1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD Unknown Or Other Problems

CAR HAS APPARENTLY HAD A RECALL ON THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR 7 YEARS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS, BUT HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THIS DEFECT. WHILE DRIVING THE CARE APX. 60 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTED FOUNTAINING WATER AND ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER MY ENGINE. THE CRACK IS BIG ENOUGH THAT NO LIQUID WOULD STAY IN THE CAR, AND I COULD NOT BABY IT HOME. IT TOOK AN ENTIRE DAY STRANDED IN A STRANGE CITY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WOULD HAUL THE CAR ALL THE WAY TO MY HOME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT HONOR RECALL BECAUSE IT EXPIRED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED AND LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS ON THIS AND FOUND THE TSB# 97M91. I CALLED FORD AND SPOKE WITH PHILOMENA, ID #3157 AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THEY HAD NOTIFIED ME IN WRITING IN FEBRUARY 98. FOUND THE LETTER ON THE INTERNET IN A PDF FILE DATED MAY 1998. SO, ACCORDING TO FORD, THEY NOTIFIED ME A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THEY WERE NOTIFIED????? I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE OR ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. I'M SURE IF I WOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CORRECTED (WHO WOULDN'T?). MY WARRANTY ON THIS ENDING FEB. 17, 2003==WAS TOLD I WAS 6 MONTHS TOO LATE TO GET IT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS - OR AM...

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING FLUIDS ONTO OXYGEN SENSOR, CAUSING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, NOTE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, DEALER REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR GAS MILEAGE DOWN 10-20%, LOW IDLE AND STALLS, POOR DRIVEABILITY - FORD AND DEALER STATE CAR IS NORMAL - ALL DATA FROM PURCHASE DATE AVAILABLE - CLEARLY SHOWS NEGATIVE CHANGE AT TIME OF PART REPLACEMENT

OIL GAUGE PRESSURE VARIES, BROUGHT IN TWICE DURING WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED ENGINE DUE TO SLAPPING ROD, GOT CAR BACK OIL PRESSURE ON GAUGE STILL VARIES HIGH & LOW. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED LEAKING COOLANT. NO OVERHEATING. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. NEXT DAY AT DEALER & INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIRED DUE TO A CRACK. VEHICLE STARTED TO GET WORSE. VEHICLE DIED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MOISTURE ON SPARK PLUGS & IGNITION WIRES. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT FAILED.