Coolant line exploded on the motorway

[benanderson89]

I've not been on this forum in a while due to mental and physical issues. So it's a shame that my first post in a long time just happened to be about my car breaking down in a spectacular fashion.

So I was driving to work down the Washington highway this morning and I noticed the temperature was slowly creeping up. In a split second the temperature needle flew off the edge of the scale accompanied by a misty orange spray coming from the left. I was doing 80mph.

I had to emergency stop on the chevrons and immediately turn off the engine. Popping the bonnet the coolant tank, which was full just yesterday, was now completely bone dry, what remained in the system drained onto the road. My Mustang is completely undriveable.

Big shout out and thanks to Big_G for offering to come and help me out. He was working from home and was only 10 mins away. Cheers mate!

Now, the reason I am absolutely livid is because:

1. I had to explicitly ask, and then demand, a courtesy car. The only reason I got it is because I had pressured and backed them into a corner, as the Customer Relationship Centre they fobbed me off too was closed. I refused to leave without one.
2. They said it will take them FIVE DAYS to even LOOK at the car. I do not care how damn busy you are, this is an emergency warranty repair and you should allot time for it.

:frusty:

I am absolutely infuriated. Five f***ing days!? Then they'll spend eternity getting whatever part they need, because of course they will. They've actually given me the courtesy for a full two weeks, they think it will take that long!

Honestly, I am sick to the back teeth with Ford's customer service. When I had a Kia they used to bend over backwards for me, same with Nissan. I have Ford's got damn poster child car and I'm being treated as if I owned a Dacia.

If it really does take two weeks to get a simple cooling hose issue fixed, I will absolutely be taking my business elsewhere. I hear the local Stratstone Jaguar/Aston place will happily service my car.

Honestly, if this happens again I may trade in the Mustang. Not because it's broken down, stuff breaks and that is a fact of life, and in reality this is a really minor problem (just a loose hose), but Ford's customer service drives me around the sodding bend.

Would not hesitate for one second to grab the new Kia Stinger.

Cons: Not as fast or as well known as a Mustang.
Pros: Still a sexy looking machine and I don't have to deal with Ford at all.

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[wildcatgoal]

^ That will by my next car most likely! I like how you think.

 

[benanderson89]

^ That will by my next car most likely! I like how you think.

I think I may only be able to afford the 4-cylinder rather than the TT V6. UK pricing is still a little up in the air.

Let's see what Ford make of my Mustang first, though. I didn't sit on a 10 month waiting list just to get shot of it after 14 months!

 

[Jimboy2]

They should jump on your car straight away. Ford asssit will pressure them due to the hire car. When my oil cooler shot it self I had the car back the same week. Although that's still and ongoing issue!

 

[benanderson89]

Although that's still and ongoing issue!

This is why if it happens again I'll be going to Stratstone. They'll know exactly what to do. These are the guys that work on Aston Martins and TVRs, I'm sure they can work their way around a barn door muscle car.

 

[kapiteinlangzaam]

Nice that you get a courtesy car in the UK.

My airco has been kaput for a month. Ford dealer had it twice already, and now want it a 3rd time (for a week), and no courtesy car policy here in NL.

To be honest, although I appreciate how frustrated you must be, a modern-day dealership only makes money by keeping its service and repair bays full. They cant keep time 'open' for potential warranty repairs. The only thing you could try is asking them to send to another branch within the dealer group that has a quicker opening.

I have done that in the past with success.

 

[benanderson89]

Nice that you get a courtesy car in the UK.

My airco has been kaput for a month. Ford dealer had it twice already, and now want it a 3rd time (for a week), and no courtesy car policy here in NL.

To be honest, although I appreciate how frustrated you must be, a modern-day dealership only makes money by keeping its service and repair bays full. They cant keep time 'open' for potential warranty repairs. The only thing you could try is asking them to send to another branch within the dealer group that has a quicker opening.

I have done that in the past with success.

Sadly this is the only Mustang dealership for quite a white if I'm not mistaken. But even so, when I had Warranty work with other manufacturers, even if they were busy, got my car up and running again within a day or two.

It's no secret that Ford's customer service in the UK is just bad. Its legendarily terrible. VW Group cars (VW, Audi, Seat) are the only dealerships I know of that are worse. Even Renault will try and help you out far better than Ford does!

 

[Kristian87]

Good to see you back on here Ben, i was thinking recently that we hadn't heard from you in a while.

Always dissapointong to see these things because it does make me nervous that anyone of us could suddenly be in the same boat as you. Good ony you for giving Ford a hard time though, i honestly think thats the only way amy of us will get satisfactory service - they are clearly not making any improvements.

FWIW i took mine to a specialist (modurstang) which lucky for me are 10 mins from my dealership, its Fords lack of experience more than anything that puts me off. Dont let the service alone put you off though mate, its not the cars fault! I know you dont have a choice for warranty stuff, but there are specialists out there that will ease the pain for everything else

 

[Spider]

I've had an issue with mine and it's currently waiting for a part to come in from the US. After writing to Andy Barratt and my message been acted on by Ford executive office I have a brand new Kuga until the Stang is fixed.

I'm not saying that the dealership would not have sorted things out in time but writing to Andy Barratt expedited the process and put me in touch with the Ford Customer Relationship Centre....I have their number if you need it.

 

[benanderson89]

Yeah, not been here in a long time. A bad headspace + constantly working will do that to you. But I'm well and fighting fit again so expect me to bother you all more often!

Yes, I refused to leave without a courtesy car. They tried to fob me off twice as stated. I don't think I'm at the point where I can contact Andy Barrett but I'll certainly hold that particular card close to my chest because, again, two weeks they could potentially have my car for a damn coolant hose! I could probables fix it with the jack in the boot and an Ikea screwdriver kit in the car park in an hour.

 

[slowhand99]

Welcome back

 

[willisit]

For such a well established car (even the S550), it does seem to have more than its fair share of problems. Our local dealer (Portsmouth) is, or at least was, brilliant. We had a new Fiesta back in 2008 and they were always willing and even offered cars during a normal service. Unfortunately they don't sell the Mustang (but tell me they can service them).

I'm not 100% I'll go back to Eastleigh yet - I hear they've been pretty poor to the few I know that've had cars from them.

I hope you get it sorted soon; there's nothing worse than having to wait, especially if it's just a pipe/part.

 

[benanderson89]

They prioritised my car thanks to a sudden cancellation.
They reconnected the hose and did a pressure test but coolant is still spilling out of it! I was down at the dealership getting my driver's license that I left in the car, and it just has a puddle of coolant around it. Looks like it might be the water pump :S

 

[willisit]

They prioritised my car thanks to a sudden cancellation.
They reconnected the hose and did a pressure test but coolant is still spilling out of it! I was down at the dealership getting my driver's license that I left in the car, and it just has a puddle of coolant around it. Looks like it might be the water pump :S

Better to know what it is and get it fixed than to have it endlessly going in for parts with no one knowing. Water pumps fail; that's okay! (well, in your case it will be)

 

[DaBigGinger]

It's not leaking from the oil cooler, is it?

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