I think some of you need to chill out and give the poor sap a break. He showed poor judgement in taking it up to 140 mph, and poor judgement in bragging about it on a public message board, but the way some of you are carrying on, calling for tar and feathers and his head on a platter, is a bit much. He's already apparently gotten fired over this. Please consider the following points:
"Abuse"?? This machine was being driven within its designed operating parameters. It is equipped with speed-rated tires, etc., etc., etc. This is not a '69 pony with a 289 2bbl, here. "Abuse" would be power-slides and nuclear burnouts or speeding down a rough road. He claims he was on an abandoned airstrip (probably illegal anyway). This should not damage the engine, or any other part of the vehicle, and the owner should be satisfied with an apology from the dealer and a few oil changes or detail jobs, and that the guy lost his job.
From a strictly diagnostic viewpoint, he was doing his job. The first rule is to confirm the problem (or lack thereof). The first shop dynoed the thing and claimed fuel trim out of specs and overheated converters (is this "abuse" during break-in? Actually, I don't buy the break-in thing anyway. If the rings are seated and it doesn't have "break-in" oil in the crankcase, then go for it). The complaint was "lack of power and poor fuel mileage" ("Poor fuel mileage"!!) He found no codes and no problems in the shop, so he test-drove the vehicle.
The customer saying, "Don't let some 'punk' drive it," is very telling to me, and probably rightfully offended the technician. He is not some valet parking attendant, but rather, as he said, the Hi-po Mustang specialist. Possibly a very good one, too. I don't think he'll have too much trouble getting another job, despite the efforts to blackball him here (might need to work on his attitude a bit!)
What I find sad is that he posted here out of his sheer love of hot rod Mustangs (owning one), raving about the car, only to be ratted-out by some of his fellow Mustang enthusiasts. For shame! But then, I'd rather push a Chevy than...
