Mustang V8-302 5.0L (1982)
Technical Service Bulletin # M24M25
Date: 830825
Campaign - Steering Gear Replacement
TO SELECTED FORD AND LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERS
SUBJECT:
OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS M24 AND M25 - CERTAIN 1978 THROUGH 1983 MODEL FAIRMONT, MUSTANG,
THUNDERBIRD, GRANADA, LTD, ZEPHYR, CAPRI, XR7 COUGAR MARQUIS AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED
WITH FORD RACK AND PINION POWER STEERING
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MAILGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ADVANCE INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUBJECT OWNER NOTIFICATION
PROGRAMS THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL INITIATE FOR THE DESIGNATED VEHICLES.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL PROVIDE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WHO RESIDE IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO,
IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, (NORTHERN SECTION
ONLY), NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING WITH NO CHARGE REPAIR SERVICE IF
THEIR VEHICLES EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN STARTED COLD AS A RESULT OF
POWER STEERING GEAR HOUSING INTERNAL BORE WEAR, EXTERNAL FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM IS NOT A
RESULT OF THIS CONDITION, REPAIRS TO CORRECT SUCH LEAKAGE ARE, THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THIS OFFER.
REPAIR COVERAGE WILL FEATURE REPLACEMENT OF THE PACK AND PINION POWER STEERING GEAR WITH A NEW DESIGN
STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY UNDER PROGRAM M24, THE COVERAGE PERIOD WILL BE FIVE YEARS FROM THE VEHICLE
ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE OR 50,000 MILES OF OPERATION, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. REIMBURSEMENT COVERAGE WILL
ALSO BE PROVIDED UNDER PROGRAM M25 FOR OWNER-PAID REPAIRS WITHIN THE FIVE
YEAR/50,000 MILE LIMITATION
A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF SERVICE PARTS IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE BY LATE SEPTEMBER, 1983 TO ALLOW FORD TO
BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS. COMPLETE TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE
PROVIDED TO YOU PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF THE OWNER MAILINGS, IN THE INTERIM, YOU SHOULD SERVICE ELIGIBLE
VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION BY REPLACING THE POWER STEEPING GEAR HOUSING AND CONTROL VALVE
SLEEVE SEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE/MODEL YEAR SHOP
MANUAL. YOU MAY ALSO USE COMPLETE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLIES AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR ORDER PROCESSING
CENTER OR FAR.
OWNERS RESIDING IN THE PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED AREAS WHO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS PRIOR TO YOUR RECEIPT
OF COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THEY WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE COMPANY BY LETTER WHEN
DEALERSHIPS ARE PREPARED TO BEGIN PERFORMING THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS. PLEASE INFORM OWNERS THAT THE
CONDITION IS PRIMARILY ONE OF INITIAL START-UP DELAY IN POWER ASSIST NOT OF SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF
POWER ASSIST.
YOUR COOPERATION IN RESPONDING TO OWNER INQUIRIES REGARDING THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE APPRECIATED.
Owners Letter Information
October, 1983
To:
Selected Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Dealers
Subject:
Owner Notification Programs M24 and M25 - Ford-Manufactured Power Rack and Pinion Steering, Gear Assembly on Certain 1978
Through 1983-Model Vehicles (Fairmont, Mustang, Thunderbird, Granada, LTD, Zephyr, Capri, XR-7, Cougar, Marquis and Continental)
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of Owner Notification Programs M24 and M25 that are applicable only to those subject vehicles registered in
17 northern cold-climate states. Complete technical and administrative instructions (Attachment I) and a copy of the letter (Attachment II) that will be
sent to affected owners residing in those states are provided for vour information in the event you receive owner inquiries regarding the programs.
We have found that a temporary reduction in power steering assist may occur on some of the subject vehicles when first started cold. This is the result of
internal valve bore wear of the power steering gear housing and is more evident in cold temperatures. The wear condition primarily causes an initial
start-up delay in full power assist, not a sudden and unexpected loss of power assist. Once the vehicle is warmed-up, full power steering assist is restored
and the system will function normally.
Owner Notification Program M24 provides to owners of involved vehicles who reside in 17 northern cold-climate states no-charge repair coverage of the
Ford manufactured power rack and pinion steering gear assembly if the housing valve bore wear condidtion occurs within five years from the veheicle
in-service date or 50,000 miles of operation, whichever comes first. Reimbursement will be provided under Owner Notificationfor prior owner-paid
repairs performed to correct the condition within the five year/50,000 mile limitation
