Yet another climate/heater issue

[docburton]

I'm glad to hear that worked for you. Unfortunately I didn't have the same luck. I was told there currently isn't a program to assist with the repair but to keep my receipts in case such a program should come available for reimbursement. I did ask for suggestions as my truck is required to have a working defroster/defogger in the state of VA and she suggested calling the NHTSA. They are closed today so I'll start that tomorrow I guess.

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[GhostStrykre]

I'm glad to hear that worked for you. Unfortunately I didn't have the same luck. I was told there currently isn't a program to assist with the repair but to keep my receipts in case such a program should come available for reimbursement. I did ask for suggestions as my truck is required to have a working defroster/defogger in the state of VA and she suggested calling the NHTSA. They are closed today so I'll start that tomorrow I guess.

oh wow. So sorry to hear it didn’t work. Did you call recently? Maybe worth another shot and see if you get a different rep?

I was going to move on to another truck, but now I’m happy to stick with the Ranger. I really hope you find some resolution!

 

[docburton]

oh wow. So sorry to hear it didn’t work. Did you call recently? Maybe worth another shot and see if you get a different rep?

I was going to move on to another truck, but now I’m happy to stick with the Ranger. I really hope you find some resolution!

I feel like I owe you a follow-up and a beer. I called Corporate Ford again and unlike last time they did offer help. They gave me a case number and asked me to take my truck back to the dealer. Long story short, they're covering all but $700. My truck is in the shop now and should be done by Wednesday.

I really appreciate you posting and letting me know about this option.

 

[AvockAdoo]

Reading this thread has caused me secondhand anger. A couple things:

1. Ford obviously knows of this issue(going by OP's call to them and them dropping it down to 900). You don't just drop the cost by ~70% if it's a random fix/occurance. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. Making the everyday buyer pay 3,600$ for an AC fix, is UNACCEPTABLE. It may honestly decide whether I buy Ford from here on out.

2. This HVAC issue is singlehandedly the reason to buy an extended warranty, as it seems like every 2019 truck will eventually have this happen.

3. This issue needs to by stickied or pinned at the top of the forum to try to push this problem more.

I'm actually resigned to think it might just be every ranger. Period. My 2020 was showing symptoms of blend door issues (clicking, slipping, stuck in defrost occasionally, etc..) I think its every ranger that will have this issue. Not just early ones.

 

[Metal Geezer]

Was just going to ask about 2020. All I’ve seen is fluctuation of the temp gauge, but now I’m paying a little closer attention JIC.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I feel like I owe you a follow-up and a beer. I called Corporate Ford again and unlike last time they did offer help. They gave me a case number and asked me to take my truck back to the dealer. Long story short, they're covering all but $700. My truck is in the shop now and should be done by Wednesday.

I really appreciate you posting and letting me know about this option.

no problem! Glad it could help! They also tossed in a limited maintenance coverage plan as a “sorry”. I’ve been curious to what degree my dealer helped with that. I’ll never know. All I know is have full synthetic oil and tire rotations every 5k miles at any Ford dealer for the next 60k miles. Tough to be mad at the outcome. The value of the plan probably pays the $900 I paid for this service when the dust settles

Reading this thread has caused me secondhand anger. A couple things:

1. Ford obviously knows of this issue(going by OP's call to them and them dropping it down to 900). You don't just drop the cost by ~70% if it's a random fix/occurance. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. Making the everyday buyer pay 3,600$ for an AC fix, is UNACCEPTABLE. It may honestly decide whether I buy Ford from here on out.

2. This HVAC issue is singlehandedly the reason to buy an extended warranty, as it seems like every 2019 truck will eventually have this happen.

3. This issue needs to by stickied or pinned at the top of the forum to try to push this problem more.

I don’t disagree with you entirely. Sucks that it has to go this way. That being said, I was out of warranty. Ford met their contractual obligation to me per warranty terms. Terms I knew when purchasing the truck.

Knowing folks who work in service and parts they told me that many other OEMs do the same thing. Many straight try to dodge warranty repairs (Chrysler was cited as an example to me). Toyota and their cam tower leaks on the Tundra engine. For an engine many call “bulletproof” that’s an EXTREMELY common issue owners had to watch out for, and you were HOSED if out of warranty

in the end, Ford settled nicely with me. I shared it here so others can know and try to replicate. They made it right, so I have to give ‘em props for that.

Again, not entirely disagreeing with you. I just don’t think going to another OEM a means you’ll avoid this issue either. Seems pretty industry standard.

 

[docburton]

Reading this thread has caused me secondhand anger. A couple things:

1. Ford obviously knows of this issue(going by OP's call to them and them dropping it down to 900). You don't just drop the cost by ~70% if it's a random fix/occurance. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. Making the everyday buyer pay 3,600$ for an AC fix, is UNACCEPTABLE. It may honestly decide whether I buy Ford from here on out.

2. This HVAC issue is singlehandedly the reason to buy an extended warranty, as it seems like every 2019 truck will eventually have this happen.

3. This issue needs to by stickied or pinned at the top of the forum to try to push this problem more.

I don't disagree with anything you've said here. There's chapters I've left out such as getting trade-in quote from a (different) Ford dealer only to have them drop the quote by $3000 when I revealed the HVAC issue. They tried to explain it's a complicated repair that would cost them the same amount as it does me to have it repaired. It felt good calling out their dishonesty.

My guess is the NTSB doesn't see this as either wide-spread enough or dangerous enough to force a recall. As for Ford, I'm sure they just did the math. Pissing off those that aren't still under some sort warranty was profitable enough to not draw attention to the issue. These decisions are always financial.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Reading this thread has caused me secondhand anger. A couple things:

1. Ford obviously knows of this issue(going by OP's call to them and them dropping it down to 900). You don't just drop the cost by ~70% if it's a random fix/occurance. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. Making the everyday buyer pay 3,600$ for an AC fix, is UNACCEPTABLE. It may honestly decide whether I buy Ford from here on out.

2. This HVAC issue is singlehandedly the reason to buy an extended warranty, as it seems like every 2019 truck will eventually have this happen.

3. This issue needs to by stickied or pinned at the top of the forum to try to push this problem more.

Almost like it's a quiet recall but not really, we'll just help with the cost. This is the reason I purchased an extended warranty.

 

[docburton]

no problem! Glad it could help! They also tossed in a limited maintenance coverage plan as a “sorry”. I’ve been curious to what degree my dealer helped with that. I’ll never know. All I know is have full synthetic oil and tire rotations every 5k miles at any Ford dealer for the next 60k miles. Tough to be mad at the outcome. The value of the plan probably pays the $900 I paid for this service when the dust settles



I don’t disagree with you entirely. Sucks that it has to go this way. That being said, I was out of warranty. Ford met their contractual obligation to me per warranty terms. Terms I knew when purchasing the truck.

Knowing folks who work in service and parts they told me that many other OEMs do the same thing. Many straight try to dodge warranty repairs (Chrysler was cited as an example to me). Toyota and their cam tower leaks on the Tundra engine. For an engine many call “bulletproof” that’s an EXTREMELY common issue owners had to watch out for, and you were HOSED if out of warranty

in the end, Ford settled nicely with me. I shared it here so others can know and try to replicate. They made it right, so I have to give ‘em props for that.

Again, not entirely disagreeing with you. I just don’t think going to another OEM a means you’ll avoid this issue either. Seems pretty industry standard.

I think you're right that this is the new norm. Just bought a new-to-us car for my wife and after this HVAC issue I would forum-dive to see what kind of know issue exists. Without fail, every vehicle had one. I didn't dive deep enough on potential resolutions beyond recalls. This is new norm I think.

 

[TheRealStreetcommander]

With regards to my base truck, I'm trying to eliminate some prolific internet misinformation.

2020 XL, STX, FX4, ~55k miles. Clicking, and stuck stuck in luke-warm position. Single zone rotary-nob HVAC.

Replaced actuator in less than 30 minutes, taking my time. Was prepared for hell or molestation of the steel dash supports --Neither were necessary. Blend door actuator on passenger side with all fasteners assessable. Disassembled old actuator and my guess is that position sensing fingers or circuit was defective. No obvious damage.

Correct replacement Ford Part number: AB3Z 19E616-B, made in Thailand. Multiple dealerships could not identify the correct "temp-blend-door actuator", so they forced me to buy both.

This should be a true post for all other 5G Rangers with base single-zone HVAC.

 

[dtech]

Almost like it's a quiet recall but not really, we'll just help with the cost. This is the reason I purchased an extended warranty.

Yeah but no guarantee they'll do that in all cases or keep doing it - one needs to keep in mind that CEO Jim Farley is pledging to reduce warranty outlays so that could mean that Ford takes a hard *ss approach on stuff like these HVAC repairs. I have just 10 days to decide on an x warranty purchase and it will be a 1st but I think I'm gonna do it .

 

[AzScorpion]

Yeah but no guarantee they'll do that in all cases or keep doing it - one needs to keep in mind that CEO Jim Farley is pledging to reduce warranty outlays so that could mean that Ford takes a hard *ss approach on stuff like these HVAC repairs. I have just 10 days to decide on an x warranty purchase and it will be a 1st but I think I'm gonna do it .

Like you I never have purchased one and was pretty much against them. But between the HVAC box and all the computers IMHO think it's worth the investment. I did a $100.00 deductible and added the LED package for an extra $50.00. Plus with all these transmission issues now popping up I sleep better knowing it's covered.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Yeah but no guarantee they'll do that in all cases or keep doing it - one needs to keep in mind that CEO Jim Farley is pledging to reduce warranty outlays so that could mean that Ford takes a hard *ss approach on stuff like these HVAC repairs. I have just 10 days to decide on an x warranty purchase and it will be a 1st but I think I'm gonna do it .

I waited to the last minute too and like Dave @AzScorpion I go the LED package. Never bought one before either.

 

[Bob902]

First vehicle I have ever bought extended warranty.

 

[dtech]

I waited to the last minute too and like Dave @AzScorpion I go the LED package. Never bought one before either.

and I only bought life insurance once when I was 1st married, from a friend who sold insurance, but cancelled the policy after 3 months of payments - back then vacations and money for booze took precedence.

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