One of FoMoCo's better Ideas is NOT the way they chose to connect their heater hose system to it's various components. The use of high pressure connectors that require a special tool for removal is pure and absolute stupidity.
It would not be so ridiculous if Ford only used that configuration on metal lines with metal parts, but why in the world would any thinking human individual ever use such a connector on a hard plastic that degenerates with use, time & heat? What were they thinking, "Oh Here's a great way to reduce sales and develop consumer agressiveness & discontent?" Or were they thinking: "We can spent a lot more with ridiculous, poorly thought out, overly complex, unreliable, hose connectors by the time we engineer them, fabricate & produce them, install them, then have them Fail catastrophically causing unnecessary, untold damage to the engine and the existance of the vehicle, and allow that to errode our sales base and clientele loyalty. If you get a notion I've an attitude about those heater hose connectors I am now flamed about, you are correct.
In fact the heater hose connectors are in my opinion, even dumber than Plastic Headlamps" that Fog & Haze up, Fail & leak where joined by "glue" and use bulb / illuminators costing 3 times the price of a Halogen Sealed Beam to replace. I have been religiously replacing 1990 & later "new, improved" head lamp assemblies with older 1989-86, Superior, Reliable, Brighter, Longer lasting, More easily adjusted, Safer, Far cheaper, older "Sealed Beam" type headlamp assemblies. It's an easy retrofit and can be done in an afternoon with fairly common tools.
My 95 XLTN is at 1/4 Million Miles now and as I retrofit certain key parts and systems that just plain "Fail from poor design, or cheapo construction, my 95 Aero just gets more reliable as well as better and better. On a road trip of a few months, and thousands of miles, reliability, performance, and repairability are all major considerations for me. We are now presently considering a "Western Tour" of places of interest next year in my Aero. It's looking like 12,000 to perhaps 15,000 miles for a "Round". It includes incredible sites & places America offers as heritage & history over time.
I understand capitalism wants me to buy a "New Ride" every Couple to every Few years, but that's not going to happen given the piece of the pie we seem to end up with regardless of what we do to keep the income coming in at better and better rates each year. (Incedently that doesn't happen either so IMHO It's a wash to me). I will continue to do what's best for us and the capitalists can . . . . . Well Y'all get the Idea, Huh?
CIAO Y'All FBp
Canadian
Ya, I know what your saying about the Cash 4 Clunkers program. Some guy gave thwm a rust free immaculate 98 Aerostar, just because it did'nt have leather seats. Such idiots.
