Replaced Voodoo Engine

[Hack]

And this is the other part of the forum that gets people going. A lot of us are experienced car guys with many different brands etc just like you and base our thoughts off of that knowledge. All cars have issues and I just happened to have a ton of issues with both of my GT350s, which lines up with a lot of the common issues expressed here. The thing with me is how many engine failures I saw with regular members and some of them multiple ones on this forum and other GT350 ones. I've never seen that on any forum I've been on and I've been on quite few. Sometimes it isn't fear mongering and it is reality, just like with past 'Vette, E90 and Porsche motor issues. I'm sure those forums had the same people like you and others saying this exact thing. Nothing is happening etc etc. I never talk shit for a lot of reasons, but I really wouldn't in this situation when you don't have that many miles on these cars. My second GT350 was just fine until 9000 miles and then it started drinking oil one week last July/August.

I hope nothing happens to yours and you guys that have had no issues with your Voodoos. But, to say this crap to people who had enough with these issues (plus corporate Fords BS) and decided to move on or are deciding to is utter bullshit.

Good post. We really don't know the failure rate, but when you had two in a row - I don't know how that could be thought of as anything but alarming.

To this day, mine doesn't use oil (roughly 32,000 miles on it). However, I still feel that any day that could change. I have done a lot of car maintenance/repair/modification in the past and I'm a little braver than some as far as driving a vehicle that is old or potentially unreliable. However, the cost of the Voodoo engine and the potential difficulty of working on it myself does cause me concern about keeping the car past its warranty period.

 

[AdamIsAdam]

We would all feel a lot better if we knew what was really going wrong with these engines. Or maybe it's just Voodoo, that old black magic, and no one knows!

Seriously, once these engines start failing out of warranty, we'll know more. But who wants to be THAT guy?!

If we knew the issues, and the costs associated with correcting them (either before or after they fail) then we can all make informed decisions as mentioned earlier.

If you look at the Porsche IMS bearing issue on the 996, Porsche denied it and just replaced engines as they failed. Then, the class action suit came, and won. AT THAT point the failure rates became known. As I recall, those failure rates varied from 1% to 8%, depending on the model years. And then the aftermarket stepped up and invented improved IMS bearings that could be installed. $700 for the part, so $1,500-$2,500 for the job depending on what else you do while you're in there (ie, new clutch). Now, when someone looks to buy or sell a 911/996, the IMS bearing is just a check-box item on the buyer's list. Even Hagerty adjusts it's price guide for a car that has or has not had the IMS replaced. And remember, at worst, it's an 8% risk, not 100%. But if it's YOUR 911 or your GT350, it's 100% and that sucks.

We need more data.

 

[firestarter2]

I have some concerns about owning the car out of warranty but I had that concern before the engine blown threads started.

We do need more data. Some percent of these failures are user error lets be 100% honest. I think the percentage of GT350 tracked is actually quite high I see 3 or 4 each track day and it gets higher. If I keep the car past five years I will probably extend the power train warranty by then if there is a issue most likely we will know what it is.

Or I could get a BMW and pretty much have the same problem its not like the S engines dont have a well documented history of failing. The engines in the GT2/3 also have some history of failing(and not being covered)

We would all feel a lot better if we knew what was really going wrong with these engines. Or maybe it's just Voodoo, that old black magic, and no one knows!

Seriously, once these engines start failing out of warranty, we'll know more. But who wants to be THAT guy?!

If we knew the issues, and the costs associated with correcting them (either before or after they fail) then we can all make informed decisions as mentioned earlier.

If you look at the Porsche IMS bearing issue on the 996, Porsche denied it and just replaced engines as they failed. Then, the class action suit came, and won. AT THAT point the failure rates became known. As I recall, those failure rates varied from 1% to 8%, depending on the model years. And then the aftermarket stepped up and invented improved IMS bearings that could be installed. $700 for the part, so $1,500-$2,500 for the job depending on what else you do while you're in there (ie, new clutch). Now, when someone looks to buy or sell a 911/996, the IMS bearing is just a check-box item on the buyer's list. Even Hagerty adjusts it's price guide for a car that has or has not had the IMS replaced. And remember, at worst, it's an 8% risk, not 100%. But if it's YOUR 911 or your GT350, it's 100% and that sucks.

We need more data.

 

[stanglife]

Man, That's quite a list. Interesting how there are only a few R models... but that's probably because most people keep them in the garage

The problem is that this list wasn't generated in an accurate way at all...in fact, could be a little biased. Maybe we can restart and use real names only or something?

 

[DCShelby]

Well I dropped the car off this morning for the new motor. The new motor came in yesterday so hopefully they get busy and I’ll get the car back later in the week.

 

[rick81721]

Just heard from my dealer. Authorized to replace motor for oil consumption - scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. Car might be ready for pickup by Friday! Even though the dealer told me they planned to tear into the motor to see what the issue was, as reported here numerous times, they weren't allowed to and were told to just replace it and send back the original.

 

[DCShelby]

We should do a whole new thread for replaced engine cars. Mine should be ready for pickup by Thursday or so. Yes, it’s a big no no to open the defective motor. It goes back to Ford and gets a good tongue lashing!

 

[AdamIsAdam]

I would think it will take more than a day to install based on the pics. And find out if they are pulling the motor from above or dropping the entire cradle out of the bottom.

And I'm sure you all saw this too, but others reported finding scratches on the fire wall, inner fender areas, and watch for pinched wiring harnesses, etc. Anything that gets R&R during an engine swap, you gotta watch for. Plus, messy fluids left all over the place.

 

[DCShelby]

I have a whole checklist of items, before I drive away from the dealer lot. Leaks, scratches, pinched wires, fluids, etc.....I'm not signing any papers till I look it over.

 

[AdamIsAdam]

Post the check list. I'd like to have, AND HOPE NEVER TO USE IT!

Good luck to you both

 

[rick81721]

I have a whole checklist of items, before I drive away from the dealer lot. Leaks, scratches, pinched wires, fluids, etc.....I'm not signing any papers till I look it over.

Same here - I took pics of everything. Also shooting for Ford ext warranty, I have a Zurich but would cancel that one.

 

[4score]

Ask a couple Ford dealers, untill one shows you, to see the TSB Ford has sent to dealers stating oil consumption levels that warrants engine replacement.

Just had the dealership monitor consumption over the last 1000 miles and things have gotten worse. It ate 4 quarts. Clearly outside of the range of normal consumption. Last time it was just over 2 quarts for 1000 miles so they told me it was normal. I'll see what Ford has to say.

 

[DCShelby]

If its more than a quart in 500 miles, its defective. That's the limit Ford has set. In a 500 mile test, mine used 4 quarts. That's way beyond the revised limit. Mine is ready for pickup today, but the weather is crappy so I need to wait a day or so.

 

[AdamIsAdam]

...Mine is ready for pickup today, but the weather is crappy so I need to wait a day or so.

No sh1t?! That didn't take them long at all! Take pics, vids, of your checklist inspection.

I'm also curious to know if this is reported on the CarFax. And can anyone confirm if these engines have numbers like in the old days?

 

[DCShelby]

I dropped it of Saturday at noon, they started work then....my service writer told me he worked on it all day Monday and into the evening and got it done last night. Its snowing here no, so no way I'm driving it home today.