www.FordManifoldSettlement.com - Few Questions

Knocking on wood over here too .. LOL Maybe I lucked out with the new "improved" plastic intake...lol!

Well, I had my intake crack about 3-4 months ago. Mine is a 1999 HPP, and wasn't on the original P71 intake recall list. Luckily, I took a bunch of pictures of my intake, the crack, and the swap out procedure. My brother-in-law is a mechanic at my local Ford Dealer, and was the one who helped me do the swap. When the suit is settled, he said to bring it in to the dealer, and he will sign off on the "verification of replacement" as the installing mechanic. We hope that will be good enough to get my reimbursement check, which is supposedly going to be issued by each dealership, after they get word from Ford about the settlement. He said that he had heard that the figure for reimbursement was a bit lower, around $300-400 per vehicle, if you still are the registered owner/driver. I guess we have to wait until October to find out for sure. I will definitely be checking the site daily around October 7th.

So does this mean that unless it is cracked, then they won't replace it or is this a recall type thing that you can get it replaced, cracked or not.

Here is a complete copy of the letter they are sending out:
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Notice Of Proposed Settlement Of Class Action And Settlement Fairness Hearing

If You Own Or Lease or Previously Owned or Leased One Of The Cars Listed Below Equipped with a Ford 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8 Engine

Please Read This Legal Notice Carefully, Your Legal Rights Could Be Affected

A Court has preliminarily approved a Proposed Settlement of several related class action lawsuits that may affect your rights. The lead case is entitled Susan Chamberlan et al. v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. C 03-2628 CW, pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The related class actions that are also a part of this Proposed Settlement include McGettigan v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. CV-2002-3400-JRL in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama and Rhea v. Ford Motor Co., CJ-05-55, in the District Court for Adair County, State of Oklahoma. The Court has scheduled a Fairness Hearing or final approval of the Proposed Settlement. Benefits for Class Members will only be made if the Court grants final approval.

· This Proposed Class Action Settlement involves certain Ford motor vehicles, specifically those with a 4.6L, 2-valve V-8 engine that were originally equipped with an all nylon-composite air intake manifold (“Class Vehicles”):

Car - Model - Year
Mercury - Grand Marquis - 1996-2001
Lincoln - Town Car - 1996-2001
Ford - Crown Victoria - 1996-2001
Mercury - Cougar;
Ford Thunderbird
and Mustang - 1997 (build date after 6/24/97)
Ford - Mustang - 1998-2001 (some vehicles)
Ford - Explorer - 2002 (some vehicles)

· Under the Proposed Settlement, Ford is granting retroactive seven-year extended warranty coverage for fatigue cracking of the coolant crossover passage of the all nylon-composite intake manifold in the Class Vehicles and you may be entitled to a reimbursement if you paid to replace your manifold, as explained below.

Your rights and options, as well as the deadlines for each, are explained in this Notice.

Why has This Notice Been Issued?
The Court ordered this Notice to be issued. You are receiving this Notice because records indicate that you may own or lease or may have previously owned or leased one of the Class Vehicles. This Notice explains the lawsuit, the Proposed Settlement; your legal rights; what benefits are available; and who is eligible.

What is this Class Action About?
The Class Vehicles were equipped with an engine that contained an air intake manifold made entirely from a nylon-composite material. The Plaintiffs in these class action lawsuits allege that the coolant crossover passage of these intake manifolds may crack, resulting in coolant leakage, and that Ford violated state law because it failed to disclose this fact to consumers who bought Class Vehicles. Ford denies these allegations and any wrongdoing.

Why is there a Proposed Settlement?
The Parties litigated these class actions vigorously, primarily through the Chamberlan action, for over two years. After extended negotiations under the supervision of a Court-approved mediator, the Parties entered into a Proposed Settlement Agreement dated June 16, 2005. The terms of the Proposed Settlement are briefly summarized below. The following description does not supersede the terms of the Proposed Settlement Agreement and related documents and exhibits, which are available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Court. The Clerk's Office is located at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612.

Counsel for the Plaintiffs believes that the Proposed Settlement is a fair and reasonable resolution of these class actions. In deciding this, they considered the substantial benefits from the Proposed Settlement for the Class Members. These benefits were balanced against the risk that: (1) Plaintiffs and the Class may not win at trial, or (2) any favorable judgment could have been reversed on appeal, or at least delayed during an appeals period expected to last several years.

Who are Class Members?
All persons residing in the United States who currently own or lease, or previously owned or leased a 1996 through 2002 model year Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle equipped with a 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8 engine having an all nylon-composite air intake manifold as original equipment. Vehicles which have already received an extended warranty pursuant to a Ford Owner Notification Program action are not included. Specifically, Class Vehicles include those 1996-2001 Mercury Grand Marquis, 1996-2001 Ford Crown Victorias, 1996-2001 Lincoln Town Cars, 1997 Mercury Cougars and Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs manufactured after June 24, 1997, certain 1998-2001 Ford Mustangs, and certain 2002 Ford Explorers that were equipped with the 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8 engine.

The Class does not include: (1) Ford, its subsidiaries and affiliates, officers, and directors; (2) the Judge to whom this case is assigned and any member of the judge's immediate family; (3) persons, if any, who have suffered personal injury as a result of the failure of an air intake manifold in a Class Vehicle; and (4) persons who have settled with and released Ford from individual claims substantially similar to those alleged in the related class actions.

What does the Proposed Settlement Provide and How Do I Obtain Reimbursement?
If the Proposed Settlement is approved, Class Members who currently own a Class Vehicle will receive a retroactive extension of the new vehicle warranty coverage on the air intake manifolds.

The extended warranty will cover:
· Fatigue cracks in the all-composite air intake manifold resulting in coolant leaks at the crossover coolant passage that occur within the first seven years after the vehicle's warranty start date, regardless of mileage. The warranty extension will allow vehicle owners to obtain a cost-free replacement for any intake manifold that has fatigue cracks and leaking coolant (as described above). Replacement must be done by a Ford dealer.

· As part of the extended warranty, Ford will reimburse Class Members who have previously paid to replace a composite intake manifold on a Class Vehicle. The replacement must have occurred within the first seven years of vehicle operation. Class Members who wish to claim reimbursement must go to a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealer and seek reimbursement within 90 days after the Proposed Settlement becomes final. They must present their original receipt for the repair or a photocopy or duplicate thereof. The dealer will be authorized to provide a reimbursement check to Class Members that present such a receipt. Do not send the receipts directly to Ford, as that will only delay or potentially prevent any reimbursement claim from being processed through the proper channels.

· If you paid to replace your intake manifold, but you do not have your original paid receipt and your vehicle was sold less than seven years ago, you may take your vehicle to a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealer for inspection. You must bring this Notice to the dealer within 90 days after the Proposed Settlement becomes final, signed below under penalty of perjury, stating that you paid to replace an intake manifold that had cracked at the coolant crossover passage, resulting in a coolant leak. The dealer also will inspect your vehicle to confirm that the original manifold was replaced. In that event, you will be entitled to receive reimbursement of a pre-set amount for the estimated costs of replacing your manifold.

Class Members who pay to replace an intake manifold within the first seven years of vehicle operation after the Proposed Settlement becomes effective will not be reimbursed (unless permitted for emergency repairs when a Ford dealer was not available). You will not be able to seek reimbursement for the cost of replacing the intake manifold unless the Court gives final approval to the Proposed Settlement, so check on the website or toll-free number below after October 7, 2005 to determine whether the Court has approved the settlement.

· If the Proposed Settlement is approved, Class Members will release all claims against Ford Motor Company that were made or could have been made in the Class Actions related to the intake manifold. The extended warranty will not be provided to Class Members unless and until the Court gives final approval to the Proposed Settlement during or after the Fairness Hearing presently scheduled for October 7, 2005. To find out if the Proposed Settlement has been approved and when the extended warranty will be available please visit www.FordManifoldSettlement.com or call the toll-free number at: 1-888-826-3047.

Who Represents the Class?
The Court has appointed Plaintiffs Susan Chamberlan and Henry Fok (of California); Thomas McGettigan, Cathy McGettigan, and Pauline Langham (of Alabama); Andy Rhea (of Oklahoma); and James McDonald (of Michigan) to serve as Class Representatives. The Court appointed the law firms of Levy, Ram & Olson LLP and Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Crowder & Brown LLC to act as the attorneys for all Class Members. You do not have to pay for Class Counsel's services. Instead, Class Counsel may apply to the Court for reasonable attorneys' fees. Under the Proposed Settlement, they may seek fees up to $4,500,000, as well as actual, reasonable expenses incurred in the litigation. You have the right to appear in the action using your own attorney at your expense.

How do I Participate in the Class?
If you wish to participate in the Proposed Settlement and remain a member of the Class, you need not do anything at this time. As a Class Member, you will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court. Any claims you may have against Ford relating to the intake manifold of your vehicle will be terminated by the judgment entered in this case, even if your manifold fails in the future. This includes claims you may have for breach of warranty or negligence. This Proposed Settlement does not affect any claims for personal injury arising from any problem with the intake manifold on the vehicles described above.

How do I Exclude Myself from the Class?
If you do not want to be a part of the Class, you may exclude yourself from the Proposed Settlement. To exclude yourself, you must mail a personally signed, written request to be excluded from the Class to: Chamberlan Settlement Administrator at the following address: c/o Rosenthal & Company LLC, P.O. Box 6177, Novato, CA 94948-6177. Your written request must be postmarked by September 27, 2005.

If you exclude yourself from the Class, you will not benefit from any recovery for the Class or be bound by any Court orders or judgments. You could choose to bring your own claims against Ford at your own expense. If you wish to remain a Class Member, do not send an exclusion letter. Anyone submitting a Request for Exclusion must: set forth his/her full name and current address; identify the model year and model of his/her Class Vehicle(s) and the approximate date of purchase or lease; state whether the Class Member requesting exclusion still owns the Class Vehicle; and specifically state his/her desire to be excluded from the Proposed Settlement. Any current owner or lessee of a Class Vehicle who submits a Request for Exclusion must also provide the Vehicle Identification Number of the vehicle with that Request.

How do I Object to the Proposed Settlement?
If you wish to object to the Proposed Settlement, you must send a written objection and any supporting papers by U.S. mail, First-Class and postage paid, to the following address: Chamberlan Settlement Administrator c/o Rosenthal & Company LLC, P.O. Box 6177, Novato, CA, 94948-6177. The objection must state your full name; your current address; your telephone number; the model year and model of your Class Vehicle; and each detail of your objection and the factual and legal grounds for the position. If you are a current owner or lessee you must include the Vehicle Identification Number of your Class Vehicle. All objections and any supporting papers must be postmarked no later than September 27, 2005.When and Where Will the Court Decide Whether to Approve the Proposed Settlement?On October 7, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., the Honorable Claudia Wilken will hold a Fairness Hearing to determine whether the Proposed Settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable and should be finally approved. The Hearing will be held at United States District Court for the Northern District of California, located at 1301 Clay Street, Suite 400 S, Oakland, California. This Hearing may be continued or rescheduled by the Court without further notice. You can check the website for any change in the date, the Court's ruling, and the deadline for seeking reimbursement. If the Proposed Settlement is approved, it will be binding on all members of the Class. If the Proposed Settlement is not approved, the Class will be decertified and the Class Actions will proceed without further notice.

Class Members who object to the Proposed Settlement do not need to attend the Fairness Hearing for their objections to be considered. If you wish to appear personally or through your own attorney at the Fairness Hearing, you must both file an objection on time and a notice of intention to appear with the Clerk of the Court. Copies must be served on the Class Counsel, Levy, Ram & Olson LLP, 639 Front Street, San Francisco, California 94111 and counsel for Ford Motor Company, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, 275 Battery Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, no later than September 27, 2005. It is important that the envelope in which you send the notice contain the case name and identifying number of the case, Chamberlan v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. C 03-2628 CW. Your notice of intention to appear must include copies of any papers, exhibits, or other evidence that you or your counsel will present at the Fairness Hearing. Any Class Member who does not file and serve a notice of intention to appear in accordance with these instructions will be barred from appearing at any hearing concerning this Proposed Settlement.

How do I Get More Information about the Proposed Settlement?
This Notice summarizes the Proposed Settlement. For additional information about the Proposed Settlement, please visit the Web site at www.FordManifoldSettlement.com or call toll-free 1-888-826-3047. To contact Class Counsel, write to Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Crowder & Brown LLC, P.O. Box 66705, Mobile, Alabama 36660, or to Levy, Ram & Olson at the above address. Do not contact Ford Motor Company or its Counsel regarding this Proposed Settlement. The Court cannot answer questions about the Proposed Settlement. Do not call or write the Court for information about the terms of the Proposed Settlement.

Dated: August 19, 2005 United States District Court for the Northern District of California

If you paid to replace your intake manifold, but you do not have your original paid receipt and your vehicle was sold less than seven years ago, you may take your vehicle to a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealer for inspection. You must bring this Notice to the dealer within 90 days after the Proposed Settlement becomes final, signed below under penalty of perjury, stating that you paid to replace an intake manifold that had cracked at the coolant crossover passage, resulting in a coolant leak.

DECLARATION
I declare under penalty of perjury that I actually paid for the replacement of an all nylon-composite intake manifold in my Class Vehicle because there were fatigue cracks in the coolant crossover passage of the intake manifold, resulting in a coolant leak. I have not been reimbursed by anyone for the actual expenses I incurred.

Name:

Date:

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THANX!!!

I got 2 of these letter thru the mail today. I assume it's for my 97 PI and 98 PI, but how about my 96 Town car or maybe the other letter is lost in the mail or maybe it will here tommorrow

Your Welcome!

Just out of couriousity...Where is the best place to get a PI intake for the best price ...I know this may sound pretty retarded , but seeing I already have the plastic one ... Maaaaybe it wouldn't hurt to have the updated part sitting in the garage when this one does go... Because knowing my luck , it will go at the most inopportune time when I won't have that $1200 just laying around .. lol!

http://adtr.net/shop.php?page=intake

Give Chris a holler, I'm sure he's got a couple knocking around in his warehouse.

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4.6L Performance improvement (PI) intake manifold

* Current production plastic intake manifold used on 2001-2003 4.6L SOHC Mustang GT.
* Less expensive alternative to aftermarket performance intake manifolds for PI head swaps
* Manifold fits 1999-2004 Power Improvement head ports
* Can be used with PI headswaps.
* Additional modifications and parts are required.

Wow .. great site ..! Thanx ..!

Yup, I got mine through Chris.

I've replaced mine twice. first time was with a Non-PI intake with the AL-xover. then i replaced it with the PI manifold from a 2002. will they notice that i have a PI intake on a car that has a NPI motor? and will they reimburse me although my car is out of the 7 year period? legal latters are hard to understand, still waiting on my letter.

The notice about the settlement explains that Class Members would have to have replaced their manifolds within the first seven years of vehicle operation in order to be reimbursed. Last August the intake manifold in our 1996 Crown Victoria cracked. After 7 years and 8 months. The attorney for the Class in the class action suit told us that we would not be covered under the proposed settlement and would have to opt out if we wanted to pursue a claim on our own. We feel ripped off all over again. I was just wondering how many will just have to chalk it up to a loss like us.

"Loss"??? You got 7 years & 8 months of use out of a part that was warranted for 3 years when you bought it. How did you lose? Sounds like you got more than double what you expected.

The part was defective and Ford knew it!

What happens to those who have cars covered under the settlement (1997/2000 MY vehicles) that HAVE NOT had their manifold crack yet?

Just hope that they crack within the extended warranty period.

So I guess the correct route would be to be dishonest and say I replaced mine on both affected cars. I am assuming the '97 manifold could go any day now, on a good day you can smell a faint hint of coolant.

Interesting info found onlin at flamingford.com

"Another reason that we oppose the settlement is that we have reason to believe that Ford treated at least one of its fleet customers far better than what it now offers to its civilian customers. On August 27, 2002, we had a conversation with Sgt. Larry Jowdy, who was at that time the supervisor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's fleet department. Jowdy told us that he had approximately 2000 Crown Victorias, saw the Ford factory representative two to three times a week, and that they had replaced their plastic manifolds before they failed (the equivalent of a "recall"). This is not the 'equal treatment' that we believe the court has in mind."

Are we really getting the same deal as fleet owners ?????

i guess if it didnt crack yet.... MAKE IT CRACK! LOL
what happens if you lose that paper from in the mail? i lost mine.

I have almost 141,000 on my 97 CVPI and I plan on using it a lot come winter time.

mine cracked at 60K

Well, it's the 7th of October, and the site wasn't updated with any settlement information. Has anyone heard anything about the law suit today, or if they made a settlement?

I think "our" lawyers need to update us class members for the $4+ million they're getting! I wanna be first in line at the stealership to get my money back!!

UPDATE:

according to the lawsuit website the settlement was approved at the October 7th hearing, BUT it does not become final until 30 days afterward to allow time for appeals. They advise to check the site after November 9th for more details.

So, I guess they give Ford 30 days to renig on the deal, but it doesn't sound like they will...it just draws the process out a bit further.

Sounds like Ford covering up a blunder... IMHO the problem should have been fixed in 1995/1996 when the first composite coolant crossover was used. I cannot believe it took Ford 7-8 years to release the revised intake design!

Glock will give you a new receiver if it ever cracks on you. Maybe Ford should subcontract the intake production to Glock... LEOs can now have Glock parts in their car as well as in their sidearm

How can I tell if mine was ever updated? Where do I look for the new aluminum crossover?

Does anybody know how to look up the sell date from the VIN, or any other way for that matter? I figure I could do a carfax report to find when it was first registered. I was hoping to do it for free. I spent a while searching google with no luck.

T-minus 24 hours (or less) for an update from "our" lawyers ! I want my money for Christmas shopping !!

I am counting the hours myself. I just wonder if there will be anymore delays.

probably

Boy aint this a kick.

I just took my Vic in this afternoon.

My manifold failed @ 78,000 miles.

Figures, somebody didn't like the settlement offer, and filed and appeal. My guess is that it was somebdoy who paid more than the $735 out of pocket to get their manifold replaced, and wasn't satified with just getting $735 back. Or it could have been someone who just missed the 7 year cutoff, and wanted it replaced anyway. Who knows, just means it could be a looooooooooong time before we hear anything now.

On October 7, 2005 at 10:00 a.m., the United States District Court held a final fairness hearing on the Proposed Settlement. At the hearing, the Court determined that the Settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable, and entered a final order approving the Settlement. However, one class member has filed an appeal challenging the judgment. The Settlement will not become final, and the reimbursement program will not begin, until after the class member's appeal is resolved. We can not predict when the appeal will be resolved. Please check the website periodically for information about the effective date of the Settlement.

dang it all to heck!

I think that Ford could make this whole thing go away quickly if they agree to reimburse all customers who suffered the loss, regardless of when it happened. Then no one would have a valid complaint and this ordeal wouldn't have to drag on any longer. Just a thought.

it can go ahead and drag on another year. fine with me.

i would rather the final say so be more towards fairness towards the customers then a hasty wash your hands, give everyone a check and screw the people who also should have been considered

ford should average what the 4.6L engines typical lifespan is and cover the warranty for a good portion of it. not a mere 7 piddly years.

my lawnmower will last longer then this

What do you guys think about this? Ford has replaced my intake manifold 3 TIMES already. It's a 1998 with 370,000 miles on it. Guess what it's cracked again for the 4th time! My father and I have spent money on adding coolant and buying all this stop leak products. Recently we bought a product called "Blue Devil" for $65.00 and we will see if it will stop the leak.
What do you guys think about this? What should I do? Suggestions please. I went to the Ford dealer to see if i can get it replaced for the 4th time! They told me that i was a month passed 7 years. I told them i had replaced it at the dealer numerous times and what do you think they said. Sorry, your warranty is out. What do i do now? Should i bother going to another dealer and complaining!?

try it, are you a regular customer at that dealer? they can do a courtesy repair when it comes close tot he warranty end

Are they replacing it with the all composite intake, or the updated one with the aluminum crossover? I haven't heard of the new one cracking, and if the dealership keeps putting on the all composite intake, then you will constantly get cracks. If this is the case, demand they replace it with the updated PI intake with the aluminum crossover. If you already have the new intake, then I just don't know what to tell you. Maybe they are installing it incorrectly, and damaging it upon install? Good luck!

I'm pretty sure its the composite. Should I complain and say that they should have put in the aluminum one. So that would have to make them instal the PI one?

does the non-PI intake replacement have the aluminum thermostat housing or is it just the same manifold as was on the car to begin with.

Hey Embassy! What brand of intake did you go with? Did you feel any slight increase in power when you did the replacement?

Also, I heard that Ford might extend the warranty for those of us whose manifold has not cracked yet. Has anyone alse heard this?

VMM

thanx!!!!!

Has anyone heard an update on this yet? I would love to get some money back one of these days after paying $1200 for the replacement.

WOOHOO! The lawsuit is over and we won! I am going to my Ford dealer tomorrow (12/19) to get my paperwork finished and wait on my $735! Check out the website www.fordmanifoldsettlement.com for more information! You only have 90 days from 12/16/05 to file for your reimbursement, so hurry! This is an awesome Christmas present!

John "Trouper" Troup

YAHOOOO!!!!! at a time when we really need the money too!!!

So if my 98 manifold was replaced by me would I be out because its over 7 years?

Just my luck. I get an extended warranty that will expire in the same month it was provided. My original sale date was 12/97. Anybody got a NPI manifold with the aluminum crossover laying around, or have the part # ?

I'm trying to figure out where this manifold part is located so I can inspect mine - is there a picture somewhere or can someone tell me its location?

Look for coolant on the front of the intake manifold along the top crossover runner that runs left to right just behind the alternator. It can also crack just inside the thermostat housing.

So I sign the paper, bring in the car, and get a check? I have about 10 cars I have done this to.

I just got back from my local Ford dealer. I did not have my receipt, but they did an "inspection" to be sure that mine had been replaced. They had me sign a service form, and said that in my case, the $735 check would be mailed directly from Ford, and would probably take 4-6 weeks. If you do not have a receipt like myself, they said it is processed under a warranty claim, and had to refunded directly from the settlement payment from Ford.

^x2

Well, I went to the dealership and those bastards said, once again, that my car does not fall under the class action. The service manager said that it would have come up in Oasis if it was covered. My friend brought the receipt form his old and totaled 1996 crown vic and that car was not covered, however the dealership did say that my friends 1996 did fall under the Owner Notification Program 01M02, but that he was a few monthes out of date. My question is would the class action come up in Oasis? The service guy clearly thought this was made up when I showed him the class action papers. He had no idea what I was talking about. Any suggestions?

I heard from my dealership this morning. My "In-Service" date was 12/12/98. This puts me exactly 9 days over the cut-off. I'm going down to the dealership and let them know that if they don't make it right, they most definitely won't be selling me a Ford again. We will see what they do.

One of the eligibility requirements was that it must be within 7 years of its warranty start date. A 96 Panther can have a warranty start date of August 1995. 1995 + 7 = 2002.

So if you do the math, essentially 1999 Vics (built late 1998) are going to be the earliest ones eligible for the reimbursement. So why even include 96-98 ?

Now do you see why I hate going back to the stealership and why Ford sucks the big one in general? "it's the wrong color, kaboom, sorry, we can't help you"

There are going to be a bunch of people who spent $800-$900 out of pocket to fix the intake manifold and aren't going to get reimbursed.

IMHO Ford should replace ANY all-plastic intakes because they are a crappy design. It's about good business, I guess...

Good Day

If your 96 Grand Marquis was made on 9/95, and you just replaced your intake because it blew up, you're are SOL for reimbursement even if you have the receipt for the Mercury dealership you had the service replacement. Does this make sense? Ford's reason is that the warranty started 9/95. 7 years FROM that date is 2002, and thus your car is no longer eligible. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, OVER.

Are PI or commercial cars excluded?

The in-service date on mine was February of 1996, and I replaced the manifold (at a L-M dealer) in March of 2001, so I think I should be covered. I wish I could find the receipt...

Steve: Based on what the dealership told an owner of a 96 Grand Marquis (with an inservice date of 95), it's not eligible. It's based on when your warranty starts and not when you changed the manifold. 96 + 7 = 2003.

I believe that the 7 year warranty thing only applies to cars that have a manifold that has not failed yet. But it does not affect a person who is seeking reimbursement for replacing a manifold on any of the vehicles listed.

I would not go by what a dealership tells me. Between what I had to do to get the process done and all the stories Ive heard so far, the dealerships are not exactly welcoming people with open arms. I would contact Ford and get the real deal.

I have a question about this settlement. I have a 96 crown vic that has a build date of 9/95. The intake manifold was replaced in 04. I do not have the receipt but i had ford to look up the repair. At first they said i was eligible for the reinburstment but when the service guy took it to his mananger he said that i was not eligible for the reinburstment because it was out of the 7 year warranty period. I've heard conflicting stories of this and i dont understand this. Can anyone explain this to me? Is there anyway i can contest this?

You're not eligible, unfortunately, since the repair was done approximately 9 years after your warranty start date. If you had the repair done in 2002, it would have been eligible. It sucks and it is stupid. I doubt they even had the revised manifold ready in 02 for replacements (early 02 models would have been built in late 01). 03-up definitely have the new manifolds though.

OK I thought that the reinburstment was for everybody who has had the repair done regardless when the work was done thanks

It sucks There will be a lot of people screwed over on this.

Figures, I'm one of them Metro. My car is a 96, had the intake replaced this october, so there's my money I'll never see again.

Just got back from the dealership.

I went in with receipt in hand, expecting a battle.

To my surprise, the rep in the service department knew of the settlement and took my receipt. Said the warranty rep will be in later this week and contact me to let me know if I want to pick up the check or have it mailed to me.

They did not even look at the Vic. I could have kept her home in the garage. Then again, it was nice to get her out for the first time in over two weeks.

ok, how does this apply to me, i own my 99 Ford CVPI, i bought from auction from Lane County Sheriff, i do not know if the manifold was replaced, however i do find that the coolent has been needing to be filled.

I called Ford and they advised that I would need to bring in the vehicle to be checked for leakedge, however if they find nothing wrong i'm required to pay up to $80 for a diagnostic fee.

any ideas?

It's amazing how so many people are getting different information from each dealer. Embassy was told by his dealer that he might get a check this week from a "warranty rep." My dealer told me the check would be sent directly from Ford, and would take 4-6 weeks. Another member was told that the check would be released from each dealership, after Ford sent them the okay to send a check. What gives? Has anyone actually seen the S.O.P. that Ford is working off of, or know where we can get a copy? I am sure that plenty of members would love to have a copy of it to take with them to the dealership, instead of going in blind like me.

John "Trouper" Troup

AFAIK every Ford dealership will tell you something different. I went through this last week

Dealer 1: 15 days from Dec 16 is the last day to bring it in
Dealer 2: No receipt? No refund
Dealer 3: Since we're a L-M dealer, you must go to a Ford dealer.
Dealer 4: We don't know the final dollar amount

Just show up with a bunch of stuff printed out, a clipboard, and a pen. They'll most likely go and get a copy of the actual paperwork and look it over before blabbing an opinion.

Today i had my Ford Service guy inspect the intake in my 96 P71 and all he did was look to see that it was the new style intake, I did this with out any oppointment what so ever, he then told me I needed a letter from Ford before he could go any further, I drove back home and called 1-866-436-7332 and the lady asked me for my VIN and what my concern was, I stated I wanted to know if my car was eligable for the refund, she put me on hold for a minute and told me my car had an in service date of 12-1995 and it was not eligable because it was out of the 7 year window and it did not matter when the intake was changed out, both the lady from Ford customer service and the guy at the dealer treated me very perfessional even though i questioned what they had to say several times,

If you paid to replace your intake manifold, but you do not have your original paid receipt and your vehicle was sold less then seven years ago , you may take your vehicle to a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury dealer for inspection. You must bring this Notice to the dealer within 90 days after the Proposed Settlement becomes final, signed below under penalty of perjury, stating that you paid to replace an intake manifold that had cracked at the coolant crossover passage, resulting in a coolant leak. The dealer also will inspect your vehicle to confirm that the original manifold was replaced. In that event, you will be entitled to receive reimbursement of a pre-set amount for the estimated costs of replacing your manifold.

The warranty rep called me today to get my VIN number. After giving it to her, she said she would process the refund as soon as possible.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I GOT MY CHECK! I just got my reimbursement check in the mail and it was made out by and sent from my local Ford dealer (Dobb's Ford in Memphis). WooHoo! Anyone else get their check yet?

John "Trouper" Troup

Got my check today for $742 for my '97 manifold (replaced in '02). Thanks for this forum and this thread or I wouldn't have known how to get the settlement. I happened to have the old manifold and receipt since I kept it after the replacement figuring I would consider fixing the old one if the new one ever failed.

Picked up my check lastnight for my P71. It covered the entire cost of when I had the manifold replaced.

Thanks to those who brought this settlement to our attention here on CVN and CVU.

OK so let me get this straight... Regardless of the fact that I bought my 99 P71 in June already with the aluminum crossover fix, I can still go to Ford and get a check? I just want to be clear on everything before I go to the dealer and make an ass out of myself.

Well, I went to Friendly Ford in Roselle, Illinois and they told me I need a receipt for work done even though the "notice" says I don't need a receipt. Oh well.

First off, that is just wrong morally. Secondly, I think the work needed to be done at a Ford dealer and not an independent garage. I may be wrong, and if so, please correct me.