1992 Ford Thunderbird engine problems

Filed Aug 15, 2002 · Engine · NH

Left and right outer and inner rockers rotted. Bad design, no ventilation built in to dry moisture inside rocker. Therefore they rot till there is no more rocker, costing $700 per side to have a ford body shop to cut out and weld in new rockers.

Filed Aug 15, 2002 · Engine · NH

Premature head gasket failure - repair cost of $970.

Filed Jul 21, 2002 · Engine, Transmission · CT

Head gasket- car began skipping and then white smoke came out of exhuast. I drove it home (3 miles). I pulled the spark plugs and found that the number 3 cylinder plug clean and wet. I did some research and found this to be a common problem with this motor and cylinder. Why won't ford help? I have yet to bring it to a garage so I don't know if the head or block is damaged. I am hoping not! Transmission- aod model starting at about 79,000 miles it began to shift funny and got progressively worse as time went on. Now shifting eratic, was looking into fixing it when the head gasket problem came up!!!!!

Filed Mar 1, 2002 · Engine · IL

The day after having the water pump replaced after a failure, the engine temperature raised to the maximum that the gauge can display (no specific temp, just c-normal-h). Took car back to the garage where the water pump was replaced and they said that the head gaskets had blown and repair would cost $1100. For a second opinion I limped it to a person who "secializes" in super coupes and he confirmed the diagnosis. He said he had seen many tbird sc's come in with the same problem and milage did not play a part in the defect. He reported to me that the main malfunction was not only a poor quality gasket, but that the heads were machined to too high of a tolerance. The heads were machined, the gaskets replaced, etc etc, to the tune of $1000.

Filed Feb 25, 2002 · Engine · LA

Seems to be a defect in all ford thunderbird sc headgaskets. Factory mill is incorrect and not done very well. Recall is necessary to have ford fix an issue that has been recalled for the 1994/95 models. Ford should recall the 1989-1993 sc, same drivetrain.

Filed Jun 17, 2001 · Engine · VA

Failed headgaskets while vehicle was strapped to chassis dynomometer. Failure happened at 3000rpms. Head gasket failure caused the top plastic radiator tank to explode with many witnesses.

Filed May 23, 2001 · Engine · OH

When a service employee started vehicle and moved it into garage white smoke came out of vehicle. Upon examination by dealership, engine head gasket had blown, and motor needed to be replaced. Consumer paid approximately $4175.00 to have this defect repaired. *ak

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Engine · IL

Driving at 40 MPH and engine stopped. Got out look to see the head gasket was blown.

Filed Feb 27, 2001 · Engine · OK

Engine missing. Water in cylinder. Head cracked/gasket blown. Dealer will do nothing for there is no recall but states this engine has a reputation for cracking heads. States 94-95 models recalled heads but not '92. Dealer unable to get replacement head. States newly designed head won't be released until mid summer and cannot get the part to fix my car. 3 repair shops repeated "those are bad to crack heads" and are unable to get replacements. Parts stores are unable to get this head. Manufacturer stated with no recall, they will do nothing. Stated they have no access to parts information... This is obviously a known problem but ford will not acknowledge it. I have a broken car and no way to fix it.

Filed Jan 26, 2001 · Engine · NC

After having vehicle serviced it stalled. Vehicle was towed back to dealer . Technician stated that head gasket was blown. *ak the engine failed while the vehicle was undergoing inspection maintenance.