I have a 2001 Ranger Edge that sounds more like a bed in a cheap motel. After rain or a change in the weather it squeaks its way over every speed bump and crack in the pavementfor a week or more. The noise is definately coming from the suspension both front and rear. I guess I just wondered if anyone else encountered this.
The dealer said they would have a look next week while also suggesting that I have the steering fluid flushed, supposedly recommended by Ford at 25,000 miles, unrelated to my problem, but hey they don't want me in there without paying I guess. The service advisor said this wasn't required for warranty and then went on to tell me how much a new rack would cost when it failed on down the line......

 

Tell this arrogent service advisor that you want him to prove to you that his service department is competent and worthy of your trust by having them fix ALL of the squeaks first. Remind him that after this you MIGHT consider other non-warrenty work, but assure him that he needs to prove he's worth his salt first. While you're there, tell him that you want it right the first time and the cost to Ford is of no concern to you; you already bought the truck and this never should have happened in the first place. Remind him that spraying WD-40 or other lubs on the bushings is a cover up and not the "real" fix to the problem. Finally, tell him that you need a rental to get to work.

I like the direct approach with these folks rather than the roundabout method that many would like to push you through. It's also been very effective for me too.

 

Thanks man I like your attitude....The best one that ever happened to me was trying to get the tires rotated on the wife's Camaro (yeah I know I didn't buy it ) ...the clown told her they would have to take them off the wheels to do it.... and she's not even blonde...thank God!

 

I used to fall for some of the service guys lines (crap), but now that I've been down the dirt road a few times I've wised up a whole lot. Give him a fair shot at it, but last I heard Ford dealers don't get reimbursed for parts unless they can demonstrate to FoMoCo that in fact a part did fail. This discourages the shop from simply plastering a rig with new parts and making the manufacturer foot the bill.

I had a buddy that bought a new Explorer several years ago. They kept squirting a couple bushings with WD-40 or the like which solved the squeaking problem, um, somewhat. This was fine, till the 36,000 mile warrenty ran out. Then the dealer decided it was time to try to sell the guy some new bushings.

About the Camaro tires, if they were unidirectional and if the front/rear were different sizes, then it would seem like the shop was being honest. The best scam a tire shop (Firestone dealer) tried on me was doing a front end inspection prior to an alignment on a Firebird I had years ago. Of course they tried to sell me mucho parts, none of which were actually needed. They reefed/pried on an idler arm and tried to tell me it was shot. I simply told them to get the damn car back on the ground right NOW. When they did, I reached in the glove box and pulled out a receipt for that idler arm; 7 weeks old and about 4000 miles on it. I then told them that I felt they were trying to scam on me as well as the guy next to me that was getting new tie rod ends with only 18,000 miles on his car. I left fast, and made an appointment for a FEA at a competent shop the next day. And guess what.........no parts need to be replaced.

 

A few weeks ago I went to a local dealership that had sent me an invitation for a free oil change. They took my truck back and kept me waiting for two hours. After waiting and finally getting my truck, I drove home fuming. When I got home I popped the hood and saw my old oil filter still on the truck. Apparently, they changed the oil only.


They actually had the nerve to email me a customer sat survey and ask me to refer my friends.

 

The dealership here is pretty good so I don't want to bash them....yet. I suppose the reason I am going there is to find out if this is common to 2001, if there is a TSB, and if there is a mechanical defect. My last Ranger, a 91, had 250,000 kms on it. My Mustang an 89 has only seen the dealer for two recalls...Point is I can afford the vehicles but I can't afford these guys labor rates.... the local Chrysler dealer where a good friend of mine works, (he races a Comet Cyclone)... with shop supplies added in is the most expensive in town at $105 an hour Canadian....

So if anybody is squirting WD on any bushings its gonna be me to get me to the 2004's lol

 

Turns out that I am not losing my mind...the ball joints are hooped...after only 26,000 miles, few potholes in this neck of the woods and no off roading...go figure they must be made by GM..