The owner of a 2014 Ford Explorer, Flex or Taurus or Lincoln MKS or MKT model may come into your store with a complaint of a raw fuel odor emanating from the engine bay.
According to Ford Motor Co., the problem only afflicts vehicles with 3.5-liter direct-injected engines built on or before Feb. 20, 2014, and is most likely due to a defect in the high-pressure fuel-tube assembly. Removing the intake manifold and replacing the fuel tube with an upgraded design, part No. AA5Z-9J323-E, is the lasting fix.
To complete the repair you'll also need an intake gasket set (part No. AA5Z-9439-A) and two intake gaskets (part No. 7T4Z-9439-D and AA5Z-9439-BA) for both banks of the V6.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].