Porthole Authority WeBlog

Sometimes my email responses to questions get rejected so will try to answer some of those questions here:

Posted by 5bird7 at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

If you're searching for answers about the 2002 to 2005 Thunderbird on this site, post your question here and Quickdraw or 5bird7 will either answer or direct you to the information you're seeking.

Posted by 5bird7 at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (47)

The following letter  has come out from Ford to Ford dealerships for 2003 Thunderbird and Lincoln LS owners.  At this time, it does not cover the 2002 or the 2004 or the 2005 Thunderbird BUT SHOULD in my humble opinion!  My 2002 has had all 3 (three) of the problems mentioned in the letter while under extended warranty.

 There is an effort on www.thunderbirdnest.com to have that remedied and it requires help from all 2002 to 2005 Thunderbird owners that have had c.o.p. issues.  Please read Earl aka 007161947 messages on the forum.  The issue and a poll is being discussed in the technical garage forum so you must join thunderbirdnest to participate in the poll and the discussion.  You may also discuss it here and I'll post more info here as it becomes available.

Here is the Ford letter to dealers.  (owners of 2003s are getting a customer version of the letter):

-------------------------------------------------------------- 

Frank M. Ligon
Director
Service Engineering Operations
Ford Customer Service Division

Ford Motor Company
P.O. Box 1904
Dearborn, Michigan 48121

July 3, 2007

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers

SUBJECT: Customer Satisfaction Program 07M07
Certain 2003 Model Year Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird Vehicles Equipped With 3.9L Engine - Extended Warranty Coverage on Ignition Coil Assemblies and Engine Valve Cover Gaskets

PROGRAM TERMS

This program extends the warranty coverage of the ignition coils and engine valve cover gaskets to 10 years of service from the warranty start date of the vehicle or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. For vehicles that have accumulated more than 100,000 miles, coverage will last until December 31, 2007. Coverage is automatically transferred to subsequent owners.

VEHICLES COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM

Certain 2003 model year Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird vehicles equipped with 3.9L engine built at the Wixom Assembly Plant from Job 1 through Job Last. Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS.

REASON FOR PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE

Some of the affected vehicles may experience an engine misfire condition predominantly due to internal breakdown in the coil and lack of adhesion between the epoxy and the coil housing material. These issues may cause the coil to operate at an insufficient voltage level, resulting in ignition coil misfires. In addition, on some of these vehicles, the valve cover gaskets may allow engine oil to enter the spark plug well and cause degradation of the ignition coil boot, resulting in ignition coil misfire. Drivability symptoms associated with an ignition coil misfire include rough running engine, surge or hesitation on acceleration, and/or illumination of the check engine light.

SERVICE ACTION

If any of the above mentioned drivability issues are reported on an affected vehicle, dealers are to identify any engine cylinder that is misfiring and perform an ignition coil stress test on the affected cylinders. If the coil fails the stress test, dealers are to replace the ignition coil and associated spark plug. If any coil boot is contaminated with engine oil, dealers are to contact the Special Service Support Center for prior approval to replace the contaminated ignition coil boot, the associated spark plug and install a new valve cover gasket set. This service will be performed on affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

NOTES:


This extended warranty coverage program only applies to ignition coil assemblies and valve cover gaskets. During diagnosis, if other concerns or DTC's are found, they will not be covered under this program and are the responsibility of the vehicle owner, if the vehicle has exceeded the time or mileage limits of all other warranty coverages (NVLM/Emissions/Extended/etc.). Owners who received letters announcing 07M07, and who bring their vehicles into the dealership because of an engine misfire condition, should be advised that this program only covers the cost of repairs related to defective ignition coils or valve cover gaskets that are allowing oil to enter the coil on plug wells.
Other repairs are not covered by this program.
COILS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER: If any coils are contaminated with water, dealers should perform Field Service Action 07N09 after performing this program (07M07).
ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I: Administrative Information
Attachment II: Labor Allowances and Parts Ordering Information
Attachment III: Technical Information

Customer Notification Letter


Also:

Frank M. Ligon
Director
Service Engineering Operations
Ford Customer Service Division

Ford Motor Company
P.O. Box 1904
Dearborn, Michigan 48121

July 3, 2007

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers

SUBJECT: Customer Satisfaction Program 07N09
Certain 2003 Model Year Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird Vehicles Equipped With 3.9L Engine - Extended Warranty Coverage on Ignition Coil Covers and Wiper Motor Bracket Seal

PROGRAM TERMS

This program extends the warranty coverage of the ignition coil covers and the wiper motor bracket seal to 10 years of service from the warranty start date of the vehicle or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. For vehicles that have accumulated more than 100,000 miles, coverage will last until December 31, 2007. Coverage is automatically transferred to subsequent owners.

VEHICLES COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM

Certain 2003 model year Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird vehicles equipped with 3.9L engine built at the Wixom Assembly Plant from Job 1 through Job Last. Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS.

REASON FOR PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE

On some of the affected vehicles, the water management system may allow rain water to be directed toward the ignition coils which, may result in internal contamination of the coils, and possibly lead to premature failure of the ignition coil assemblies.

SERVICE ACTION

If evidence of water contamination is found on the ignition coils or in the spark plug wells, dealers are authorized to perform the service procedure described in Attachment III. This service will be performed on affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

NOTE: If engine oil is found in the coil on plug wells, dealers should call the Special Service Support Center at xxxxxxxxxxx.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I: Administrative Information
Attachment II: Labor Allowances and Parts Ordering Information
Attachment III: Technical Information

Customer Notification Letter

 

Posted by 5bird7 at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Most information that you may want to search for about the retro tbird is more readily available on my main website at The New Thunderbird pages.  Use the search box on that page instead of the one on this blog OR better still, use the SiteMap on the main site:

Posted by 5bird7 at 09:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Question posed by Dan: 

 if I add any of the after market
accesories does it damage the resale or intrinsic value of the car?

Most of them don't change the car and can be removed and replaced by OEM parts.  As long as you don't have to drill holes, you should be fine. Even holes can be filled in in later years if someone wants to go back to stock.

Chroming parts may limit your market though so it might be worth it to have an unchromed spare of whatever part you have chromed around for resale.

Posted by 5bird7 at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

# of unsold 2004s
Evening Black.............5
Light Ice Blue.............1
Merlot.......................9
Monterey Mist (PCR)...1
Platinum Silver...........2
Torch Red..................1
=================
Total 2004s left.........19

# of Unsold 2005s
Bronze....................16
Cashmere...............15
Evening Black..........13
Medium Steel Blue....6
Platinum Silver........15
Torch Red.................7
=================
Total 2005s left.....72

If you need help locating the color you want, please ask....

Posted by Quickdraw at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)

There hasn't been much out for a couple of years for the retrobird collector.  Maisto is still carrying 3 color combinations in their 1:18th scale and a few vendors do keep them in stock.

Meanwhile, High Speed has produced one in 1/87th scale.  It's been marketed under several brands, most recently by Malibu International who has given Walmart stores exclusive marketing for the model.  It's labeled a 2003 and can be found in colors of black, red, bright turquoise (if you're a 1956 model fan, you'd call it Peacock Blue), silver, and now a dark blue.

I just visited Minichamps website and found that they'll be releasing a new color for their retrobird model (1/43 scale) sometime in December.  Their website did not mention the color though.

Posted by 5bird7 at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Desert Sky Blue - only 2:

2003 Desert Sky Blue Deluxe, Black hardtop, Black Accent interior & SST transmission, 21 Spoke Painted wheels 1
2003 Desert Sky Blue Premium,  Evening Black hardtop, Black (Standard) interior, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels 1 

Evening Black - all Deluxe models - 7

Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior -Standard Automatic -21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Interior Accent, SST Automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, SST,  21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Black Accent Interior, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Saddle Partial Interior Accent, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Evening Black Deluxe, Performance White Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1

Mountain Shadow Grey - all deluxe models = 2

Mountain Shadow Grey, Evening Black Hardtop, Saddle Partial Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Mountain Shadow Grey Deluxe, Evening BlackHardtop, Black Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1

Torch Red - all Deluxe models = 6 

Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop,  Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe,  Evening Black Hardtop, Black Standard Interior, Standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Black Standard Inerior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1
Torch Red Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop,  Whisper White Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic,  21 Spoke Painted wheels =  1
Torch Red Deluxe, Torch Red Hardtop,  Black Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted Wheels = 1
Torch Red Deluxe, Torch Red Hardtop, Red Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic,  21 Spoke Painted 1

Whisper White - 2 premiums, 4 Deluxe = 6

Whisper White Premium,  Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Whisper White Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic , 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper white Premium, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, standard automatic, 7 Spoke Chrome wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Evening Black Hardtop, Torch Red Full Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Whisper White Hardtop,  Torch Red Full Accent Interior, standard automatic, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1
Whisper White Deluxe, Whisper White Hardtop,  Torch Red Partial Accent Interior, SST, 21 Spoke Painted wheels = 1

Posted by 5bird7 at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Posted by Quickdraw at 07:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (48)

Here's a listing of popular Retrobird websites including forums and the largest Thunderbird Registry on the web.

Porthole Authority.com - http://www.portholeauthority.com 

Forums:

1 - Thunderbird Nest -  http://www.thunderbirdnest.com

2 - email Group - http://www.tbird.org/MailingList/cvtml.htm

Thunderbird Registry - http://www.tbirdregistry.com/main.htm

Posted by 5bird7 at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

 Here's your chance to say hello and get acquainted with the site.  This is a new venture that we are trying out.  You'll be able to contact Quickdraw or 5bird7 thru this weblog.  Quickdraw will help you find the early dates for your car, such as when it was ordered and when it was built by Ford at Wixom.  He may also be able to help you get a copy of your window sticker if you have bought your car used or even new.  Both of us will answer general questions about the Thunderbird or you may be able to help in that regard.

Posted by 5bird7 at 06:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (125)