Ford 'Confident' It'll Have the Transfer Cases It Needs
As it woos the UAW with health protocol and assesses suppliers to ensure their readiness when production resumes (whenever that ends up being), Ford Motor Company says a crucial component it needs for a great number of big-ticket vehicles will be there, too.
Hoping to get all of its ducks in a row before Michigan opens itself up for business, Ford had employees working feverishly in a state that contains no Ford plants.
As you’ve read here, BorgWarner’s plant in Seneca, South Carolina suffered massive damage during a mid-April tornado. Produced inside the shattered facility were transfer cases for Ford’s F-150 and Super Duty, Transit, Explorer, and Lincoln’s Navigator and Aviator. You know, just a few unimportant products. Dearborn would be just fine without ’em…
Obviously that’s not true, which is why an immediate effort got underway to salvage what could be salvaged (the Ford-owned equipment was reportedly okay) and expedite a solution. Earlier this week, BorgWarner announced it would be able to begin limited production in early May.
Via Automotive News, Ford manufacturing boss Gary Johnson says the two companies have made good progress, despite Ford notifying the Securities and Exchange Commission that the twister damage could lead to a pickup and SUV production hit.
“The recovery that BorgWarner’s been able to do, with us supporting them, has been fantastic,” Johnson said. “I’m extremely confident that when we start up our systems in the U.S. and North America, BorgWarner will support them. The risk is dropping every day.”
Ford was left with no other option than to send a team to SC to help out. “We can’t re-source it,” Johnson said. “The decision was made to help retrofit the plant to make it viable to come back.”
Work included rebuilding the plant’s missing roof and having Blue Oval IT guys rebuild the plant’s computer rooms.
Other recipients of the plant’s four-wheel-drive wares are Toyota and the Ram brand, though little is known of their involvement in BorgWarner’s recovery.
[Image: Lincoln Motor Company]
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Ford transfer cases... sore spot with me. LOVED our 2011 Mazda CX-9. The Ford transfer case failed at 75k miles and was replaced under a goodwill extended warranty from Mazda due to all the failed PTUs. Then, right at 150k miles, it started to leak again: $1300 out of pocket. Only major issue we had in 120k miles. Traded it in when I learned about the internal water pump issues of the Ford Duratec engines. One design flaw I can handle, two are a hard NOPE! Those PTU issues are also known in the Taurus, Flex, etc. Kept me away from a Taurus SHO or Fusion Sport when I bought my new car.
I'm 'extremely confident' my abs will be completely ripped after another month of sitting on the couch. /S