NHTSA Complaint #10065183 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAME LOOSE AND THE CAMSHAFT HAD BROKEN RIGHT AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. *PH CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN OPTION BY THE DEALER TO EITHER OVERHAUL THE ENGINE, WITH NO WARRANTY, OR REPLACE THE ENGINE, WITH A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND OUT THAT UPON INSPECTING THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAMSHAFT AREA THAT THE LONG BOLT HOLDING THE PULLEY TO THE CAMSHAFT WAS NEVER TIGHTENED WAS ABLE TO REMOVED WITH THE TECHNICIAN'S FINGERS. IN ADDITION, THE BOLT SHOULD HAVE SOME MARKINGS ON IT CONSISTENT WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BOLT WOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. WHEN ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND PERFORMED ADDITIONAL TEST ON VEHICLE, DEALER FOUND A SMALL FUEL LINE LEAK. FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED AND MADE ANOTHER TEST ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER CURRENTLY SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO MECHANICAL ERROR THAT RENDERED VEHICLE INOPERABLE. *LA