Will you outlive your 2002 Thunderbird? – The replacement parts problem.
The 2002 Thunderbird is now 14 years old. 2003-2005 Thunderbirds are between 11-13 years old. In the overall scheme of things, a 14-year-old car is really not that old. But if your 2002-2005 Thunderbird has needed repairs recently, you may wonder if your car will be around as long as you are. The problem is replacement parts, or more specifically, the lack of them. How can a mass-produced American car less than 15 years old run out of factory replacement parts?
Part of the problem is that the 2002-2005 Thunderbird was produced in relatively low numbers … 68,095 total to be exact. In modern production terms, that’s a low number. And due to the low production number, the inventory of replacement parts is also low. Not all Thunderbird replacement parts are in short supply. But if your car needs one of the parts that is no longer available, you could find your Thunderbird sitting at a Ford dealership for weeks or longer waiting for a part that doesn’t even exist.
My dealer said the part they need is on backorder.
If your Ford dealer or independent repair shop doesn’t have the parts they need in stock, they order parts from other dealers or parts retailers. Sometimes unavailable parts are listed as ‘backordered.’ Backordered parts typically have ‘release dates,’ that is, the date on which the part will be available. But some parts on backorder have no ‘release date.’ That means neither the Ford dealer or repair shop knows when a specific part will be available, or if it will ever be available. The wait for backordered parts with release dates can be a long one.
What does it mean when a part is ‘obsolete?’
When a part is no longer being manufactured and there is no plan to have it remanufactured, the part is referred to as ‘obsolete,’ or no longer being ‘serviced.’ Many parts for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird have been ‘obsoleted’ by Ford since production of the cars ended in mid 2005. Parts like exterior doors, interior trim, including replacement seat covers, and various electronic components, are out of production and can’t be re-ordered.
What can I do if the parts I need are obsolete and unavailable?
One option is to search online retailers and Ebay sellers who may have ‘new old stock’ outside of Ford dealer inventories. Another option is to look for used parts from auto dismantlers.But replacing a 10+ year old part with a used part of similar age may not be the best solution, especially in the case of mechanical parts that may be in worse condition than the part you need to replace.
Will Ford ever remanufacture ‘obsolete’ parts?
Very unlikely. Once a part is ‘obsoleted,’ it means Ford no longer ‘services’ the part and that the original supplier or vendor no longer has the tooling or has no plans to do a new production run.
What if I can’t find a new or a used part my T-bird needs?
Some components like electronic modules, instrument clusters, factory stereos and climate control units can be repaired or rebuilt by specialty shops. Not all Ford dealers know where to send electrical components for repairs, but ask your dealer if they work with companies that specialize in repair, rebuilding or refurbishing.
Should I sell or trade my 2002-2005 Thunderbird if I can’t get the parts I need to repair it?
Some Thunderbird owners just don’t want to deal with the expense and effort of trying to repair their older cars, let alone hunt for obsolete, unavailable parts. Some find it easier to sell or trade up to a new car with a warranty and leave the problems to someone else.
Other Thunderbird owners intend to keep their cars forever and will do whatever is necessary to keep them running, regardless of the time, trouble or expense required. It is for those owners, Powersport/Thunderbird Specialties exists. Thunderbird Specialties has been serving owners of the 2002-2005 Thunderbird since late 2001, shortly after the first 2002 Thunderbirds were delivered.
Thunderbird Specialties, also found on the internet as mytbird.com, has the largest selection of custom accessories, performance upgrades, OEM replacement parts and collectibles exclusively for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird with over 320 unique products to choose from. We specialize in locating hard-to-find, obsolete parts including electronic modules, interior trim, body panels, wheels, suspension components, and much, much more.
Browse our extensive inventory of Thunderbird parts and accessories at: www.mytbird.com, or www.thunderbirdspecialties.com. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, call us at 310-589-1000 or use the ‘contact us’ form on our website.
We look forward to being of service to you and your 2002-2005 Thunderbird today and for many years to come!
