2005 Ford Escape V6 Rattles under acceleration

[Ivan]

You really should go back in and figure out their diagnostic fee and then their labor rate and then offer them the price for the diag, one or two tenths labor and maybe a couple bucks for a hose clamp.

They missed it with the plugs and tireod end, and you are fully entitled to only pay for what you asked for. Which if I am reading this correctly was the elimination of a rattle.

They will be VERY resistant. This is why you need to know their rates before you start the battle, or they will just adjust it to cover their loss. I would guess they owe your sister about $750-800, and they need to be responsible for that.

Also, FWIW, if they are a 5 star dealership, they are probably quite concerned about keeping that status. The only thing that keeps that status is to have 0 unresolved complaints. So, poke around on the net for a customer satisfaction number at Ford HQ and let them know you have no qualms about calling. That just might give you some more leverage. Ford used to give out corporate bonuses to dealerships with a five star rating, so it can have some stroke.

I hate to hear of someone getting scrwed by a mechanic. It really makes it tough for the honest ones who really want to help people and feel good about making an honest living.

[1st bike]

wow that sucks. it never ceases to amaze me what dealerships a. charge for repairs, and b. think they can get away with. i know "a fool and his money are soon parted" but i just hate the fact that you can NEVER feel like you got the right advise or help or repair anymore. anyway, glad your sisters car is fixed and MAN, that was one expensive "free" clamp!!!

[DGXSER]

Update.....well, all I can say is it is DAMN expensive to be an unknowledgable woman at a Ford Dealership/Robbery.

Sister took it in to Ford and they told her that it needed a coil and new plugs to fix the rattling exhaust. Then they also said she had a tie rod end about to snap off. She being unknowledgable said...OK...fix it then. So....$900 later, rattle is still there.

Ao I got on the phone with said dealership. Explained to mr. dipsh!t that I am not a stupid idiot and I had just been underneath the car and driven it. I know it had no engine miss, and I sure as heck would have felt it if a tie rod end was about to snap. I had also been underneath the thing and inspected the tie rods while there two days earlier. Told them they needed to call ME before they did ANYTHING else to the car. Next day I get a call, they found the upper heat shield weld had busted (I did not even see the heat shield from under the thing.) and they placed a clamp around it...no charge.

Anyway, like alot if not all of us first thought, heat shield loose was the problem. Did I mention I hate dealerships, they must be the training ground for newbies or the resting place for idiots everyone else fired for incompetence!!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

The tsb # is 06-16-14.

I have it in my email as an attachment but it's a trapped pdf and I can't figure out how to put it up here.

PM me your email and I'll send it to you.

[Ivan]

You've all got it wrong. Remember the complaint?:

2005 Ford Escape V6 Rattles under acceleration

That is what we in the biz call "Operating as Designed".

I quit working at Ford at the end of 05, but do remember the oil being an issue. If nothing else, try running Motocrap 5w20 synthetic blend. The same stuff that Ford used. Valvoline or Quakerstate does blend it for Ford, but used a proprietary set of modifiers, which I don't think Henry Ford himself could get access to.

Other options are getting in there with an electronic listening device and searching it down.

Also, IIRC GM was the only manufacturer to use the knock sensor on early ESC ignitions. Maybe some others used them, but they weren't commonplace when EI became more advanced and ignition mapping got better. I could be wrong on this point since things could have changed since.

[DiverRay]

But not changing the oil for 70k?

Be afraid, be VERY afraid!!! There is a fellow HAM radio operator, who is also an OFFICER in the coast guard reserve, that NEVER changes the oil in his cars!
He runs the car about 60 K and then sells it. Says it won't harm the engine. AND THIS IDIOT IS AN OFFICER!!!
I HATE people that are that stupid!!
And yes, I DO know motorman keeps the oil changed in his vehicles, as he does seem to get a LOT of miles out of everything he owns!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Didn't think that was confusing XSokie, sorry. The 70K was in respect to the plugs.

OH OK!!! sorry

[motoman]

Didn't think that was confusing XSokie, sorry. The 70K was in respect to the plugs.

[DGXSER]

OOpps mistyped but got the oil right. 5W-20 is what went into both my truck and the Escape.!!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Actually, I just did an oil change last weekend. Yes, put 5W-30 Castrol GTX in it. Yep, it took 6 quarts And has the 3.0 with automatic trans. Same amount of oil as my 5.4L in my F150!

5w20 Don! It's printed right on the oil cap.

These newer engines have a LOT tighter tolerences and require thinner oil.

Check the cap on your F150 too. The 5.4s and 4.6s have had problems with the timing chain tesioners if you don't treat them right.

Those dammed things have about 6' of timing chain.

[DGXSER]

Actually, I just did an oil change last weekend. Yes, put 5W-30 Castrol GTX in it. Yep, it took 6 quarts And has the 3.0 with automatic trans. Same amount of oil as my 5.4L in my F150!

So, I let my sis use my truck while her car is being investigated. So I took another look at it. At this point, it makes the noise when in Neutral or drive but not in park and only when lightly on the gas but not in upper RPMS. It definitely is in the front area as in not behind the front wheels. I also raised the hood and could not hear it from above at all. I had it in neutral with blocks on the wheels and the parking brake set climbed under it and put my hand on the flex connector in front of the cat converter. I could feel the same vibration as the noise in the exhaust pipe. Putting my hand on any part fo the exhaust did NOT change the noise at all.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Well.....motoman is absolutly right about the type of oil to use 5/20. If you don't it will void the manufacturers warranty.

But not changing the oil for 70k?

I think he better check his manual for maintanence service again!!!!

But then----Ford has always held a couple of extra quarts just because they'll burn it off or leak it between oil changes.

[motoman]

Dgxser.......If your not running the reccomended 5-20w oil you WILL have at the least a lifter issue...........had changed oil in our 03 escape and put in Vav.10-30w...........only in 4 days luckily and was informed to get it out immediatley! Fortunately, under accelleration noise went away with 5-20w Vav.! Clearances are too tight on new stuff, so run what is reccomended oil weights. Not sure on your 05, but my 03 is an XSessive motor......yeppers, its a Yammie!..........so should run indefinitely like our scoots. Also, no timing belts as you may have noticed when oil fill cap is off.....tis roller chains. Ours has 80K on it and have never even put plugs in it. Ford does NOT even reccomend a change till 70K. Problen is when changing plugs is the WHOLE intake has to be removed to access the back three plugs......and intake nuts only torque at 7foot pounds, and if intake cracks(plastic), has to be replaced to the tune of 3grand........so as long as it's gettin 24mpg and runs good, original plugs can stay for now. Just a bit of info that hopefully helps ya.
also, alot of the new stuff out there uses 0-10w.....now that's some really close tolerances. Hopefully your unit has always had the reccomended 5-20w or damage has already been done. Likeley won't cause engine failure, just noisey. Here, I know the service managers, parts people, etc. at my local Ford dealer and service manager even told me that one of the first questions asked when vehicle comes in is "when was last oil change and what weight are you using"..........better have correct answer or factory warrenty is immediately voided and you will be asked to leave shop with your vehicle! Just my 2cents, and likely not worth a penny.......

[XSokieSPECIAL]

good luck





I'll check the repair database at work tomorrow and see if there is anything.

2005 Escape 3.0 OHC right? Automatic?

[DGXSER]

Thanks for the suggestions, and yes, I ain't about to get under the car while anyone (especially my sister) has it in gear or even them in it with it turned on. That would be very similar to cleaning your bike chain by running the bike in gear with a cloth (yeah, I read that story).

When I walked.jogged beside the car while she drove up the driveway, it sounded like it is very forward on the car. She says it is worse now and pretty loud in the garage at her place, so I am going over tonight and see if I can figure anything out.

Thanks again for the ideas. And yeah, noises are the worst thign to try and figure out from 1000 miles away through a keyboard, so I certainly appreciate any thoughts.