I have a bit of a problem that I hope someone can help me with...

I have a 1999 F250 Super Duty extended cab XLT, that I, for the most part, have been very happy with. We use it to tow a 25' fifth wheel and it does just fine. Recently we had a problem, which I outlined in the following letter to our local Ford dealer. There response has been nothing but finger pointing and neither they nor their "Ford representative" will take any responsability. Can anyone suggest a further couse of action?

I would very much like to recove some, if not all, of my costs in this matter.

Thanks in advance...

Here's the letter I sent to my local Ford dealer...

==========

I would like to give you the opportunity to comment on a matter I discussed, today, with your Service Manager, Judy.

As I explained to her, we just returned from a camping trip with our 1999 F-250 Super Duty. After driving the first day of this trip, I noticed coolant dripping from the front of the truck. I decided to take the truck into the Ford dealer in 100 Mile House (Sunrise Ford) to have it looked at, I expected a simple solution because the truck is still quite new. Their technician found an oil filler cap lodged next to the radiator in the fan shroud and discovered it had worn a hole in the radiator core. Needless to say this was the last thing I expected!! They provided a temporary fix by removing the cap and adding “stop leak” to the radiator. This repair cost me $126.78. The radiator again began to leak while we were in a remote campsite and it was only with some ingenuity and 5-minute epoxy that we managed to get back into town. I scheduled an appointment with Prince George Motors (the Ford dealer in Prince George) to have the radiator replaced. This repair cost me $579.60.

Judy’s response to this story was that the last time I had the truck into your shop for work was just over a year ago and she could not “warrantee” the repairs I had made because too much time had expired since that last service. I had been using your shop exclusively for regular maintenance on the truck, as well as some other work, up until that time. Since then I have been doing the regular maintenance myself and not used any other Ford shop (except the ones listed above). Given the fact that there is a genuine Ford oil filler cap on the truck, I feel there is only one logical explanation as to how the other oil filler cap found its way into the fan shroud. That is, someone dropped the cap into the shroud and rather than spend the time to find it, just replaced it with a new one. I know I didn’t do this, so it leads me to believe that one of your technicians did. It’s true I have no proof of this but, as I said, it’s the only logical explanation.
I have the old oil filler cap as well as the old radiator should you wish to inspect them. I also have the work orders from both the Ford dealer in 100 Mile house and the Ford dealer in Prince George.

I would very much like to hear your response to this situation and would even more appreciate reimbursement for the costs I have incurred ($706.38).
Yours truly,

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 21-Sep-01 AT 11:38 AM (EST)[/font][p]I have found many interesting items left behind in the engine compartment after servicing. Pliers and sockets to name a few. You may be right that the cap was dropped and a different one put on instead of looking for the original. I would argue that the cap was there right from the factory, especially if it was lodged somewhere unseen. At the very least if the first dealer's repair attempt didn't work then they should apply the costs against the rad replacement. Good luck.

 

I would call Ford directly and deal with them when the dealership refuses to act on something. When the going gets tough, go over their head...