2015-2016 Tech Pack and Base GT350 Cooler Solution Discussion

[User5.2]

I bought my '16 Tech used last year without knowing about this cooler fiasco. Reading through the manual, I found some odd info - it warns that coolers are needed to run on the track, but it also specifies the transmission oil change at 100K miles. So I called Ford Performance and they confirmed that limp mode protects the transmission such that the oil would not need to be changed until 100K miles! Of course, I will not wait that long, especially after hitting limp mode twice on the track, and Ford agreed it would be better to do earlier. From that crappy conversation, I figured I am on my own to fix this. I try to keep positive by figuring the '17 price is about $1900 higher for the same car config, and that should mostly pay for the transmission cooler and install.

Sponsored

 

[Tank]

I bought my '16 Tech used last year without knowing about this cooler fiasco. Reading through the manual, I found some odd info - it warns that coolers are needed to run on the track, but it also specifies the transmission oil change at 100K miles. So I called Ford Performance and they confirmed that limp mode protects the transmission such that the oil would not need to be changed until 100K miles! Of course, I will not wait that long, especially after hitting limp mode twice on the track, and Ford agreed it would be better to do earlier. From that crappy conversation, I figured I am on my own to fix this. I try to keep positive by figuring the '17 price is about $1900 higher for the same car config, and that should mostly pay for the transmission cooler and install.

Minus depreciation on the '16...

 

[Side_Pce]

Minus depreciation on the '16...

This alone should be enough to evoke the Lemon Laws on Tech pack cars.

 

[JN66]

I'm confused how in Canada you can have this issue solved but U.S. Lemon laws don't cover the trans... now oil Line issue.

Very well could be how the information is presented - and what facts/evidence as well.

In Canada the piece to argue/disprove is what you 'bargained' for isn't actually what you got. In our case it was very simple - ever marketing/sales piece did that job for us. Ford fixing the problem in 2017 even though the Tech pack outsold the Track by a extremely large margin (forget off the top of my head the exact number) also helps a lot.

If you enter into an arbitration with anger, shitty facts and say things like 'but the other car doesn't overheat' than one probably wouldn't get very far. It also goes a long way to be well spoken and professional (as you would in a court room). If you aren't comfortable speaking in front of people I could see that as a real detriment as well.

 

[JN66]

Oh, and having Ford purposefully turn off the transmission temperature on a tech pack and then claim that it can't be turned on (had emails stating this) - also helped as we all know it can be turned on.

 

[smsgt350]

I see you are in BC.

If you want a hand with that let me know. I can provide you all the info I used for CAMVAP and walk you through it. Get yourself a buyback and then a 17 for the win!

Thank you.I may just have to take that route. I am going to see the dealer regarding this, my oil burning issue, my cool seats that get warm, my inside worn front tires and my oil cooler line replacement in March. Did you use CAMVAP? Do they buy the car back at a depreciated rate?

 

[barstowpo]

With respect to the OEM Diff cooler (and I apologize if this has actually been covered I may have missed a critical bit in 157 pages).

1. We know we can enable/disable the gauge display in the dash cluster via forscan.
2. We can buy the pump, cooler, brackets, sensor and other components through Ford (despite some pieces being pretty spendy).
3. We know that the rear harness connection for the OEM pump assembly is missing from the Tech Pack.

Do we know the pinout for the rear harness connector and where the harness ultimately takes them? Is making this work as simple as building a subharness that connects to the OEM cooling module on one end and to the PCM connector and (relay switched)power on the other end?

I don't think the pin location for the pump or the rear end temp gauge have been identified. It is also is unclear if simply connecting this up will enable the proper function.

 

[Diana]

We asked something similar but with less technical info when speaking to SVT, they were unable to answer the question, and there in lies the reason they haven't come up with a solution

 

[JN66]

Thank you.I may just have to take that route. I am going to see the dealer regarding this, my oil burning issue, my cool seats that get warm, my inside worn front tires and my oil cooler line replacement in March. Did you use CAMVAP? Do they buy the car back at a depreciated rate?

I did use CAMVAP and, no, full retail price (minus the PST as they don't handle that. WHOLE other story with our Provincial Gov on this one).

 

[Steve68]

And now this from WADM, 350 on your radio dial...

[ame]

 

[Diana]

Good morning all!
Lemon Law in Florida requires that dealer had to attempt to fix same problem 3 times and failed. Having said that it's very difficult to find instances where that has worked for others, and I don't believe anyone in Florida has done that with this car.
What is very disturbing is the owner who says he has had limp mode off the track. That clearly is a totally different scenario all together. Seems like you almost have to try to push it to happen so that dealer and Ford have little choice to fix the one cooler issue but not the other.
Let's remember that for 3k, the difference in the cost of our car and the 2017 Ford not only corrected the cooling issue but also change a few small items as well. And that 3k includes their profit and adds a few dollars to the state in the way of sales tax.

 

[Diana]

Another random thought, if you try to sell the car are you obligated to tell the potential buyer of the risk of limp mode in track conditions or if it's true that it can do it in non track conditions? How would that influence any buyer?
Right now that's a moot point as the car is still in recall mode.
Do we market this car as a granny mobile to be driven lightly and in cool weather?
Do we need to install a rev limiter to keep it from going limp?
Would a track decline to let you participate knowing you could go limp and be a nuisance on the track?
Would NTSB get involved?
What about the media? Or are they beholden to advertising money?

 

[Diana]

Ads

"Smart, sophisticated Performer"
Fascinating to watch the video that Ford used for dealers to decide on which car model to order.
Implies all even base can be tracked.

 

[Minn19]

"Smart, sophisticated Performer"
Fascinating to watch the video that Ford used for dealers to decide on which car model to order.
Implies all even base can be tracked.

That and the wording that the base isn't as much of a "race car" as the track pack model. So it is a race car for a little while at least? :shrug:

 

[Hack]

I figured it would be easier to buy a Track Pack car and add the nav/stereo later than to buy a Tech car and try to add all the mechanical hardware. So I did just that and added the 8" audio system. I shared what and how I did it here.

I wish I would have figured that. I wouldn't have upgraded the nav/stereo anyway if I had bought a track pack car. I mostly wanted seats I would fit in comfortably during my daily commute. Now with hindsight I see that seats would have been much easier to swap out than finding a way to get coolers. And when I was at the Track Attack the seats really didn't seem uncomfortable at all.

I thought that since Ford recommended coolers be added to the tech and base cars that it would have been simple, inexpensive, not void my warranty. I figured I'd buy the car, try it at the track and then buy the coolers if I decided I needed them. I'm still trying to do that. I think it will happen.

Sponsored