Thanks for the update! Ford's response is exactly what I expected from a premier manufacturer - the comments support your rights under Magnusson Moss.

What it does also sound like is that Ford doesn't put much control over the customer experience with these independent dealers. I know Chrysler dealers are rated and you will see the better ones get that 5 star rating from them. Perhaps the franchisee structure is different with Ford.

Regardless, it looks like you are on the right path!

 

Well, it looks like things finally ended on a surprising, and sour note. I never did get a call from a senior tech as promised, but did from more "customer care" types.

Today's call reversed all the others. Magnusson-Moss was (for whatever reason) "not applicable/irrelevant". Also, the lady told me she did not wish to "take sides", but was going to side with the dealer's assertion that when a truck is too "highly modified", it can not be effectively tested or serviced under warranty (this was "policy"). She wasn't "taking sides" according to her, but it was policy to automatically side with dealer!? Say what?

I brought up the fact that the last person I spoke with had a completely different take, and was politely told the previous person simply "didn't know what she was talking about", and only her own opinion was correct. Of course, each person told me they were representing Ford policy. They all took copious notes about our conversations (supposedly), but I have no idea what was written.

I was also told that a dealer HAD to work on your vehicle if it was under warranty - very different from the thoughts of the previous caller.

And it seems the dealer I had the problem with was very active in sending out alerts and emails to other dealers in the US, to insure no-one would work on my truck in the future. Wow, that's pretty industrious!

The first few people I spoke to at Ford insisted there would be no problems servicing my truck elsewhere, and that my account/vin wasn't somehow "blacklisted". But the last person went in the opposite direction. Who should I believe?

I have no intention of putting the factory air filter, oil filter, fuel filters back in - or removing my toolbox, bedcover, bedliner, ventshades, floormats, hitch, antenna, or new amp and speakers just to get my differential oil topped off, defective BFG's replaced, CEL codes switched off, minor paint flaws addressed, or the botched factory reflash redone. This is a worktruck, and I am comfortable with the quality of the parts upgrades I've made so far, and can live with the other shortcomings. After all, what do you expect for only $75 grand!?

My plan is to get my extended warranty refunded ($2400 - yeah, I know they'll pro-rate it down to about 25% of that), and then I'll pay someone else more qualified and more interested to take care of these little niggling details. In fact, the "keep every component stock, or else"-***** will really lose it when they find out I think the factory shocks are not up to the task on our local roads here (truck is often very hard to control), and that I plan to replace them with non-sanctioned, and thoroughly "verboten" Rancho 9000's.

And since there is essentially no warranty now at 25K miles, I might as well fix the unsafe, and unacceptable, severe acceleration "lag", by going with a proven tuner. Might even make this truck fun to drive? Yes, I measured my zero-to-60 time at around 16 seconds, so I'm pretty sure things aren't right with the engine computer, and my "mods" aren't the cause as Ford insists, and if anything are helping. Both my previous trucks ran much crisper, and got better fuel economy (but they too were "modded").

The moral of the story is:
If you are the nervous type, do not service your vehicles outside of the Ford dealership chain. No Quick Lubes, no non-Ford oil, no non-Ford parts department accessories.
Also make sure you know your dealer! A bad one may expend a lot of energy just to spite you and keep you from using them for such things as future repairs or auto purchases. Seems a little conflicted to me, but this is my 3rd Ford Super Duty, and my dealer experience has gotten increasingly more hostile and snobbish with every truck at this dealership (only game in town tho).
They suggested that if I didn't like how things were going, I could hire them to bring the vehicle back to stock, or sell the truck to them for half what I paid a few months back, and then get a competing brand that doesn't have such "high standards" and will let anyone have warranty service (huh?).
I must admit I am shocked by the diametrically opposed opinions expressed by the Ford representatives over the last week, and how each one sees no inconsistencies in the process, and dismisses without conscience, all differing opinions from their (equally trained) peers!

 

Wow...that's a pretty lousy conclusion to the story! They say it was "highly modified", did they mention why they figured this? Was it just your CAI?

Did you offer to remove the CAI to have them look at those codes? Depending on what was wrong it may be totally unrelated, but at that point how could they argue with properly diagnosing it?

 

Crazy001, you are right in that if I put the original air filter back in, they would really have to work at coming up with another reason to deny coverage without even looking. But I have a "history" at this dealer. They just do not like people to make changes to "their" trucks. I've talked with the mechanic, and he says he could diagnose it just the way it is, but he doesn't want to go against the grain and jeapordize his job. This mechanic was at a different dealership before, and my experience with him was always good. In fact I bought this truck after a recommendation by him. But he is on new turf now, and has to toe the line or lose his job. The strange policies are direct from upper management.
Air filter was "upgraded" more than six months ago without any CELs, so I doubt it is a direct cause of the trouble codes (which "coincidentally" showed up within 1/2 mile of the last reflash). The codes are very numerous and consistent. The CEL will not stay shut off for more than a few seconds of driving after being cleared. I suspect something simple like a bad sensor.
I was also told the rear end needed friction modifier, but it can not be added/diagnosed with certainty since the vehicle is not "stock". Ditto for the unusual tire wear, and paint peeling if I spray it at the car wash.

I can't remember if I've ever mentioned this before, but part of my bad history with these guys is that they let non-certified diesel techs work on my previous trucks. I would regularly find tools, and incomplete work under the hood. They gave me x6 new batteries in my previous truck, before I took it somewhere else and the new place found that the problem was simply one of the alternators being stuck on an 18 volt charge (instead of like 14 or 15).
My aftermarket accessories were blamed for the incorrect diagnoses even then.
They say I now have to "pay" them to diagnose my "modded" vehicle.
However, they say they CAN diagnose it even with the mods, if I pay cash. That's pretty corrupt and selfish! I'm done with them forever.

 

I agree with you, but at what cost will you stand on principle? Something is wrong with your truck, and your air intake appears to be the one obstacle that's preventing a proper diagnosis under warranty.

From what it sounds like they are wrong here, but you don't seem to be getting anywhere. Why not temporarily remove the one obstacle that's preventing you from getting this thing fixed?

 

Well Crazy001, if my curiosity gets the better of me, I will take the time and stick the factory air filter back on. But that may not be enough for them, and I'm not taking off the toolbox or other items. And it usually takes numerous trips/days off for them to whittle down any list of concerns, based on previous experience. Just don't have infinite time to play with amateurs.

It's not really a matter of principle, or who is more right. It just comes down to $$$, and my time is $$$. I suspect a tuner, and various deletes will make the truck as useful and fun as my previous ones (though possibly at more risk). I just never expected this truck to be such a slug from the factory, based on the other posts. So my problems started on day one.

On the other hand, I AM curious to find out what is messed up with it...
Thanks for your concern...

 

Why not go to another dealer? Only takes 30 min to swap intake's so I would do that and go start fresh with someone else.

 

This stuck out to me, 0-60 in 16 seconds is NOT normal! It should be just over half that! Sounds to me like your engine is derating itself as a result of these trouble codes that are present, this is to prevent causing damage. Adding a tuner without fixing the problem may not fix your problem. It will invalidate your warranty though...

I would HIGHLY recommend getting this condition fixed before tuning. Your truck thinks it's serious enough not to give you full power, something may be really wrong here.

 

Been following this thread. i really feel for you in this situation. I think the suggest to put at least the stock CAI back in and get a new dealer is the best choice. Don't buy or visit them any longer.

 

All good advice folks. I may just put the stock air filter back on and see another dealer. It's the loss of a whole day though. They then may want me to change other things back to stock, and they'll probably wait all day to tell me they haven't even looked at the truck. Typical modus operandi for us here in the boonies.
On an unrelated note, I was running low on fuel today, so I stopped at a Shell station in the ritzy part of town (I usually fuel up at the cheap-o City Market station). I reset the computer and fueled up at $4.18 per gallon (compared to about $3.69 at City Market). Hardly ever stop at Shell, because their stations are rare here.
I then drove home, and got over 20 MPG's! Prior to that, I averaged 17 (city/highway mix). If my truck is defueling because it has some issues, I'd like to see more defueling take place!!
Just kidding. Good point regarding the serious mods Crazy001.
Anyway, thanks for the input folks. I will keep you all posted.

 

yes i feel for you as well. i mean come on, a bed liner, really????

The dealership that i work for must be one of the few that has honest techs and service people. the guys that i work with are honest and they acctually want to help the customer.

but on the other hand, if it clearly says in the warrenty book or whatever you get with a new vehicle that you can not make any modifications to the truck such as an intake, then they can turn you down for warrenty service. now if they turn you down for any other service after the warrenty has run out and the work is not based on warrenty then that is complete cow poo.

 

you probly got better mpg with shell fuel b/c it was fresher than cheap-o-mart fuel. the shell station probly goes through more fuel there fore gets more deliveries and that = fresher fuel.

 

What a nightmare of an experience. Shell sports 2 grades of diesel .... regular ULSD and what they call V Power. The second costs a few cents more and contains a cetane boost among other things. Whenever possible, (can't always find a Shell) I use V Power. Truckasaurus prefers it.

 

I use Shell but have never seen an additional pump with fancy diesel.
Possibly a regional product I suppose (Canada for example).

They do have Vpower labeled pumps but my truck is not allowed anywhere near such pumps since they contain gasoline!

 

You may be very correct on the market specific. In Canada V Power has a 1 to 2 point higher cetane along with de-iced and anti corrosion additives. In Euro in contains synthetic diesel or GTL whatever that means. So the "fancy" diesel has a different recipe depending on location sold.