Ford announces 2025 BS, Maverick and Explorer build and hold strategy

[RushMan]

What are the basic design and engineering flaws with the Bronco Sport?

I'd suggest that for the 3 cylinder, the major flaw is not having an idler pulley to adjust serpentine belt tension and relying on belt manufacturing tolerances to maintain a proper belt tension. Evidence? An unusually large number of failed water pumps on these engines.

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[Mark S.]

I'd suggest that for the 3 cylinder, the major flaw is not having an idler pulley to adjust serpentine belt tension and relying on belt manufacturing tolerances to maintain a proper belt tension. Evidence? An unusually large number of failed water pumps on these engines.

Do you have some evidence that the drive belt is the source of trouble with the water pumps? It seems unlikely that Ford would replace water pumps but not the drive belt if the drive belts were causing the failures.

 

[RushMan]

Do you have some evidence that the drive belt is the source of trouble with the water pumps? It seems unlikely that Ford would replace water pumps but not the drive belt if the drive belts were causing the failures.

Anecdotally, what engines without idler pulleys are failing water pumps? Are their any engines with timing chains or timing belts that are designed without tensioners?

 

[Mark S.]

Anecdotally, what engines without idler pulleys are failing water pumps? Are their any engines with timing chains or timing belts that are designed without tensioners?

Stretch belts are fairly common in newer engines. They are designed to last up to 100K miles. The primary downside is the need for a special tool to replace one; you need quite a bit of leverage to stretch one.

 

[Bronclahoma]

I hadn't thought about the affect of this strategy on sold orders. I wonder if they will make an exception? Buying a vehicle is an emotonal purchase for many. When they are ready to pull the triger, they are ready! Having to wait another six weeks because Ford has a flawed engineering/manufacturing process will cause more customer dissatisfaction. Maybe Ford needs a CEO that is a car guy. They need a CEO that will change the culture of complcency from one end of the process to the other. And that means first rate sales and service by dealers with repercusiions that include a lower allocation based on CSI. Instead they reward the high pressure corporate owned dealerships with high sales volume.

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