I amost regret buying an 03 Cobra

[neoclasiccl]

Well some of you know that my car was in the dealership for the ticking head issue. Well after 2 and 1/2 weeks and replaced drivers side head I get my car back. The car is running great and the tick is gone. Well it's 1 week later and last night as I was getting out of my car I hear this knocking noise. I then grab a hose and start listening to the head to see if the tick was back. Well the head wasn't ticking. I then get under the car and there it was. It's either a main bearing spun or a wristpin going. I have an apointment on Thurday to bring it in.

I am really starting to regret getting rid of my 2002 Steeda GT

 

[Beau]

at least its under warranty

 

[neoclasiccl]

at least its under warranty

Yeah that's the only thing that's keeping me happy right now. I have to take off alot of parts before going to the dealer since they will try to void my warranty. But a cold air and exhaust shouldnt make an engine go. I talked to the service manager and if I am correct as to what is wrong then I will be getting a new motor

 

[tait_gt2002]

Hmm that sucks. Not one of the usual problems but one to add to the huge list. Now if you would just replace your trans. and swap your IRS for a solid axle you'd be on the way to heading off the mechanical issues (the major ones anyways) that you'll face down the road. Hopefully they'll treat the car nice at the dealer. Good luck.

 

[Jackie Chan]

whats wrong with the tranny? i thought the only thing was the weak 12spline input shaft

 

[tait_gt2002]

whats wrong with the tranny? i thought the only thing was the weak 12spline input shaft

Bingo. Whether anyone has started doing a bunch of input shaft conversions I couldn't say, but several months ago it was a purely custom job and was likely pretty expensive, as the transmission is built (cheaply) such that the input shaft isn't meant to be replaced at all, an entirely new transmission is what's used instead.

 

[Beau]

Yeah that's the only thing that's keeping me happy right now. I have to take off alot of parts before going to the dealer since they will try to void my warranty. But a cold air and exhaust shouldnt make an engine go. I talked to the service manager and if I am correct as to what is wrong then I will be getting a new motor

a new motor? nice! and when you get your new motor you can just put your aftermarket parts back on right?

 

[03trubluGT]

I don't remember what his user name was, but in late 2002 a friend bought a 2003 Cobra and found out it had unreported body damage. The dealership took in the car and it had to have the whole passenger side rear quarter cut out and a new one welded in. After he got the car back, he posted new pics and someone pointed out that the passenger side had GT rocker panels. The car went back into the shop and they discovered an oil leak.

After the car being in the shop almost 2 months, they finally finished. Ford made a car payment, gave him chrome cobra rims, and gave him the extended warranty.

He called it the "FrankenCobra" after finding the mismatched parts.

Matt

 

[madmatt]

Trade Ya for it...LOL just kidding. Im sorry to hear bout the problems and I hope they get em fixed for you soon. Good luck.
Matt

 

[BadMoFo]

Trade Ya for it...LOL just kidding. Im sorry to hear bout the problems and I hope they get em fixed for you soon. Good luck.
Matt

thats what I was going to say, trade you. I am still debating on making the deal, guess it will depend on how much I get back in taxes, or owe.

 

[98SaleenCobra]

Just out of curiosity..Did you ever cange to a lower weight oil? I had a similar problem with the lifter clicking, went to a thinner oil, and never looked back. What weight oil do you have in the car? I did have 10-30 and switched to 5-20, car ran great since that.

 

[wjfawb0]

Sorry to hear about the motor, neo. On a brighter note, here is an IRS 03 Cobra street racing:

http://www.smallblockposse.net/videos/Mean03cobra.mpg

Got it here: http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8546

 

[02GT03SVT]

Well Neo, you are a little better off than me. Mine's in the process of being lemoned. I've eaten up 4 throw out bearings, had the steering bushings replaced, got a brand new transmission, and those are just the major problems. My diff is leaking, my windshield is destroyed thanks to a defective hoodlatch (a repair ford denied). Now, I am weary to get a new one once the lemon suit is over. I really like the way that C6 is looking... but man, the Cobra is bad to the bone -- when it works.

 

[DeadLurker]

I don't remember what his user name was, but in late 2002 a friend bought a 2003 Cobra and found out it had unreported body damage. The dealership took in the car and it had to have the whole passenger side rear quarter cut out and a new one welded in. After he got the car back, he posted new pics and someone pointed out that the passenger side had GT rocker panels. The car went back into the shop and they discovered an oil leak.

After the car being in the shop almost 2 months, they finally finished. Ford made a car payment, gave him chrome cobra rims, and gave him the extended warranty.

He called it the "FrankenCobra" after finding the mismatched parts.

Matt

I remember reading about that.

 

[DeadLurker]

That down time must be killing ya.

Im curious....do you think they are going to give you a NEW motor if you need it or will they just give you a refurbished one. I have a feeling it's not going to be a new one as my friend with his gt just had his motor go under warranty and they are giving him a refurbed one.

 

[neoclasiccl]

That down time must be killing ya.

Im curious....do you think they are going to give you a NEW motor if you need it or will they just give you a refurbished one. I have a feeling it's not going to be a new one as my friend with his gt just had his motor go under warranty and they are giving him a refurbed one.

First thanks for all the kind words guys. This is why I love this site.

Deadlurker since the car only has about 3K and some change I will not take a refurb motor. I frequent SVT performance terminator forum and all of the motors that were replaced were with new ones. Even people much more miles than I were getting new motors.

I will keep you guys informed and my car is going in Thursday morning.

 

[Teen'93stang5.0]

if I am correct as to what is wrong then I will be getting a new motor

hehehe, nice, if then need a place to dispose of it, my garage is prime real estate for that motor

03 cobra powerd 96 GT

 

[98yellowstang]

Does anyone know if they cleared up these problems in the 04 cobras? If they haven't I am a stickler for crap like this and I will not hesitate to make Ford bow down to me. Any symptoms that lead you to believe these things were wrong with your car. Obviously I know about the tick but what did the throw out bearing do, etc.

Thanks
Jason

 

[ADRENLN]

i still cant get over the fact that these cobras and gts blow their engines while they are still under warrenty. completely ridiculas what kind of car did i buy? other cars have their probs. but most wait till 100k miles to blow the engine. sorry guys i just keep hearing things like this and i think my heads are ticking, i just get pissed off.

 

[Screwed2V]

Wow, neoclassical. I hate hearing this kind of stuff. You always second guess your decisions when problems arise like this but hopefully Ford will do the right thing and replace your motor if that's what is necessary........with a new one. I wouldn't accept a reman either. Good luck.