2002-2005 Thunderbird Common Repair Issues. What are the most common repair and maintenance issues with 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbirds? If you own a 2002-2005 Thunderbird, you’ve probably had to do at least some repairs. So what are the most common repair issues and how does your ownership experience compare with that of other Thunderbird owners?
This is too complex an issue to discuss in detail here, but we will explore some of the more common mechanical and electrical problems owners have dealt with. Most 2002-2005 Thunderbirds came with a three-year or 36,000 mile factory warranty. Extended service plans, or ESPs were available when the cars were new, and some 2004 and 2005 Thunderbirds are still eligible for Ford ESPs. One of the most common complaints/repairs for 2002-2005 T-Birds was the COP or ‘Coil on Plug.’ The COP design is fairly common on many newer cars and trucks and basically it replaces the traditional distributor with individual ‘coils’ that attach to each spark plug. These COPs can fail for a variety of reason, most of which involve either oil or water, or both, seeping into the spark plug enclosure and causing it to fail. Ford issued a number of recalls or TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) to replace faulty COPs at no expense to Thunderbird owners. These TSBs applied to 2003-2005 Thunderbirds, but not the 2002. Defective COPs can cause a variety of problems and symptoms including stalling, rough idling, poor or choppy acceleration and loss of power causing the car to go into ‘limp’ mode. Failed COPs may be mistaken for transmission, fuel injector or fuel filter problems. COP problems can occur at any time but are most common in Thunderbirds with between 15,000 and 50,000 miles. Owners who experience a problem with a single COP are often advised to replace all eight, or at least all four on the side where the failed COP is located. COP replacement can be an expensive repair, costing up to $ 800 or more if the work is done at a Ford dealership. OEM Ford coils are expensive and some Thunderbird owners have opted for less costly aftermarket versions. For more detailed information on mechanical issues and recalls for the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird, visit these website links: http://www.motortrend.com/used_cars/11/ford/thunderbird/recalls/ http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Thunderbird/2002/
http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Thunderbird/2002/
