Hello, I am wondering if anyone has a maintenance schedule for the 2002 ZTS. I have searched all day and I am not finding anything, trying to find out for sure when it is supposed to have a tune-up.

Also I have an issue with a catalytic converter. Purchased my car from a dealership sin the cat; went to emissions test, no go. Took it back to the dealership and they took it to a muffler shop to put a cat on it. The car has a JBL header and the muffler shop seemed to think that stock was too much $$, put an aftermarket cat on. Decided that the gasket from header to the exhaust wouldn't work, fabricated one (mind you I am peeved by this!!!). I was able to talk to JBL, they sent me a gasket for it, guess what it was the one that was right for the car. I have been told by a different shop that they put the wrong cat on the car anyhow, their muffler shop denies that it is the wrong cat. The car is just over a year old and is now shot. The cat was new; shop says that they will not guarantee the work. The car has no power, hoses are popping off and the insulation almost caught fire because of back pressured exhaust coming out of hoses that it should not. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do in regards to this issue? I have contacted the maker of the cat, waiting to hear back from them, seeing that there is a mandated warranty from the EPA. It has been properly maintained for the last year that I have owned the car, both O2 sensors have been replaced in the last year. The only other exhaust work that has been done was the welding of the tailpipe as someone hit me and knocked it off. The car was build to race SCCA Solo II, which is why I purchased it. Any ideas as to why cat would go bad if it is the right cat? I would appreciate any help that anyone can be!!!

 

hey,the epa/federal government states that a catalytic coverter is warranteed for 8-10 yrs or 80000-100000 miles.the shop and ford as well are responcable for making good on the warranty for the cat.as far as what makes the cat fail can be a variety of problems,oil burning,using the wrong motor oil,faulty o2 sensors,timing,plug wires fautly,faulty plugs,faulty ign coil,faulty sensor cam or crankor temp sensor-not reading timing proper,to much fuel pressure-overloading cylinders with fuel,trans slipping,faulty egr valve or system.also coolant or water will clog a cat.also contaminated fuel,improper secondary air operation.but it is possible the exhaust shop put to small of a cat on.and if they welded it in place you may want to verify if they removed battery power while welding the cat in place-meaning if they did weld it in place with the battery power hooked up still will short out a computer......you need to find out why the first one failed,cats dont go bad just on their own.......

 

i have every possible cat testing proceedure if you need them.your outlet of the cat should be hotter than your inlet......

 

I highly suspect is the head gasket. My windstar died after displaying a catalyst efficiency warning for a few months. I thought it was the cat, but it was actually engine coolant bleeding through the head gasket into the exhaust that foiled the cat and egos.