[BULLITT00208]

Thought everyone with the problem might like to know,

I took my car to the dealer and went for a test drive with a mechanic. He heard the noise and, his first response was it sounded like piston slap. He said he would investigate further and make a call to the Ford tech line to see if they knew anything about it. My service rep was great! When I picked up my car I was told by my service rep that Ford knows of this issue and they are working on a fix. He expalined that the fix would likely be to reflash the computer and lower the rev limiter until the car got to operating temperature. (Is this a fix?) He added that, according to Ford, several Bullitt owners are reporting this problem.
I'm thinking, if Ford's fix is simply to reflash the computer and lower the rev limiter so you can't go past 3K rpm until warm, I'm not going to get the fix. I've recently been able to get the car make the noise at 2800rpm, so I don't think this will solve the problem. I hope Ford doesn't try to give us a band-aid to fix this.

Eric



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: BULLITT00208 on 2002-01-15 11:33 ]</font>

 

[DHG #1302]

I've had my computer reflashed to back off the tip in timming but that was to reduce pining noise. The 3k prm rattel is a whole nother issue.

 

[BULLITT00208]

If I understand my Service Rep. correctly. It sounds like Ford intends to lower the rev limiter to around 3k rpm when the car is cold. The computer won't allow you to rev it any higher than that until the engine is to operating temp. This will not fix the problem it will just prevent most people from ever hearing it.

Eric

 

[DHG #1302]

Sorry Eric, I misunderstood. So basicly the car would not rev over 3k until warm. I think I'll just continue as is. Thanks for the tech info.
Jim

 

[JayP]

A 3k rev limiter? Why not just give us ear plugs?

 

[BULLITT00208]

3k rpm is my figure, but I based that on how the rep told me Ford plans on fixing the problem. If they intend to lower the rev limiter to fix it, they would have to lower it to somewhere around 3k rpm for it to be effective.

Eric

 

[Bullitt4995]

That is the MOST LUDICROUS thing I have ever heard. I would have to actually hear that from Ford to believe such a ridiculous statement.

 

[JayP]

I'd wait for a better solution before I'd let them flash out my computer.

I can keep it under 3k, but if I got into traffic and needed to run up the gears to keep from getting clobbered... I don't want a 3k rev limiter holding me back.

 

[crs2879]

Granted, if true, that is a chicken sh*t response from Ford after-the-fact. However, it is not unprecedented. If I am not mistaken, the current BMW M5 has a progressive rev limiter that holds-down the revs when the engine is cold.

I am not comparing a Bullitt to an M5. It simply illustrates that the THEORY may not be flawed.

 

[Bushmaster]

Mine has been making the clatter noise at around 2K rpm for the last week, down from the 3K where I originally had been hearing it.
Like the rest of you, I'm not too interested in a band-aid fix that will keep me from driving over 50 mph till the chip decides it's safe. I'll just keep doing what I've been doing....warming up the car some before I leave and backing off the throttle if I hear the noise.

 

[JayP]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2002-01-15 14:42, Bushmaster wrote:
I'll just keep doing what I've been doing....warming up the car some before I leave and backing off the throttle if I hear the noise.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

And double declutching 1st to 2nd gear until the tranny warms up.

 

[Dennis]

I heard it quite well at 2200 revs this morning.

 

[Deadhead]

My engine has aslo begun to rattle in the 2200 RPM range in 2nd gear. I am convinced that the rattle is piston slap because it is most apparent when the throttle is feathered (light load). I'm glad to hear that "Ford is aware of several Bullit owners experiencing the cold rattle", but reflashing the computer and setting the rev limiter lower is a silly solution.

 

[DHG #1302]

...especially if they have to set the rev limiter to 2K :lol:

 

[Bushmaster]

I wonder (and am concerned) why the sound seems to be migrating to the lower rpm ranges. If it had stayed the way it was, I could probably have talked myself into not losing sleep over it, but this new development, particularly when a number of us are experiencing the same thing, has me a little worried.
Next week, 1000 rpm?

 

[6treva9]

Eric...just out of curiosity...which dealer do you go to?

 

[Bullitt4075]

I'm thinking this kind of a fix would cause a major sh$t storm with the owners of all GT's not just the Bullitt, since they also have had the problem. I would not be a happy camper folks. On the same note I to would like to hear this plan from the horses mouth before getting too spinned up. Maybe Mr. T, he always seems to know the real deal.

 

[Deadhead]

Its hard to imagine that Ford would let a bunch of us run around with clattering/rattling engines. Not only have I heard these noises in the lower RPMS in 2nd gear, but I've had it happen in the mid 4000 RPM's in third gear on the freeway AFTER the engine was completely warmed up. However, until Ford comes up with a plausable solution, I refuse to let the dealer's "mechanics" begin probing the engine conducting "exploratory surgery". I've been down this road before and it was a nightmare. I was one of the unfortunate buyers of the infamous 99 "Slobra". I love my Bullitt, its a superior car to the Slobra, but this engine rattle has got to be solved by the factory.

I've got about 8500 on the clock, changed to Mobil 1 @ 6000 but the cold rattle is getting worse.

#2127 TB

 

[Bullitt4995]

Everyone is complaining, including myself, but has anyone contacted Ford Motors? I think we should ALL get on the phone and express our concern to Ford. I will start off by calling them this morning. I want to let them know that I have an engine problem, but until Ford has a fix, I DO NOT want to take my car back to my dealer. They will take down all the information and document it.If everyone calls, then we might have a chance of getting this resolved.

 

[Dona]

A telephone number? I'll call.