-
Datsun240Z71
- Founding Member - WIS
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: February 9th 2010, 11:00pm
- Contact:
2020 Shelby GT500: Bad start, happy ending
Just getting around to posting this:
I bought a 2020 Shelby GT500 from a luxury used car dealer in Pelham, Alabama on October 19, 2022. Car had 3,500 miles at time of purchase.
Drove the car home that afternoon, took the wife to dinner that evening, and car did great. The only apparent issues were two open recalls noted on the Carfax (brake pedal bracket and a computer update), a rattling door speaker, a misaligned headliner and a split area on the passenger door panel (hey, it's a Ford!).
The next morning, ironically on the way to the Ford dealer to set an appointment to address these issues, the car made really "bad engine noises", ran really rough for a moment, the Check Engine Light began flashing, and the car shut down. Was about 2 miles from home going about 20 miles an hour.
A real gut punch! I had to tell myself that it's a machine, machines can be fixed, and thankfully it's in full warranty! But still...
Had the car flatbedded to the dealer (it ran just enough to get on the wrecker), and followed the wrecker to the dealer. Met the service advisor who I called when the car shut down, and was told they'd get it into the shop in a few days to determine what happened.
Long story short, 26 days later, all except the door panel and speaker (both on order) were fixed. Turned out a defective secondary timing chain tensioner (a known issue apparently) caused the chain to snap. Thankfully there was no damage to the pistons or valves. The technician replaced all the affected timing parts entirely, and did it all with hand tools only, as originally done. These engines are hand-built and signed. He sent me pictures by text of the teardown and rebuild, and then, with my permission, drove it home for a few days to make sure everything was OK. Never had that happen at a dealership before!
Kudos to Ford and Lincoln of Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee. The service adviser texted or contacted me EVERY day the car was there to keep me updated, and the tech's pictures and texts over the final 10 days made me feel better about the repair. They did things as directed by Ford due to the warranty, but IMO went way beyond any service experience I've had at any dealership EVER!
Weeks later, the car runs fine, the door panel is waiting at the dealer, and the speaker is on backorder.
Update 12/9/22: Getting door panel replaced 12/12.
Here's some of the pics:
The culprit tensioner, which is supposed to be extended:
Resulting in the broken chain:
The sprockets missing the chain:
Fixed!
I bought a 2020 Shelby GT500 from a luxury used car dealer in Pelham, Alabama on October 19, 2022. Car had 3,500 miles at time of purchase.
Drove the car home that afternoon, took the wife to dinner that evening, and car did great. The only apparent issues were two open recalls noted on the Carfax (brake pedal bracket and a computer update), a rattling door speaker, a misaligned headliner and a split area on the passenger door panel (hey, it's a Ford!).
The next morning, ironically on the way to the Ford dealer to set an appointment to address these issues, the car made really "bad engine noises", ran really rough for a moment, the Check Engine Light began flashing, and the car shut down. Was about 2 miles from home going about 20 miles an hour.
A real gut punch! I had to tell myself that it's a machine, machines can be fixed, and thankfully it's in full warranty! But still...
Had the car flatbedded to the dealer (it ran just enough to get on the wrecker), and followed the wrecker to the dealer. Met the service advisor who I called when the car shut down, and was told they'd get it into the shop in a few days to determine what happened.
Long story short, 26 days later, all except the door panel and speaker (both on order) were fixed. Turned out a defective secondary timing chain tensioner (a known issue apparently) caused the chain to snap. Thankfully there was no damage to the pistons or valves. The technician replaced all the affected timing parts entirely, and did it all with hand tools only, as originally done. These engines are hand-built and signed. He sent me pictures by text of the teardown and rebuild, and then, with my permission, drove it home for a few days to make sure everything was OK. Never had that happen at a dealership before!
Kudos to Ford and Lincoln of Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee. The service adviser texted or contacted me EVERY day the car was there to keep me updated, and the tech's pictures and texts over the final 10 days made me feel better about the repair. They did things as directed by Ford due to the warranty, but IMO went way beyond any service experience I've had at any dealership EVER!
Weeks later, the car runs fine, the door panel is waiting at the dealer, and the speaker is on backorder.
Update 12/9/22: Getting door panel replaced 12/12.
Here's some of the pics:
The culprit tensioner, which is supposed to be extended:
Resulting in the broken chain:
The sprockets missing the chain:
Fixed!
Randy in Nashville
