Taurus (Ford) Climate Control quality

[Redbull14]

So, after paying about $600 to replace my audio control module, now the climate control system is malfunctioning. That cost close to $1000 to replace the front interface control module. The replacement part ended up being defective. Car has been at shop for about 2 weeks waiting on a back ordered replacement part with no expected delivery date. First, if Ford is going to use subpar components they ought to have the decency to charge a reasonable rate for replacement parts. Second, if Ford can’t seem to maintain a stock of replacement parts for known defective parts they should really reconsider if manufacturing vehicles is their strong suit. (Sarcasm). I read recently that Ford had to pay a massive sum in warranty claims a couple years ago. This is mostly money that can be invested in other places if Ford could manage to figure out the cheapest bid supplier is not always the best. I know all manufacturers have problems but Ford seems to have a habit of winning this category. My co-worker just smiles and drives away in her 200,000 mile Accord that she hasn’t needed a repair on in 5 years when she hears my Taurus needs another $1000 repair. Of course, driving a vanilla Accord may be its own form of punishment...

 

[Johnbigdog]

There is a parts backorder escalation process the dealership can follow depending what the delay is, but that process doesn't necessarily apply to special audio components like the f.c.i.m. its ordered through a separate entity called Ford Electronics Service Group if I recall properly.

Give the customer relationship center a call and see if they can help get you your part sooner. 1-800-392-3673.

 

[SM105K]

This is going to be an issue with all automakers going foward. The technology is going obsolete at a rapid pace. New car tech is like cell phones. How many of you guys have a 6+ year old cell phone that you still use?

OP you can check out the new aftermarket interfaces as well.

https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,10607.msg159207.html#msg159207

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

This is going to be an issue with all automakers going foward. The technology is going obsolete at a rapid pace. New car tech is like cell phones. How many of you guys have a 6+ year old cell phone that you still use?

OP you can check out the new aftermarket interfaces as well.

https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,10607.msg159207.html#msg159207

Man, kinda wish I would've kept up with this before I went with the Sync3 upgrade.

For years I was waiting for iDatalink to get some way to get rid of the MFT, but it wasn't around for the longest. I just stopped checking on it.

I'd love to be able to use an aftermarket radio. But Sync3 is pretty nice.

 

[SM105K]

Man, kinda wish I would've kept up with this before I went with the Sync3 upgrade.

For years I was waiting for iDatalink to get some way to get rid of the MFT, but it wasn't around for the longest. I just stopped checking on it.

I'd love to be able to use an aftermarket radio. But Sync3 is pretty nice.

If I ever need to replace my Sync 2 stuff, I will go with iDatalink for sure.

 

[Redbull14]

Johnbigdog - thanks for the info, appreciate it.

 

[Redbull14]

Sm105k makes a good point. I always find it interesting I can go down to CVS and buy a $6 Bluetooth speaker that works all the time every time, but a $40,000 car struggles to reconnect an iPhone once a week! Automakers should probably cede the space in the dash to tech companies and just run the car, I.e. Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

 

[xFallenxCripplex]

Google apparently is getting in the infotainment business starting with the polestar and volvo and says 20 other car makers although I'm sure this is just the software there not actually providing the hardware and hands on design https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27347927/2020-polestar-2-google-android-infotainment/

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[SHOrod]

This is going to be an issue with all automakers going foward. The technology is going obsolete at a rapid pace.

There's definitely a lot of truth to this. And if you're not a cellphone manufacturer, it's tough to get the industry's attention when it comes to keeping a part in production or providing a drop in replacement.

The FCIM in my 2013 MKS recently failed - on hot days would randomly decided to increment the driver's side heat to full and not allow me to turn it down. The issue was with one of the capacitive touch driver ICs, but replacement parts are no where to be found, and it seems no one makes a drop in part. I tried to find something that might work in a dead-bug configuration, but wasn't coming up with anything. Maybe the part was proprietary to Ford, but that would seem like a waste of money for a technology that is not unique to Ford. I was one of the lucky ones who found a used replacement FCIM on eBay for a reasonable price and it worked.

Since all the capacitive touch ICs in my FCIM are the same, I've toyed with offering a service to repair other failed FCIMs until I run out of parts, but haven't yet convinced myself I need more hobbies.

-Rod

 

[JHV]

So, after paying about $600 to replace my audio control module, now the climate control system is malfunctioning. That cost close to $1000 to replace the front interface control module. The replacement part ended up being defective. Car has been at shop for about 2 weeks waiting on a back ordered replacement part with no expected delivery date. First, if Ford is going to use subpar components they ought to have the decency to charge a reasonable rate for replacement parts. Second, if Ford can’t seem to maintain a stock of replacement parts for known defective parts they should really reconsider if manufacturing vehicles is their strong suit. (Sarcasm). I read recently that Ford had to pay a massive sum in warranty claims a couple years ago. This is mostly money that can be invested in other places if Ford could manage to figure out the cheapest bid supplier is not always the best. I know all manufacturers have problems but Ford seems to have a habit of winning this category. My co-worker just smiles and drives away in her 200,000 mile Accord that she hasn’t needed a repair on in 5 years when she hears my Taurus needs another $1000 repair. Of course, driving a vanilla Accord may be its own form of punishment...

Hello
I have found an update to my 2014 SHO, A/C shutting down. It is a climate control malfunction by the APIM module (Accessory Protocol Interface module) the following link is how to fix the problem. There was an extension to the warranty from ford on this problem.

https://ford.oemdtc.com/1745/12m02-...-software-and-hardware-2011-2014-ford-lincoln

 

[Jeff2017]

That's scary. How can parts like that takes weeks to get. These are not exotic cars. They are Taurus's.