NHTSA Complaint #724992 — 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD

THE ECC APPARENTLY FAILED 1 JUL 2000, ALTHOUGH DIAGNOSIS OF THIS WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE SERVICED ON 5 JUL. THE ECC FAILED, COMMANDING A FUEL INJECTOR TO REMAIN OPEN, THUS INJECTING RAW FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF ENGINE STUMBLING ON 1 JUL. FORD DEFINES THIS PROBLEM AS, "HAVE YOUR VEHICLE SERVICED AS SOON AS CONVENIENTLY POSSIBLE." FOR THIS SITUATION, THIS COMMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK ON 2 JUL AND FINDING THE CAR CONSUMING MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THIRTY MILES OF DRIVING. THE CAR WAS SMOKING PROFUSELY FROM OIL BURN AND GAS COULD BE SMELLED BY FOLLOWING DRIVERS BY 4 JUL. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT A CAR WITH SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WAS IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD RESULTED IN A FIRE. THIS DISCHARGE OF RAW, EXCESS GAS INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MOST DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO PRECLUDE DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ECC SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO COMMAND COMPETE SHUTOFF WHEN IT DETECTS AN ABNORMAL FUEL FLOW TO ANY CYLINDER. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM IS IN EXCESS OF $450.00. THIS IS NOT A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT THAT CAN BE IGNORED UNTIL CONVENIENT.