It is just charts this evening.
I ran into a unexpected car problem that caused me to spend quite a bit of time on Thursday, Friday, and today, when I took the queen out today for some test drives and a new car purchase.
In case you happen to own an older Ford Escape, be aware that it may have a potentially dangerous mechanical condition.
Ford has put a literal 'band-aid' on the problem with a $90 piece of metal for some of the affected years with a recall for 2001-2004 Fords. But some of the years after that apparently have the same problem and component based on internet owner forums. Their recourse is to pay to have the band-aid put on their car.
The band-aid does not fix the problem. It just theoretically gives you enough steering control to pull the car over to the side of the road after the subframe fails. But after that it is not safe to drive.
When the subframe separates the car must have a repair for which a Ford dealer charges about $5,400, assuming the car was not additionally damaged in the incident.
In fairness you might be able to get this done by a local mechanic and a good part, preferably from a Southern junkyard, for about $1700, or less if you have a full garage and can do it yourself. The subframe also cradles the engine to it is not a casual repair by any means.
So had to literally
junk a 4WD SUV with 94,000 miles on it, with a perfectly running engine and transmission, and not much other underbody rust except exterior rust on the driveshaft.
What particularly bothers me I found out that the car was not safe from a local mechanic who was changing the oil. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed it was unsafe. Ford says it is 'safe' but theirs is a very legal definition of the word.
So today I bought a new car, one of the three cars that my local mechanic says are reasonably priced and of good quality: Toyota, Honda, and Subaru.
This has been my own personal experience. Yours may vary. But it is good to be aware of these things. We rarely hear about them from the media unless it involves a non-US manufacturer.
Have a pleasant evening.
