[einod]

So I took my 02 V6 to the Stealership today due to a couple minor problems and I guess I wont get her back now untill monday. =[. I want to rent the GT-H lol.

[AtlanticBlue99]

You are going to have to pay $70 to be told what is wrong, even if nothing is wrong. Hopefully nothing severe is wrong, because the stealership is sickening. I have contacts at a lincoln mercury dealership that does great sidework for cheap. I suggest getting one of them to do any major work for you...

[flattusmaximus78]

I own eight ford motor co. products and as soon as the warrenty is up they never see a dealership again.

[einod]

The only reason Im going there is because of my extended warrante. So yeah So far the replaced my compressor and evaperator, and put a new flywheel in. All i have to pay is 50$. Cant be too bad

[99mustang232]

let us know how it turns out, port charlotte is a pretty cool place, spent quite awhile down and in punta gorda

[Twist 2 Go]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 You are going to have to pay $70 to be told what is wrong, even if nothing is wrong. Hopefully nothing severe is wrong, because the stealership is sickening. ...

you should really try working at a "stealership" as I can tell you never have. They aren't all bad. Why do you feel you shouldn't pay a fee for a proper diagnosis? I, like most techs have many years invested in this profession and have bought thousands of dollars of tools in order to work on cars. The dealers don't provide this stuff for us. Just look at it this way, go to the doctor and figure out just how many minutes you actually are one on one with him, look at the bill (your deductible and what he charges the ins. company)and figure what he actually "charges" for a hourly rate. You'll be surprised. Then complain that it costs too much, you're automatically gonna get screwed, and try to find someone who does medical work on the side. See my point?

[einod]

Well said.

[einod]

Originally Posted by 99mustang232 let us know how it turns out, port charlotte is a pretty cool place, spent quite awhile down and in punta gorda

Its alright i guess. Nothing much happens around here though. Kind of boring.

[AtlanticBlue99]

Originally Posted by Twist 2 Go Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 You are going to have to pay $70 to be told what is wrong, even if nothing is wrong. Hopefully nothing severe is wrong, because the stealership is sickening. ... you should really try working at a "stealership" as I can tell you never have. They aren't all bad. Why do you feel you shouldn't pay a fee for a proper diagnosis? I, like most techs have many years invested in this profession and have bought thousands of dollars of tools in order to work on cars. The dealers don't provide this stuff for us. Just look at it this way, go to the doctor and figure out just how many minutes you actually are one on one with him, look at the bill (your deductible and what he charges the ins. company)and figure what he actually "charges" for a hourly rate. You'll be surprised. Then complain that it costs too much, you're automatically gonna get screwed, and try to find someone who does medical work on the side. See my point?

Well, I have diagnosed my car myself and with the help of member here and taken my car to the dealership for servicing and they call a day later to tell me what I told them was the problem is the problem, and I need to pay $70 for a diagnosis. It can't be too hard for them to verify me telling them what is wrong, and to charge me for it... If something else was wrong, I wouldn't have minded paying, but I will never visit a dealership for serice unless it is free warranty work.

[Twist 2 Go]

why is that the dealership's fault? You knew what it was but they had to ck it out anyways to be sure. Was it an intermittent concern or something that was determined to be a normal characteristic? We can't just throw parts at something to fix it, even if the customer had diag'd it and may be right. When Ford calls that part back and ck's it out, if it ck's good, guess who paid for that repair?? the dealer, cause Ford said there's nothing wrong w/ that part and won't pay the dealer for the repair or the part. Dealer LOSES!! On the other side of the coin, say if we didn't go and diagnose what the customer says is bad or needs done, when that didn't fix it, they would be beating down the door screaming, "You replaced this on my car and that didn't fix it. Now you're gonna fix it for free!"
For example, DTC p0401, go to auto zone, get the code pulled, they're gonna sell you a egr valve or tell you it needs to be replaced. Bring it to the dealer and guess what, you don't get a egr valve. you get told you need the dpfe sensor that will really fix the problem. Are we the bad guys there?????

[99mustang232]

einod, sorry to jack your thread...

you know I will admit to using the word "stealership" before, I do understand Rick's standpoint and it is a very good one... but you know every place and everyone is different, not everytime you take your car to ford do you get a tech with the same level of work ethic or experiance as yourself.

I think a normal hesitent towards the dealership is also warranty work not just the issue with adding aftermarket parts but ford standing behind their word, before trying to self educate about mechanics, I myself took my mustang to three dealerships trying to get a warranty repair work performed due to a loud "chirping noise" on startup. this consisted of 5 visits in all, 1 to Hall ford in Newport News, 1 to a dealership in Alexandria, VA and 3 to Sheehy Ford in Springfield, VA. The problem I was faced with was an intermittent problem, one of the worst to diagnose. On the 4th visit after I was told the problem couldn't be duplicated, I requested to speak with someone so we could take a test drive... I went out to the storage area where my car was, started it up, instant chirping noise... without much inspection it was appearent to the tech that I needed a new belt, so the next day it was replaced. Was able to pick up my car, no noise... hey all is good, next day noise is back, took it back, but they couldn't duplicate the issue, then I couldn't duplicate the issue. Few days later same issue took it back... oh well your warranty has now expired you are at 36,000+! but I have been reporting the issue for the last 6,000 miles! "well sorry you will have to take this up with ford you didn't get the extended warranty option", next thing you know ford arbitration... doesn't bend and a few hundred miles later the smog pump seizes and throws two dtc's. oh ford how much is the new smog pump, only a several hundred dallors, and you will fail madatory smog testing without it. i don't think having a problem for 6k miles, being without my vehicle for 6+ days and not getting anything repaired, then being told you have to pay several hundred dallors for a failed part that has obvious design issues leaves a good taste in your mouth.

I have another friend who had an 03 lightning which he loved, but chose to upgrade to an 04 cobra vert... the vehicle was garage kept 99% of the time very low mileage no mods, however onetime he was caught out in nice downpour, and water drained in from the vert top and filled his floorpan. Took it to the dealership and they couldn't find an issue, same thing happend again but with more water, he took it back still no issues so he got them to run the waterhose over it and guess what happend water drained in, so they vac'd the water out and and replaced the stripping at the top of the windsheild, but wouldn't do anything for the damages to the seat's leather or to the partially saturated carpeting. Another round and round with Ford arbitration and they finially agreed to replace the seat... shortly there after a weld on one of his SFC's broke which also proved to be quite an ordeal to get fixed, he was a loyal ford customer, but this left a sour taste in his mouth so he sold the cobra and bought a magnum. (i disagree with that choice but it wasn't up to me)

what i'm trying to get at here having a bad experiance at one place makes you think they are all like that. I understand the intermittent issue aswell being someone who repairs computers... it is all too common for an issue to occur then when I show up no issue.

Also in my case, I feel as resentment towards other dealers (non-fomoco) also add towards the use of this term.

[Twist 2 Go]

Originally Posted by 99mustang232 einod, sorry to jack your thread...

yes, so sorry for the hi-jack

I think a normal hesitent towards the dealership is also warranty work not just the issue with adding aftermarket parts but ford standing behind their word

The problem in those cases isn't with the dealer as much as it is with Ford Motor Company. A dealer is just a franchised business who happens to sell their products.

The dealer can't and shouldn't be expected to pay out of their pocket for repairs that they have no control over(except in certain instances) and Ford is getting so they squeeze every penny so tight that they won't pay either. In the end the consumer is pissed and the dealers take the rap for Ford being cheap. Take a gander over at flatratetech.com sometime for a real eye-opener on the dealership world.

[99mustang232]

That's it right there, from the consumer's standpoint the Ford dealership and FoMoCo are the same entity, which appears to be a common misconception.

[einod]

Damn

[Twist 2 Go]

Originally Posted by 99mustang232 That's it right there, from the consumer's standpoint the Ford dealership and FoMoCo are the same entity, which appears to be a common misconception.

bingo!

[einod]

This is lame as hell. My car is "still" there. It really sucks not having a car. Well not having my car. Im driving my dads F150 but its not my car.

[Twist 2 Go]

most of the extended service plans allow for a rental, unless you are under 21. You do have a FORD esp plan right, or some aftermarket warranty?

[einod]

Yeah we got a rental. But I still miss my car.

[einod]

SHES BACK! Yeah she is driving great. I have factory cold air now, a new flywheel, and through out bearing. I guess she got a tune up too. =]

[ChrisJ]

Congrats...