"Silent Recall" on 2003 Cobra Heads?

jjraiser · 07-31-2003, 09:19 PM

Hey All, I saw on BlueOvalNews.com that there is an internal Ford memo talking about bad cylinder heads on the 2003 Cobra. It refers owners to a Pat Hoye (313) 248-8336. I spoke with him today. He flat out denied any such memo or problem. He also bashed BlueOvalNews pretty badly calling them trash. He wasn't very friendly to me (not disrespectful either, though), nor about BlueOvalNews.

Anyway, I saw one guy on this bulletin board had a blown engine. I wonder if the two are related. I did not believe Pat and think Ford would do anything to cover up a problem since the 1999 Cobra fiasco.

The problem is described as possibly bad heads based on an "unusual" noise coming from the left head. It suggests possible problems with the valve guides. The posting on BlueOvalNews was pretty detailed and it sounds far fetched that it would be all made up; as Pat Hoye would like us to believe.

Here's the article link: http://www.blueovalnews.com/2003/pow...ead.072903.htm

Keep you ears open on this as I find Ford rather suspect on the issue.

grumpynlovinit · 08-02-2003, 06:14 PM

Someone forwarded that info to me yesterday, but I still wonder just exactly what an 'unusual noise' is. I can hear my engine running, should I be concerned???

**97whitevert** · 08-02-2003, 08:19 PM

'unusual noise' that isn't the slight 'whistle' sound i hear, is it??

SVTANIMAL03 · 08-03-2003, 06:12 PM

hey guys ive hyst heard about the recall on the 03, sad to here. What exactly am i listening for in the engine. what kind of noise should i be trying to detect. thanks

03RedCobra · 08-03-2003, 11:45 PM

That's quite interesting that there is a recall with the heads on the Cobra. If you read my post about a month ago, it tells about my problem with a blown engine with my 03 Cobra. Well, it turns out the most likely culprit was a blown Head Gasket. Quite interesting that there is recall with the heads. How long has this recall been in effect ?? I wonder if it stems directly from my blown engine. They sent inspectors from SVT to check out my engine. I wonder what they found. Final bill at the Ford dealer was $18,732 !! Thank god it was under warranty !!!

Carl G · 09-27-2003, 02:36 PM

I have a 03 that has a loud ticking noise which dealership claims is probably spun bearing that is causing oil pressure problems. They denied claim due to mods on car. I paln to fight because they cant tell me what caused the problem or where it really is. There first response was to decline without really ever finding the true problem. I had chip and pulley. This buy itself was not enough to cause this problem. If You guys out there have any advise how to go about this I could use. It looks like attorney time.

Sonic Blue · 09-27-2003, 09:29 PM

• Vehicle Warranty Issues
Steve DeAngelis (313-323-8897)
Ths is a ford exec. In the last issue of SVT fords warranty claims department head stated that the mod has to cause the problem which is also stated in the moss-magnuson warranty act.

Carl G · 09-27-2003, 09:45 PM

I would think in order to deny the claim that they would have to know what exactly cause the part failure. They cant even identify which part is the problem.

Scream · 10-19-2003, 11:45 PM

It seems like after my '03 is warm I can here a ticking noise but it isn't one side or the other. The car was build in January '03. Do the valvetrain on these motors tend to be loud on every body elses cars also. Thanks for the input.

Flyn high again · 11-05-2003, 11:23 AM

The noise is a ticking sound sort of like a bad lifter would make on pushrod engines. You can hear it if you listen from the driver's side front wheel well on affected cars. At one of our '03 Cobra meetings, Paul, a guy from St. Louis brought his car to be listened to by about a dozen of us. It definitely made more ticking noise and was pretty obvious when compared with the rest of the cars. All the cars have loud injectors, but Paul's car also had a deeper ticking on the driver's side only.

Ford has said that the heads were redesigned and that new heads came out in Nov. 2002. Unfortunately a few of the new heads seem to have the problem also.

The last I heard on www.svtperformance.com was that the silent recall was in effect and if your car had the driver's side head ticking, Ford would replace it.

Mr. Ed · 11-05-2003, 11:04 PM

I've heard of that "whistling noise". I warned Dave Stanfield at DragonRun III about his '99 making that noise.

Black03 · 11-06-2003, 03:21 AM

The problem was found - left head - and Ford solved it. If your head has the blue paint then it is fine.

Flyn high again · 11-06-2003, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Black03
The problem was found - left head - and Ford solved it. If your head has the blue paint then it is fine.

Maybe. There have been reports of some of the heads with blue paint ticking, also.

Silver10th · 11-17-2003, 09:40 PM

Other than a ticking noise, what could happen to the motor if you don't get it fixed?

OKC03Cobra · 11-17-2003, 10:00 PM

This has been discussed at length at svtperformance.com. And, as a matter of fact, Ford has a TSB on it - TSB 03-11-04. There is a design flaw in the water jacket of the LH cylinder head that causes overheating and warping of the cylinder #7 valve guides and thus causes the "tick." I should know. Ford replaced my LH cylinder head free of charge.

07-31-2003, 09:19 PM	#1
jjraiser Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 82	"Silent Recall" on 2003 Cobra Heads? Hey All, I saw on BlueOvalNews.com that there is an internal Ford memo talking about bad cylinder heads on the 2003 Cobra. It refers owners to a Pat Hoye (313) 248-8336. I spoke with him today. He flat out denied any such memo or problem. He also bashed BlueOvalNews pretty badly calling them trash. He wasn't very friendly to me (not disrespectful either, though), nor about BlueOvalNews. Anyway, I saw one guy on this bulletin board had a blown engine. I wonder if the two are related. I did not believe Pat and think Ford would do anything to cover up a problem since the 1999 Cobra fiasco. The problem is described as possibly bad heads based on an "unusual" noise coming from the left head. It suggests possible problems with the valve guides. The posting on BlueOvalNews was pretty detailed and it sounds far fetched that it would be all made up; as Pat Hoye would like us to believe. Here's the article link: http://www.blueovalnews.com/2003/pow...ead.072903.htm Keep you ears open on this as I find Ford rather suspect on the issue.

08-02-2003, 08:19 PM	#3
97whitevert well, maybe.... Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: anywhere, everywhere....NC Posts: 11,730	'unusual noise' that isn't the slight 'whistle' sound i hear, is it?? __________________ Lisa 97 white convertible #99 Born on 1/28/97 03 sonic blue coupe #323 Born on 6/4/02 86 SVO Mustang track beast- The older brother of the SVT ! 99 green BAT 95 laser red F150 06 sonic blue Escape "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." -- Mahatma Gandhi

08-03-2003, 06:12 PM	#4
SVTANIMAL03 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 6	what do i listen for hey guys ive hyst heard about the recall on the 03, sad to here. What exactly am i listening for in the engine. what kind of noise should i be trying to detect. thanks

08-03-2003, 11:45 PM	#5
03RedCobra Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12	I have a problem That's quite interesting that there is a recall with the heads on the Cobra. If you read my post about a month ago, it tells about my problem with a blown engine with my 03 Cobra. Well, it turns out the most likely culprit was a blown Head Gasket. Quite interesting that there is recall with the heads. How long has this recall been in effect ?? I wonder if it stems directly from my blown engine. They sent inspectors from SVT to check out my engine. I wonder what they found. Final bill at the Ford dealer was $18,732 !! Thank god it was under warranty !!!

09-27-2003, 02:36 PM	#6
Carl G Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: North West Houston, Texas Posts: 1,006	I have a 03 that has a loud ticking noise which dealership claims is probably spun bearing that is causing oil pressure problems. They denied claim due to mods on car. I paln to fight because they cant tell me what caused the problem or where it really is. There first response was to decline without really ever finding the true problem. I had chip and pulley. This buy itself was not enough to cause this problem. If You guys out there have any advise how to go about this I could use. It looks like attorney time. __________________ One of Founding member Team Five Card Stud

08-02-2003, 06:14 PM	#2
grumpynlovinit Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NC Posts: 15	Someone forwarded that info to me yesterday, but I still wonder just exactly what an 'unusual noise' is. I can hear my engine running, should I be concerned???

09-27-2003, 09:29 PM	#7
Sonic Blue retired ff/pm Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Katy,Texas Posts: 141	• Vehicle Warranty Issues Steve DeAngelis (313-323-8897) Ths is a ford exec. In the last issue of SVT fords warranty claims department head stated that the mod has to cause the problem which is also stated in the moss-magnuson warranty act. __________________ 97 Rio Red Cobra](Gone but not Forgotten) 2003 Sonic Blue Cobra](Gone but not Forgotten) Candy Red 2011 GT 6 speed manual Brembo package electronics package comfort and security 3:73 gears

09-27-2003, 09:45 PM	#8
Carl G Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: North West Houston, Texas Posts: 1,006	I would think in order to deny the claim that they would have to know what exactly cause the part failure. They cant even identify which part is the problem. __________________ One of Founding member Team Five Card Stud

10-19-2003, 11:45 PM	#9
Scream Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 6	It seems like after my '03 is warm I can here a ticking noise but it isn't one side or the other. The car was build in January '03. Do the valvetrain on these motors tend to be loud on every body elses cars also. Thanks for the input. __________________ Stock '03 Cobra

11-05-2003, 11:23 AM	#10
Flyn high again Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: South Chicago Suburbs Posts: 14	The noise is a ticking sound sort of like a bad lifter would make on pushrod engines. You can hear it if you listen from the driver's side front wheel well on affected cars. At one of our '03 Cobra meetings, Paul, a guy from St. Louis brought his car to be listened to by about a dozen of us. It definitely made more ticking noise and was pretty obvious when compared with the rest of the cars. All the cars have loud injectors, but Paul's car also had a deeper ticking on the driver's side only. Ford has said that the heads were redesigned and that new heads came out in Nov. 2002. Unfortunately a few of the new heads seem to have the problem also. The last I heard on www.svtperformance.com was that the silent recall was in effect and if your car had the driver's side head ticking, Ford would replace it. __________________ '03 DSG Cobra w/K+N 382.5 rwhp 375.7 rwtq

11-05-2003, 11:04 PM	#11
Mr. Ed Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorrentinoville, S.C. Posts: 220	Whistling Noise I've heard of that "whistling noise". I warned Dave Stanfield at DragonRun III about his '99 making that noise. __________________ "Mr. Ed" Burwell - ~Living the Dream~ "Wilbur": "Somewhat Modified" Waaay Too Modified for Our Local Ford Dealer! Oh Well! ~For Novelty Use Only~ ~SCT Pro-Dyno Tuned~313 rwhp & 318 Torque "Growing Older is Mandatory.... Growing Up is Optional" Encourage Your Friends & Neighbors to Buy Fuel Efficient Vehicles So There'll Be More Fuel for Our Passion!

11-06-2003, 03:21 AM	#12
Black03 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: LA Posts: 6	Blue paint The problem was found - left head - and Ford solved it. If your head has the blue paint then it is fine.

11-17-2003, 09:40 PM	#14
Silver10th Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Elon N.C. Posts: 111	Other than a ticking noise, what could happen to the motor if you don't get it fixed?

11-17-2003, 10:00 PM	#15
OKC03Cobra Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 9	This has been discussed at length at svtperformance.com. And, as a matter of fact, Ford has a TSB on it - TSB 03-11-04. There is a design flaw in the water jacket of the LH cylinder head that causes overheating and warping of the cylinder #7 valve guides and thus causes the "tick." I should know. Ford replaced my LH cylinder head free of charge. __________________ Corvette Killer MAC CAI BBK TB Lightning Upper Pulley Bassani Headers Bassani Off-Road X-Pipes Steeda(Borla) Cat-Backs Diablo Sport Chip Pro 5.0 w/Tri-Ax Handle AFS 17x10.5 rims w/GS-D3's 315/35/17(rear) Stock 17x9 rims w/GS-D3's 275/40/17(front)

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