Yesterday, while out driving, I had a 2005 red RetroBird with Oregon plates go zipping by me. I followed him, since he was going my direction anyway. I wanted to see if he stopped somewhere along the way so I could find out if he was local and tell him about our Tbird club here, and this Forum and invite him to become active on them. He did stop and I was able to meet him and talk with him for awhile.
During our conversation, he told me that he had just in the last few weeks experienced a problem with his 2005 Tbird. It quit on him and he had to have it taken in for service at a big Ford dealership here. It was his engine control module, Ford Part# 5W6Z-12A650-AFRM that had died on him. They tried to get a replacement for it and there was none to be found anywhere. They looked all over the country to no avail. He ended up having several conversations with people at FOMOCO headquarters, which led to them eventually finding ONE unit in Canada. That unit cost him $487.47 and a total of $806.97 with labor. Once they got the new module in the car it has been fine, but not his wallet!
Here is what I have been able to find out about this. First of all, this is not necessarily a rare situation. I have seen other reports on the internet of other 2005 Tbird owners having the same problem. The lack of availability of this part, I am told, is caused by the recent problems the automotive industry experienced during the present DC administration. I was told that so many parts companies supplying the auto manufacturers have gone out of business. Including the company that was making this unit for FOMOCO. So, apparently, this very important part is very difficult to locate now.
Upon googling that Ford Part # I find these links.
http://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts/...a650-afrm.html
Towards the bottom of the page it tells you if you want to check and see if it fits your car, to Click Here.
It might even have been used on Mercury's but I do not know that.
I googled this again and got this eBay listing for a re-manufactured part which had already been sold.. But it has some good information on it regarding what cars and year this unit is used on.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-OEM-5W6...2306#vi-ilComp
Down towards the bottom, in the Compatability Check you can put in the year 2002, 2003, 2004 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2Dr, and All Engines. When I did that for 2002, 2003, and 2004 I got the notification that this part number 5W6Z-12A650-AFRM is not compatible with 2002 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2-Door. It says that on all three years, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Only for 2005 does it say This part is compatible with matching 2005 Ford Thunderbird 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible 2-Door. And also This part is compatible with matching 2005 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2-Door 3.9L 242Cu. In. V8 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated.
This eBay page says this part is also used on the 2005 Lincoln LS. So Lincoln might be another source for it.
So the good news is that it appears that those of you who own 2002-2004 RetroBirds DO NOT have this part in your Tbird... The bad news is only those who own 2005 Tbirds have a concern. Or a 2005 Lincoln LS.
I also found this link for this OEM new part Number.
This news regarding this 2005 Tbird and Lincoln LS does not bode well for owners of these two cars...
During our conversation, he told me that he had just in the last few weeks experienced a problem with his 2005 Tbird. It quit on him and he had to have it taken in for service at a big Ford dealership here. It was his engine control module, Ford Part# 5W6Z-12A650-AFRM that had died on him. They tried to get a replacement for it and there was none to be found anywhere. They looked all over the country to no avail. He ended up having several conversations with people at FOMOCO headquarters, which led to them eventually finding ONE unit in Canada. That unit cost him $487.47 and a total of $806.97 with labor. Once they got the new module in the car it has been fine, but not his wallet!
Here is what I have been able to find out about this. First of all, this is not necessarily a rare situation. I have seen other reports on the internet of other 2005 Tbird owners having the same problem. The lack of availability of this part, I am told, is caused by the recent problems the automotive industry experienced during the present DC administration. I was told that so many parts companies supplying the auto manufacturers have gone out of business. Including the company that was making this unit for FOMOCO. So, apparently, this very important part is very difficult to locate now.
Upon googling that Ford Part # I find these links.
http://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts/...a650-afrm.html
Towards the bottom of the page it tells you if you want to check and see if it fits your car, to Click Here.
It might even have been used on Mercury's but I do not know that.
I googled this again and got this eBay listing for a re-manufactured part which had already been sold.. But it has some good information on it regarding what cars and year this unit is used on.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-OEM-5W6...2306#vi-ilComp
Down towards the bottom, in the Compatability Check you can put in the year 2002, 2003, 2004 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2Dr, and All Engines. When I did that for 2002, 2003, and 2004 I got the notification that this part number 5W6Z-12A650-AFRM is not compatible with 2002 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2-Door. It says that on all three years, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Only for 2005 does it say This part is compatible with matching 2005 Ford Thunderbird 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible 2-Door. And also This part is compatible with matching 2005 Ford Thunderbird Base Convertible 2-Door 3.9L 242Cu. In. V8 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated.
This eBay page says this part is also used on the 2005 Lincoln LS. So Lincoln might be another source for it.
So the good news is that it appears that those of you who own 2002-2004 RetroBirds DO NOT have this part in your Tbird... The bad news is only those who own 2005 Tbirds have a concern. Or a 2005 Lincoln LS.
I also found this link for this OEM new part Number.
This news regarding this 2005 Tbird and Lincoln LS does not bode well for owners of these two cars...
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