Florida Engine Adventure? Background Jun 19, 2020

6/19/2020
Although I am writing this today the story begin on Jun 8 when a renter called to tell me that the engine light had come on as she was driving to Florida....straight through.  She had said that she did not feel anything different with the way it was working.  I gave her permission to continue driving because it was about 10 pm.  I did some checking and couldn't really find anything.  I had not gotten the T-Mobile Sync up working so I called T-Mobile to try and get it working......well after several attempts and calls and a couple of hours I was finally able to get it working.  At first it didn't show any problems at all, so I texted the renter and let them know.......However about 2 am I get a notification from the sync up that #2 cylinder was misfiring.  It said that if the engine light was flashing that I should get it immediately to a repair facility.  I texted the renter and she replied that it was not flashing.  So I asked if when she got to Clearwater FL that she take it into a Ford dealer to have it looked at.  It wasn't until the next day that she was able to get it in. The dealer didn't find anything initially and reset it to see if it came back on.  Well, that evening I was again notified by syncup that #2 was misfiring, so I texted renter who initially said the engine light was not on, but later texted that it did come on again.  She took it back to the dealer who gave her a loaner and they started doing more testing.  At first they could not find a cause, but later came up with some problem with the cylinder and that it was going to cost about $5000 to fix it. By now it was Saturday, Jun 13 and they would not get the parts in until Tuesday.  I initially gave the go-ahead, but thought about just putting in a new engine.  Called back and found out that it would cost $6300 to do that.   I gave the go-ahead to have a new engine put in.   Tara said that it probably would not be ready until Friday which was the same as if it had been repaired.  I checked out breaking in a new engine and most said that it would be 500-1000 miles to do that.  I decided then that I felt I needed to be the one to do that.  So I decided to fly down and drive it back.  I ended up with many phone calls getting Outdoorsy to return the entire amount of the rental. The renter found a condo which they rented for a week.  They then rented a car to drive back...which I paid for.  I flew down to St Pete-Clearwater Airport on Thursday 6/18.  The renter picked me up at the airport and took me to my motel which was about a mile from the Ford dealer.  I walked on over there at noon because I could not check in yet at the motel.  Met Tara amd she showed me my baby which was torn apart and the engine was just sitting there.  She said they were still thinking Friday...but.     She called me about 5:00 and said there is a 70% chance it would be ready Friday.  So, here I am this morning,  Firday, still not knowing.  Plan to walk over again at noon because I have to check out at 11am.

One really bright spot was on my flight here which had absolutely no social distancing.  I had the pleasure of sitting between two lovely young ladies.  Had a great conversation with one of them, Brittney, and it really made the fight wonderful.  She was traveling with some other young ladies who were sitting throughout the airplane.  After landing she had one of the other ladies take our picture.  She just made the flight very enjoyable.