Ford Dealership Service

[Hannah3]

OK. So I take it in for the last service (at the Ford dealership where I bought the car) before my factory warranty expires just for oil change and leaky tire. Also tell them that the transmission seems rough and ask them to check it out. Guy says "ohh, that's gonna cost you if they don't find anything serious cause we gotta hook it up and run all sorts of tests".

Car has 5200 miles on it. Yes, fifty two hundred. Service guy doesn't want to at least humor me by having a look at the transmission? And I could be a repeat customer? Also, they could'nt find the leak in the tire!

[Gwfl]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Hi Jim. Nice to see you decided not to sell your bird. I ended up with a nice black 2005 w'partial sand interior still under warranty. I've had it to the dealer many times for a coolant leak that we finally got resolved.

My experience with my dealer during this time taught me a few things. One is that you have to be very proactive and persistant with any issue that arises...don't let them blow you off. Talk to the machanic while the car is on the lift (associate a face and a smile with the car for the machanic).

My dealer is very busy and I feel that they are not able or willing to spend much time with the car just fix the specific problem and get the next one up on the lift. I had to go back a few times before the one problem was fixed correctly and completely.

Go to the head service manager sooner rather then later...it may save frustration.

I would make them get on the transmission possible problem before your warranty runs out that way you may be covered until it's resolved.

Gary

[AZTB]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Good luck with the tranny issue, Jim...I've been dealing with one since day one of this car and it's no better than when I started.

[Leroy]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Hannah3, Are you planning on letting the warranty expire? I wouldn't becuase I don't think you'll find a better one than the Ford ESP. Even if they don't fix the trans. now, make sure they make note of it on your Service record. Down the road it might completly go and if you have the ESP you'll be covered. Leroy

[redbirdsal]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

OK. So I take it in for the last service (at the Ford dealership where I bought the car) before my factory warranty expires just for oil change and leaky tire. ... they could'nt find the leak in the tire!

Jim, have you changed out your valve stem caps?
I bought some of the emblem/logoThunderbird caps, and one tire, one time, had a leak because the O-ring dropped into the stem a little bit. Had to dig it out, reposition it, and it's been fine since.

I stressed the single time because I have about 55K on CARTOY and have changed the tires out. I still use the decorative caps...that was the only incident.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Jim, have you changed out your valve stem caps?
I bought some of the emblem/logoThunderbird caps, and one tire, one time, had a leak because the O-ring dropped into the stem a little bit. Had to dig it out, reposition it, and it's been fine

I had this happen on another car. Be careful with these logo caps. The O-ring can get out of position easily. Sometimes they stick to the end of the valve stem, sometimes they stay in the cap, sometimes they come part of the way up the inside of the cap and get out of position. I've been checking the O-ring every time the caps are taken off and taking a very small screwdriver and pressing them back down in the end of the cap if they are out of position.

[Hannah3]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

no I haven't done anything with the valve stems at all. It leaks probably a pound a week, very slow. The transmission is really not a problem, it's just the attitude of these guys that gets me. If I treated my clients with that sort of disdain I would be out of a job in short order. I will get the Ford esp just to be safe anyway.

[Lonestar]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

This will drive Borla Babe through the roof….. and in reality it is a death spiral for Ford in my opinion…. I have an acquaintance who is a Sales Manager for a Ford dealership. As we all know, Ford is bleeding cash and they are putting the screws on the dealerships to hold down warranty claims and being very strict on what they reimburse the dealers for. Therefore, if the dealership feels they are not going to get paid by Ford for work they are not going to do it.

Another situation is that the dealerships are not selling products so they are looking for ways to get $$$ out of customers such as charging unsuspecting customers for work that hereto before has not been charged for.

Having noted the above, you need to scream at your dealership. Based on what you posted I am going to assume you are still under you 36/36 New Car Warranty. If that is the case all you need to do is tell the Service Writer you are experiencing harsh shifting. What they have to do to check that out is not billable to you.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Also tell them that the transmission seems rough and ask them to check it out. Guy says "ohh, that's gonna cost you if they don't find anything serious cause we gotta hook it up and run all sorts of tests".
Car has 5200 miles on it. Yes, fifty two hundred. Service guy doesn't want to at least humor me by having a look at the transmission? And I could be a repeat customer? Also, they could'nt find the leak in the tire!

Jim, It's just awful to be treated this way, but it doesn't surprise me and Lonestar confirms what I thought to be the reason for this; that Ford is bleeding cash and trying to hold down warranty costs. Although I really like the TBird there is really no reason for me to buy another Ford product until things improve with their customer relations. I'm just not going to fight for good service and argue about what is and isn't covered by a warranty like many of the TBN members are having to do. At my age life is too short for this kind of aggrevation. I haven't had to put up with this treatment with the other cars I own now and some others I have owned in the past. I'll just do business with those companies. It is disgusting to me to see Ford be so short-sighted. I've been a Ford lover since I was a teenager so seeing this once great company going downhill is really sad - but it is not my job to help save them when you see how they are treating some of their most loyal customers. They got fat and spoiled making their big profits with SUVs and trucks and never did very much with passenger cars over the last 10 years, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS DAY WAS COMING.

[prbre]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Wasn't there a thread on here about rust on the rims and that the rims had to be replaced??

[Lonestar]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Rust? All the wheels are cast aluminum I believe. They are either painted, polished, or chromed. There have been posts about chrome flacking on some of the 7 spoke wheels that were replaced. Do you have a factory wheel with an issue?

[prbre]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

I don't but Jim can't keep air in his tires. I just remembered something about rust or chrome flacking and the rims could not be fix but cause a slow leak.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

They got fat and spoiled making their big profits with SUVs and trucks and never did very much with passenger cars over the last 10 years, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS DAY WAS COMING.

It's the late 1970's all over again. GM, Ford, Chrysler were all producing big V8 powered cars and trucks. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan (formerly Datsun) all made big strides into the American car market at that time as they had reasonably priced fuel efficient vehicles which were in demand at that time. What's the best we could do here? The Chysler K-cars?

At least at that time there was still a lot of "buy American" sentiment. Now with the price of cars, people need to buy the best product for their money. They can't afford just to buy an American made car if the quality isn't there.

OK, I'll get of the soapbox now.

[luvbirdz]

Re: Ford Dealership Service

Aluminum does corrode, and when it does around the rim it will create a slow leak. Have had this problem a number of times with the Caddy's chrome rims. At change over to snow tires they use a wire brush on an electric drill to clean both the rim and the tire and then run a bead of silicone around the rim before mounting the tire to ensure a good and permanent seal and prevent corrosion at the rim. Even with this procedure I still have had to go back a month or so later with one still leaking slowly, no charge as they know that aluminum rims are a curse at times but beautiful to look at.

Martin