 Million More Vehicles
POSTED: 7:23 pm EDT April 27, 2005
UPDATED: 7:56 pm EDT April 27, 2005
WINTER PARK, Fla. -- The Ford Motor Co. says the cruse-control switch that's suspected of causing fires in hundreds of Ford F-150 trucks and Expeditions is in another 6 million vehicles.
In January, a WESH 2 News investigation reported the cause of mysterious fires in nearly 248 trucks and sport utility vehicles. It's a $13 cruise-control switch.
The switch in question is located on the end of the master brake cylinder.
On Wednesday, the Ford Motor Co. admitted the same switch is also in millions of Ford Rangers, Explorers, Windstars and Mercury Mountaineers, just to name a few models.
Experts say a short in the switch can cause it to heat up, even with the vehicle turned off.
An X-ray of the same problem switch showed a leak in its rubber diaphragm, which allowed brake fluid to leak into the electronics and short it out.
"The brake fluid is getting into the electrical part of the switch, and the fluid is causing the arcing inside the switch. It evaporates the fluid, which in turns ignites, which causes the subject fire," said forensic mechanical engineer Sean Clince.
Federal investigators are looking into whether this switch is causing fires in all Ford F-150s built between 1995 and 2002 and all Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators built between 1997 and 2002. That's 3.7 million vehicles.
The only exceptions are the models made in 2000 because Ford has already issued a recall for those vehicles. Ford stopped using the switch in all models built after 2002.
Now Ford Motor Co. says the same switch, under the same electrical conditions, is also used in another 6 million of its cars. Included on that list are: all Ford Rangers, Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers, Econolines, Windstars and Explorer Sport Tracs built between 1997 and 2002.
"Our data is not showing a rate of fire similar to what we've seen in the 2000 model year population. But that's not to say we're not investigating vehicles that are outside of that population," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.
Automotive experts say anyone with one of these vehicles should not take any chances and should disconnect the switch.
To be clear, Ford is not admitting that these switches are causing fires in these 6 million new vehicles, but they do admit it is the same switch as the one that's causing fires in Ford F-150s.
There is no recall of any of these vehicles, just a warning for anyone who owns one of these vehicles to be cautious.
WESH 2 News first broke the story of fires in Ford trucks after a lengthy investigation. It uncovered problems with the a cruise-control switch that shorts out and can catch fire. Our investigation led to a nationwide recall of four models -- 2000 F-150s, Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators, plus certain 2001 Ford F-Series Supercrew trucks.
Ford Says Switch Is In 6 Million More Vehicles
POSTED: 7:23 pm EDT April 27, 2005
UPDATED: 7:56 pm EDT April 27, 2005
WINTER PARK, Fla. -- The Ford Motor Co. says the cruse-control switch that's suspected of causing fires in hundreds of Ford F-150 trucks and Expeditions is in another 6 million vehicles.
In January, a WESH 2 News investigation reported the cause of mysterious fires in nearly 248 trucks and sport utility vehicles. It's a $13 cruise-control switch.
The switch in question is located on the end of the master brake cylinder.
On Wednesday, the Ford Motor Co. admitted the same switch is also in millions of Ford Rangers, Explorers, Windstars and Mercury Mountaineers, just to name a few models.
Experts say a short in the switch can cause it to heat up, even with the vehicle turned off.
An X-ray of the same problem switch showed a leak in its rubber diaphragm, which allowed brake fluid to leak into the electronics and short it out.
"The brake fluid is getting into the electrical part of the switch, and the fluid is causing the arcing inside the switch. It evaporates the fluid, which in turns ignites, which causes the subject fire," said forensic mechanical engineer Sean Clince.
Federal investigators are looking into whether this switch is causing fires in all Ford F-150s built between 1995 and 2002 and all Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators built between 1997 and 2002. That's 3.7 million vehicles.
The only exceptions are the models made in 2000 because Ford has already issued a recall for those vehicles. Ford stopped using the switch in all models built after 2002.
Now Ford Motor Co. says the same switch, under the same electrical conditions, is also used in another 6 million of its cars. Included on that list are: all Ford Rangers, Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers, Econolines, Windstars and Explorer Sport Tracs built between 1997 and 2002.
"Our data is not showing a rate of fire similar to what we've seen in the 2000 model year population. But that's not to say we're not investigating vehicles that are outside of that population," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.
Automotive experts say anyone with one of these vehicles should not take any chances and should disconnect the switch.
To be clear, Ford is not admitting that these switches are causing fires in these 6 million new vehicles, but they do admit it is the same switch as the one that's causing fires in Ford F-150s.
There is no recall of any of these vehicles, just a warning for anyone who owns one of these vehicles to be cautious.
WESH 2 News first broke the story of fires in Ford trucks after a lengthy investigation. It uncovered problems with the a cruise-control switch that shorts out and can catch fire. Our investigation led to a nationwide recall of four models -- 2000 F-150s, Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators, plus certain 2001 Ford F-Series Supercrew trucks.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Re: Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
Not so fast boys.
How quickly you forget that just last year GM had a major recall over ignition switches that could cause fires.
All automakers have recalls.
How quickly you forget that just last year GM had a major recall over ignition switches that could cause fires.
All automakers have recalls.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,178
From: Payson, AZ USA
Re: Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
guionM, come on now..............
You know that when GM has a recall, its because they care about their customers, and are trying to take care of the problem. But, when Ford has a recall, its because they suck.
Geez, I would have thought that YOU would know that by now.
You know that when GM has a recall, its because they care about their customers, and are trying to take care of the problem. But, when Ford has a recall, its because they suck.
Geez, I would have thought that YOU would know that by now.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,870
Re: Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
Originally Posted by 0toinsanein5.4sec
damn that sucks. 6 mil x $13 for the part = $78 million dollars
That really sucks. i hate when stuff like this happens to any company
That really sucks. i hate when stuff like this happens to any companyNot singling out Ford btw, this is moreso directed at all automakers. If you cheap out the first time, expect to pay heavily down the line.
Last edited by Gold_Rush; Apr 28, 2005 at 02:07 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 361
From: Connecticut
Re: Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
Kinda sucks that it took Ford that long to realize it. I think the first question they asked was "what vehicles are these switches in?" Oh gee, we didn't realize it was in 6 million other vehicles until yesterday.......
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
Re: Problematic Switch In 6 Million More Vehicles
Originally Posted by 94LightningGal
guionM, come on now..............
You know that when GM has a recall, its because they care about their customers, and are trying to take care of the problem. But, when Ford has a recall, its because they suck.
Geez, I would have thought that YOU would know that by now.
You know that when GM has a recall, its because they care about their customers, and are trying to take care of the problem. But, when Ford has a recall, its because they suck.
Geez, I would have thought that YOU would know that by now.
That's what most Blueovalhaters would have us believe.
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