NHTSA Complaint #10128770 — 2003 FORD F SUPER DUTY

ON 7/8/05 AS MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FORD F250 DEISEL LARIET STALLED. SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF THEN TRIED TO START IT. THE LIGHT INDICATING THE GLOW PLUGS HAD WARMED UP SUFFICIENTLY WOULD NOT GO OFF SO SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THIS TIME THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT INDICATOR WENT OFF AND THE ENGINE STARTED FINE, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS. SHE DROVE IT SLOWLY FOR A BLOCK THEN DECIDED TO BRING IT BACK TO SAY IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY BUT WHEN SHE GOT BACK IT SEEMED TO WORK OKAY. SHE TURNED IT BACK AROUND AND IT WORKED FINE. AS SHE HAD TURNED AND WAS DRIVING DOWN AROUND A CORNER, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. WITH DIFFICULTY SHE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AGAIN SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TWICE TO GET THE GLOW PLUG INDICATOR TO GO OFF. THIS TIME THE ENGINE CLUNKED REALLY LOUD AND BLACK CLOUDS OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. SHE TUNED OFF THE ENGINE AND TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAL WORTHINGTON FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AS OF TODAY, 7/14/05 IT IS STILL THERE AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. WE ARE GETTING THE STORY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.THEY IFORMED US THAT BOTH BATTERIES WERE DEAD AND THEY COULD NOT GET INTO THE PICK UP. THE SERVICE TECH HAD TO GO IN THROUGH THE PASSENDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERIES WERE FINE WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE THERE. WHEN ASKED WHY THE BATTERIES WERE DEAD THEY SAID BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CHARGING. WHEN ASKED WHY THEY WERE NOT CHARGING THE ANSWER WE GOT FROM ONDREY WAS, "IF YOU CHANGE ONE BATTERY AND ONE IS BAD IT WILL DRAIN THE OTHER BATTERY." WE INFORMED HIM THAT WE DID NOT CHANGE ANY BATTERIES. HE EVADED OUR QUESTIONS AND SAID HE COULD NOT TELL US ANYTHING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE LOOKING AT IT.