From: rrm@pluto.ssdp (Ron Marquardt)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
Subject: Ford Tempo Problems (was: Ford Tempo Hesitates/Stalls)
Date: 24 Jan 1993 23:04:32 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Distribution: world
Reply-To: rrm@pluto.ssdp
NNTP-Posting-Host: pluto.ssdp.caltech.edu

In article 2024@heurikon.heurikon.com, jeffd@ex.heurikon.com (Jeff Durst) writes:
>
>	I bought a 1991 Ford Tempo GL brand new and back in November
>	it started to intermittantly hesistate when warm at stop lights 
>	or stops signs.  It is always on acceleration that this occurs.
>	It has also stalled three times since December 3.  
>
>	I have had it into the Dealer twice now for this problem, the first
>	time they clain to have found a vaccuum leak at the fuel pressure
>	regulator and they also cleaned some emissions stuff, the second time
>	they said they found the base idle speed was low, so they adjusted it.
>	
>	I asked them if they really feel they solved the problem, he said 
>	no.  I asked where do we go from here, he said basiclif the problem
>	happens more frequently so that they can recreate it they will then
>	be able to do more for me.

	I've had the exact same experience that you've had with a Tempo stalling
under identical circumstances.  I have an '88 Tempo GL with just under 40,000 miles
on it.  For two years I was trying to get just such a stalling problem fixed
and only recently (well, about 6-9 months ago) actually found out the real cause.
For the '88 Tempos at least, Ford has a recall out to fix this very problem.
The rear fuel pump can be intermittently bad, and cause stalling (or hesitation)
when trying to accelerate.  After they replaced it (for free, although I had to
pay for various "adjustments" for the two years before while these yahoos tried
to fix the problem), I have had no further problem with it stalling.  Good luck...

	That's not to say I still don't have another problem with it.  The damn
engine mounts keep having to be replaced.  And, no, its not some scam where the
dealer is just trying to get a few more bucks to fix a nonexistent problem.  I've
never seen an engine get torqued so badly before (and its not even that powerful!).
I had to have them replaced about a year and a half ago (at only about 25,000
miles on the car), again this past November, and yet again just last week.  The
whole car will shake when going up a steep hill (or under other high-power 
situations), and pop when accelerating from a stop (sounds sorta like a bad strut
or tie rod might).  If ANYONE has any ideas please let me know.  I'm stuck going
back to the same dealer right now, simply 'cause its a warranty replacement (a
warranty from the previous attempts, the original car warranty has expired, and
engine mounts were NEVER covered by it.  They aren't considered part of the 
powertrain, even though they're rather essential to its operation!!!).  The head
mechanic there (who seems to know what he's talking about, but I could be wrong)
claims that Ford has had problems with engine mounts on Taurus' with the larger
engines, and he also thinks that they've been changing the engine mount design
(using softer rubber) to compete with the Japanese for a quieter, smoother ride.
Too bad, then, that the ride is smoothe only until the mounts give way...

	Anyway, Jeff, let me give you one last piece of advice, after getting on
Ford's case for quite some time now...  Don't bother calling the 800 number to
complain -- go staight to the top.  The main switchboard number for Ford Headquarters
is (313) 322-3000.  Ask for Harold Poling's office; he's the the CEO of Ford.  
They will transfer you there without hesitation.  Tell the individual who answers
your problems and he/she will likely transfer you to the CEO's Special Liaison's
office, where they will take your complaint, FAX the local dealer and service rep,
and try to expidite repair of your vehicle.  I've found that such a FAX tends to
make the service you get just that much better!!!  I never got that by calling
the normal 800 number.  And if that doesn't work, you can complain loudly to
Mr. Poling's office directly (vs. getting transferred to the Special Liaison's
office).  I'm still in the middle of doing just that (RE: the engine mounts) so
I can't tell you the outcome of that strategy just yet...

	Best of luck...  I like the car in many ways, but dealing with Ford over
these bizarre problems is tricky at best.  I hope someone at Ford is listening to
all this and they clean up their act.  The whole reason I'm reading this newsgroup
today is to check up on Saturns.  Given the reports I've seen, it sounds like
they have a better average quality level than a Ford, and the owner-company
relationship isn't as advisarial (at least, in theory...).

				- Ron 

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Ron Marquardt                       E-mail: rrm@ssdp.caltech.edu
Solid State Device Physics Group            rrm@cco.caltech.edu
California Institute of Technology