Water Pump replacement; engine tear down?

[akirby]

The real problem was the 3.5L was designed as a replacement for the 3.0L but in smaller transverse vehicles they simply ran out of room for the external water pump.  It was far cheaper to relocate it than redesign the engine bay.  And by all accounts the problem seems to be the internal gears which were substandard and which were replaced later in production.

 

Its easy to say something is stupid in hindsight but 33+ years in IT has taught me that it’s almost always a series of decisions that made sense at the time.

 

The exception is the focus dual clutch tranny which was destined to fail from day one and everyone knew it but were afraid to change it.

[handfiler]

13 hours ago, akirby said:

The real problem was the 3.5L was designed as a replacement for the 3.0L but in smaller transverse vehicles they simply ran out of room for the external water pump.  It was far cheaper to relocate it than redesign the engine bay.  And by all accounts the problem seems to be the internal gears which were substandard and which were replaced later in production.

 

Its easy to say something is stupid in hindsight but 33+ years in IT has taught me that it’s almost always a series of decisions that made sense at the time.

 

The exception is the focus dual clutch tranny which was destined to fail from day one and everyone knew it but were afraid to change it.

 

I factory ordered a Focus Titanium in 2012. I based my purchasing decision in part on the excellent experience I had and am still having with my Mustang. What a pile of crap that Focus turned out to be ?

Edited March 3, 2020 by handfiler

[akirby]

16 hours ago, handfiler said:

 

I factory ordered a Focus Titanium in 2012. I based my purchasing decision in part on the excellent experience I had and am still having with my Mustang. What a pile of crap that Focus turned out to be ?

 

Daughter had a 2012 SEL that she totaled within 6 months and replaced it with another 2012 SEL.  The TCM went out almost stranding her.  Otherwise there was some shuddering but it wasn't constant.  We ended up trading it in on the 2016 MKX and giving her our old Escape.