Another Ford Dealership doing what they do best...

[Windsor342ci]

Hi guys,

Reading a thread below about the focus with the loose nuts got me thinking about my bosses problem.

Last week his XR50 which he picked up about 4 months ago brand new, 5,000kms racked up so far had the engine light appear. According to him the idle seems fine and everything else to, once he got it to the dealership they done the dianogstics and found a problem with cylinder 2. They called him later that day and asked him what fuel does he use, he is super keen on BP Ultimate and has only used that.

More to the point, 2 days later they fixed the problem by cleaning it as it had carbon build up according to them and said it will cost him $400. He was is oar and questioned if they are serious considering how new the car was. Once he showed his inital shock they saod dont worry about it, they'll chase it up, the car is ready to be picked up.

My concern is, had my boss been less confrontational (more like me) and gone with the flow the. He probably would of got jacked. And overall he didnt really put up a protest as such, just questioned it and they dropped it like that. So with that being said, how many suckers out there like me who are more reluctant to question the "experts" have paid for something we never really needed to???

[Zero_PSI]

I question everything. Everyones shifty!

[Professor Farnsworth]

carbon buildup, on a 5000KM old engine? err righto - the whole story sounds bogus.. maybe it was just the light that was faulty

[Dave R]

A big issue I found with Ford's warranty is that there is no 'rule book' as far as warranty fixes go, it's all up to the dealer's interpretation of what is/isn't covered. Peter Warren Ford (Warwick Farm branch) tried convincing me that I needed to spend a grand on diff bushes... the car was less than a year old and 100% stock. I rung Ford CRC, they had no clue and referred back to the dealer. I drove 15 mins to another dealer and they replaced them under warranty no dramas. It seems some dealers try to make a buck off uninformed owners - had it been someone else in my shoes that didn't know any better, the dealership would have made a nice little profit as I'm sure they charge customers more $$ than Ford credits them for the warranty work. It wouldn't surprise me if those snakes were trying to take my money as well as the warranty credit from Ford at the same time.

The same dealership told me that the rust in my engine bay could only be treated with a spray of fish oil, unless I spent the dollars getting it removed properly. Again, 15 minute drive to a different dealer - rust professionally removed.

[Bobman]

Carbon build up whilst always using BP Ultimate on such a new engine?

Doesn't wash with me. I have never taken my new cars to Ford either, if something goes wrong I'd rather replace it with a better part than have it replaced under warranty by a dealership.

[chrisfpv]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

carbon buildup, on a 5000KM old engine? err righto - the whole story sounds bogus.. maybe it was just the light that was faulty

I'd say that's probably more reasonable. Hard to believe.

[a-total-tool]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

A big issue I found with Ford's warranty is that there is no 'rule book' as far as warranty fixes go, it's all up to the dealer's interpretation of what is/isn't covered. Peter Warren Ford (Warwick Farm branch) tried convincing me that I needed to spend a grand on diff bushes... the car was less than a year old and 100% stock. I rung Ford CRC, they had no clue and referred back to the dealer. I drove 15 mins to another dealer and they replaced them under warranty no dramas. It seems some dealers try to make a buck off uninformed owners - had it been someone else in my shoes that didn't know any better, the dealership would have made a nice little profit as I'm sure they charge customers more $$ than Ford credits them for the warranty work. It wouldn't surprise me if those snakes were trying to take my money as well as the warranty credit from Ford at the same time.

The same dealership told me that the rust in my engine bay could only be treated with a spray of fish oil, unless I spent the dollars getting it removed properly. Again, 15 minute drive to a different dealer - rust professionally removed.

Are you willing to name the good dealer??

[Road_Warrior]

All brands do it, a Toyota dealership wanted to charge a mate $99 for "HVAC sanitisation" which consisted of spraying a can of deodoriser into the vents.

[wraith]

Reminds me of my mother's 500 to 750 dollar services. Fuel cleaner 60 bucks etc

[FgNewbie]

I've had (good and) bad dealership experiences but it's not limited to them. Years ago I went to a recommened mechanic, his diagnosis meant an engine rebuild.

While speaking to my friend he worked out I went to the wrong workshop. A trip to the mechanic opposite the first and it only needed a radiator repair.

The first mechanic even said he was the person I asked for.

[mik]

you have to have your wits about you, but if you believe all ford dealers are the spawn of satan and all small workshops are good blokes you are deluded, as for the carboning up...........i`m thinking it`s possible, with the scenario, driver in car X does short trips mostly, engine not getting a chance to warm up, therefore the car is running in cold start mode running rich most of the time, has little bearing on fuels used...... but how the car is driven.

[Windsor342ci]

I believe that not all dealerships are bad and I wouldnt go to the length of naming this one. But I tend to find with alot of these bigger service centres, and its not limited to dealerships on but to the likes of midas, ultratune etc, that you may have 2 or 3 senior mechanics next to them and the rest are young fella learning on YOUR car. Each to there own and Im not bagging out people that use such services but I definatly dont want some "LEARNING" how to be a mechanic on my car.

History has shown me that going to smaller more independant mechanics are more inclind to look after you. Even if its just the atmosphere of there workshop or are really good at pretending.... Either way, when you have someone who invested there time, money and know how in there own business, in order to succeed you must have skills. Skills which I have found more mainstream service centres lack....

[Bossxr8]

I'd say its more than likely they are saying carbon build up because they couldn't find the problem, just reset the engine check light, so needed an excuse to give him so it seemed like they fixed the problem.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by a-total-tool

Are you willing to name the good dealer??

The dealer that covered the warranty work was Macarthur Ford Campbelltown, which ironically is a branch of Peter Warren. Funny how the same company can have wildly differing warranty policies between branches.

[Papa Smurf]

Ford Motor Company offers the Warranty not the dealer. Ford has the last say on the Warranty fixes, NOT the dealer.
People in dealerships are like people anywhere else, they make mistakes and are fallible. Not all stories told by people are necessarily true, people can tell lies and make up stories.
I had a bloke tell me at the counter one day that the service dept had ripped him off, what he didn't mention was that he was rude to the lady at the reception, he had caused some of the damage to the car himself. Take his comments with a grain of salt.

Dealerships get praise too from people and we have letters in our Service dept from HAPPY Customers, they are not ALL bagging dealers for whatever reason.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The dealer that covered the warranty work was Macarthur Ford Campbelltown, which ironically is a branch of Peter Warren. Funny how the same company can have wildly differing warranty policies between branches.

Yeah.. it's actually proof that it's the individuals you end up that determine the service you get. I noticed the difference between service techs within the same branch; one guy was quite good, overlooked the many mods, the other guy I avoided like the plague.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Papa Smurf

Ford Motor Company offers the Warranty not the dealer. Ford has the last say on the Warranty fixes, NOT the dealer.

Exactly, but it seems that some of these dealerships have their own policies. When I contacted Ford CRC asking for an official word on diff bush warranty they had no knowledge of Ford's warranty guidelines and simply rung the dealership asking them nicely if it was covered or not... the dealership told them no, so they ring me back and say the dealership said it's not covered, I tell them that's the whole point, CRC then advised me to take my business to a different dealership as they all interpret the warranty differently. Bear in mind the car was completely stock, near new and very well looked after. It's no big deal for me to go elsewhere as there are a few in the area, but it really shouldn't happen. I just kept thinking to myself, how many people have paid this dealership for warranty repairs?! Calling Ford CRC was a waste of time too, so in my case it really did come down to the dealership.

[landau460]

Originally Posted by Zero_PSI

I question everything. Everyones shifty!

are you sure do'nt know if i believe you? LOL

[2011G6E]

I'm afraid I was bitten quite badly at a dealership many years ago, and even now ask to see, for example, the old brake pads and things replaced. usually they offer to show you, but if they are very hesitant about doing so (not in a "they're in the skip somewhere", but in a "well...erm...I dunno..." kind of way), then I might not be back...

[aussie muscle]

My ford dealer isn't too bad, i just have to keep my wits about me. After all, there's a potential new car sales in the future if they do right by me.

[XESP351]

To be honest I only use the dealer to get that Ford stamp in the service books for the BF (and because it's leased so cost is no issue to a certian extent), otherwise all my other cars are serviced and repaired either by me or my mechanic of 10+ years..

[Kieron]

The Ford stamp means nothing though XESP351, just get it serviced by a local registered mechanic and save the $$'s. If it's a lease, you will still be paying for it somehow.

I have a novated leased FG XR8 and I still keep an eye on service cost. My friend owns a workshop and he's serviced all my cars for over 15 years, but i've had to stop that as his charges went thru the roof plus his mechanics are really only parts swappers nowadays.

Now take it to Centre Ford here in Perth, they have always been hoest and are actually cheaper than my friends place for servicing!

[XESP351]

Originally Posted by Kieron

The Ford stamp means nothing though XESP351, just get it serviced by a local registered mechanic and save the $$'s. If it's a lease, you will still be paying for it somehow.

I have a novated leased FG XR8 and I still keep an eye on service cost. My friend owns a workshop and he's serviced all my cars for over 15 years, but i've had to stop that as his charges went thru the roof plus his mechanics are really only parts swappers nowadays.

Now take it to Centre Ford here in Perth, they have always been hoest and are actually cheaper than my friends place for servicing!

See what you're saying but if I was buying a second hand car I would much prefer one with complete Ford service history over one with some Joe Blow mechanic stamping the books.

Don't know why I think that way (above), as I personally don't trust the dealer over my mechanic, but I just do.

[FgNewbie]

Originally Posted by XESP351

See what you're saying but if I was buying a second hand car I would much prefer one with complete Ford service history over one with some Joe Blow mechanic stamping the books.

Don't know why I think that way (above), as I personally don't trust the dealer over my mechanic, but I just do.

The big marketing machine has probably trained many to think that way.

[sanchoXB]

Not a warranty gripe but I rang a large Ford dealer in the brisbane area about 2 months ago to let them know I would be in the area the following week and wanted to look at a BA GT they had, the salesman told me that the car was going to a wholesaler unless I paid $100 to hold it. I told him to forget it and Id buy one somewhere else. Couldnt have wanted a sale too badly.

[finjourn]

Dominelli Ford is hiring heaps of apprentices, and the senior qualified mechanics are either unhappy or leaving.

So when you put your Ford in, and it comes back un-fixed or with even more problems, that's why.

So I've been told.

[Ford PR]

If anyone is unsure of Ford warrenty coverage please refer to the Express Warranty Statement located in either the owners manual or customer assistance warranty guide. The manual/guide is quite specific about what is and isn't covered under Ford warranty.

[Fev]

Originally Posted by sanchoXB

Not a warranty gripe but I rang a large Ford dealer in the brisbane area about 2 months ago to let them know I would be in the area the following week and wanted to look at a BA GT they had, the salesman told me that the car was going to a wholesaler unless I paid $100 to hold it. I told him to forget it and Id buy one somewhere else. Couldnt have wanted a sale too badly.

I don't understand the problem there.. Space in a car yard is at a premium. We want cars to move as quickly as possible and not sit around costing interest and taking up space for what could be a more desirable car.
Every dealer would most probably have a policy saying the car has to sell within 60 or 90 days before being wholesaled to another yard. Many times have we had cars around for a long time with no interest until the day we're wholesaling it or the day after. Kind of a Murpheys law sort of thing.


$100 deposit is refundable and when you're spending quite a sum on a GT is it really that important? Its not a contract to buy the car.

Think of it this way from the other side of the desk - You're about to get rid of a car you've had sitting around for 2 or 3 months. Every car on the yard gets enquiries by dreamers and time wasters, especially the sports cars and you've run out of patience. You've organised a wholesale buyer and have another car coming to fill the void. Then you get a call from someone saying they wanna come in a have a look at it and they want you to hold the car until you can go and see it. There's no commitment, there's just I wanna look at it and you won't even put down a measly $100 to hold the car. That spells not worth the effort.. Meanwhile you've organised a price with the wholesaler/delivery/pick up/payments etc with the wholesaler.

Which would you pick? A done deal or a random on the phone with a whim?

[drew`SEVNT5]

Originally Posted by Fev

I don't understand the problem there.. Space in a car yard is at a premium. We want cars to move as quickly as possible and not sit around costing interest and taking up space for what could be a more desirable car.
Every dealer would most probably have a policy saying the car has to sell within 60 or 90 days before being wholesaled to another yard. Many times have we had cars around for a long time with no interest until the day we're wholesaling it or the day after. Kind of a Murpheys law sort of thing.


$100 deposit is refundable and when you're spending quite a sum on a GT is it really that important? Its not a contract to buy the car.

Think of it this way from the other side of the desk - You're about to get rid of a car you've had sitting around for 2 or 3 months. Every car on the yard gets enquiries by dreamers and time wasters, especially the sports cars and you've run out of patience. You've organised a wholesale buyer and have another car coming to fill the void. Then you get a call from someone saying they wanna come in a have a look at it and they want you to hold the car until you can go and see it. There's no commitment, there's just I wanna look at it and you won't even put down a measly $100 to hold the car. That spells not worth the effort.. Meanwhile you've organised a price with the wholesaler/delivery/pick up/payments etc with the wholesaler.

Which would you pick? A done deal or a random on the phone with a whim?

+1... Dead right!

[CraftyXr6]

Yeah. Im a mechanic for QLD police. Near new fords throw codes casue of carbon build up frequently.