I live in Saudi Arabia where I bought a 2007 brand new Ford expedition Eddie Bauer with full options. I enjoyed driving the SUV until the hot months of summer started in July where temperature reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
While driving the usual weekend drive from Saudi Arabia to the island of Bahrain over a causeway, encountered a traffic jam on the borders with cars lined up for immigration processing, the temperature gauge started to rise up. The car was running idle for about 30 minutes, the A/C started to blow warm air. The car overheated and I had to shut it off. After the car cooled down, and the traffic eased up, I was able to drive back home.
The car then did not have more than 2000 miles on it. I took it back to the local Ford dealership. After examination, they said there is nothing wrong with the car, they cleaned up some dust off the radiator that might have caused the issue.
Two weeks later, the same thing happened, the car overheated after being idle in the traffic again. I took the car back to the dealership. I got the same answer that there is nothing wrong. I asked to speak to the manager. He informed me that this is a feature to have the A/C shut off so it does not damage the engine.
Now, during the winter months, I never experience this issue, so I continued to drive the car normally.
Today in 2009, and during this summer, I started experiencing the same problem with the car. It has been disastrous for me when I have my family with 3 kids and a baby when I am forced to shut off the car in a 115 degree weather. My 3 year old daughter almost fainted if it wasn’t for the cold water I had to wet her face with.
Anyway, what I have discovered that I can keep the car from completely overheating is by revving up the engine while we are waiting and the car is idle. That kind of delayed the overheating and kept the A/C somewhat cool, but not the normal cool. Once we cruise, the engine sounds like it is running rough until it cools down, and then the A/C goes back to normal.
This issue is intolerable especially, when I have paid a large amount of money for this car with all the options and the 4X4.
I know my local Ford dealer cannot help now. The car is still under warranty, now it has 30,000 miles on it. I was advised by friends to complain to Ford in the USA, or in The United Arab Emirates. I need an advice on what to do with this issue.
It is worth mentioning that i own a second car, a Lincoln Towncar 1998. It runs for more than one hour in the same traffic under the same heat condition without a glitch in the engine or the A/C
Thank you for your assistance.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I live in Saudi Arabia where I bought a 2007 brand new Ford expedition Eddie Bauer with full options. I enjoyed driving the SUV until the hot months of summer started in July where temperature reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. While driving the usual weekend drive from Saudi Arabia to the island of Bahrain over a causeway, encountered a traffic jam on the borders with cars lined up for immigration processing, the temperature gauge started to rise up. The car was running idle for about 30 minutes, the A/C started to blow warm air. The car overheated and I had to shut it off. After the car cooled down, and the traffic eased up, I was able to drive back home. The car then did not have more than 2000 miles on it. I took it back to the local Ford dealership. After examination, they said there is nothing wrong with the car, they cleaned up some dust off the radiator that might have caused the issue. Two weeks later, the same thing happened, the car overheated after being idle in the traffic again. I took the car back to the dealership. I got the same answer that there is nothing wrong. I asked to speak to the manager. He informed me that this is a feature to have the A/C shut off so it does not damage the engine. Now, during the winter months, I never experience this issue, so I continued to drive the car normally. Today in 2009, and during this summer, I started experiencing the same problem with the car. It has been disastrous for me when I have my family with 3 kids and a baby when I am forced to shut off the car in a 115 degree weather. My 3 year old daughter almost fainted if it wasn’t for the cold water I had to wet her face with. Anyway, what I have discovered that I can keep the car from completely overheating is by revving up the engine while we are waiting and the car is idle. That kind of delayed the overheating and kept the A/C somewhat cool, but not the normal cool. Once we cruise, the engine sounds like it is running rough until it cools down, and then the A/C goes back to normal.
This issue is intolerable especially, when I have paid a large amount of money for this car with all the options and the 4X4. I know my local Ford dealer cannot help now. The car is still under warranty, now it has 30,000 miles on it. I was advised by friends to complain to Ford in the USA, or in The United Arab Emirates. I need an advice on what to do with this issue. It is worth mentioning that i own a second car, a Lincoln Towncar 1998. It runs for more than one hour in the same traffic under the same heat condition without a glitch in the engine or the A/C Thank you for your assistance.
- molibano, Dhahran, Eastern, Saudi Arabia