Why the hell can't Ford build a car that lasts 200,000 miles?!?
Regular readers know that TFrog ('93 LX 5.0) has been in the shop lately for a rough idle and difficult starting when cold. We've started with the mass air sensor and worked up to the idle air bypass, which (I'm sure) helped with the air flow but did not cure the problem.
Now TFrog is in for the annual inspection, and has failed emissions miserably. The fact that I've complained before about the gas smell coming through my exhaust pipes may have been a clue, so I'm not all that surprised.
The mechanic now tells me that the intake manifold gasket seal was leaking, which may account for the bad idling (TFrog has no problems when the RPMs are up, only at lower revs). And, over time, that has taken out one or both of my catalytic converters.
GOD DAMMIT!
The car only has 199,450 miles on it, so there's no reason that I should have to spring for new cats. Aren't these covered by warranty or something?
Ach.
They need to finish the repairs on the gasket seal and give me my damn car back, 'cause CFrog goes in on Monday for the transmission overhaul and shift kit. Once that's done, TFrog can go back in for the new cats and re-inspection.
Meanwhile, I have to find a suitable H-pipe that fits my beautiful Dynomax Ultra-flo cat-back system...
dwight