1977 Ford Thunderbird — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY NOT BE SECURELY CRIMPED TO THE HOUSING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF FILTER'S OUTLET CAP FROM THE HOUSING.

Remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTING THE FUEL INLET TUBE TO THE CARBURETOR FILTER. THIS LEAKAGE CONDITION IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INSERTION OF THE FUEL TUBE INTO THE HOSE OR IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE HOSE CLAMP, CAUSING THE CLAMP TO BE CRIMPED DIRECTLY OVER THE FUEL TUBE BEAD.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING FUEL HOSE CLAMP WITH A SPRING-TYPE CLAMP AT THE HOSE-TO-FUEL INLET TUBE CONNECTION, AND ADJUST THE CONNECTION WHERE NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH TILT STEERING COLUMNS CONTAINING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INSERTS INTENDED FOR TRUCKS RATHER THAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THIS MAY CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR POINTER TO BE MISALIGNED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN THE SELECTOR IS BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL (N) AND DRIVE (D) DETENTS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL INSERT, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

SOME OF THE FLEXIBLE FIVE-BLADE ENGINE COOLING FANS MAY BE SUBJECT TO HIGH BLADE STRESSES THAT CAN RESULT FROM RESONANT VIBRATION INPUTS OCCURRING DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS CAN LEAD TO FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE BLADES. PORTIONS OF THE BLADE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FAN ASSEMBLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE FAN WITH AN IMPROVED FIVE-BLADED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

BLADES MAY CRACK AND MAY, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, LOOSEN FROM FAN ASSEMBLY.

Remedy: FAN ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.