I broke down on a road trip to SoCal. I ended up having to get my '86 F250 serviced. It quit running. It turns out that the real culprit was an ignition module that would fail when it got hot. However, the dealer also installed a new EGR, idle enrichment solenoid and carb. They charged me $454 for the carb! This was in the beginning of April of this year. The float went bad on the carb and I replaced it. The carb was weeping fuel out of the side and I could not get it to stop.

I ended up just replacing the carb. I called the Ford dealer down in Stockton, where I had the work done and asked them if I could send them the faulty carb and get a refund, since the could not service my truck. (I'm in Seattle).

They first told me that the carb only had a 45 day warranty. Then they told me that the carb has a 90 day warranty and that I could send them the old carb, which they would in turn send to the manufacturer. If the manufacturer could show the product was defective, they would send me a new carb (which I don't need.)

I politely asked to just get my money refunded and they have refused. What would you do in this circumstance?

Thx - DORN.

 

I would talk with the service manager, and keep going up the ranks until you get a straight answer, and what you want, which is the refund.

 

Also, can you still produce the carb you bought from them? Another option if no success with the dealer, is go to the carb manufacturer and state your case on the defect and short warranty.

 

Yes, I still have the defective carb. I have installed another one and don't need it now. I want them to refund to me the $454 they charged me for it. If I go to the manufacturer, I'll only be able to get a replacement, which I don't need.

I have a Pre-Paid Legal Services membership. I talked to an attorney today and she is going to write them a letter asking for a refund. Letters with a law firm's letterhead usually get faster response and a more considered answer.

 

Absolutely ! Good luck with it. Its not fun, for sure.

 

Thread moved out of General Conversation forum (NON-Automotive) into the *General AUTOMOTIVE Forum*

 

Keep going up the ladder until someone listens. You know - the squeaking wheel. Also the ignition modules do that once in awhile. I go to a store and buy a bag of ice and tie it over the module. It will keep it cool enough to get home.

 

Possibly. My experience with the black box is that when it goes.... that puppy is GONE. I put electronic ignition in my 73 Bronco, because I was getting too lazy to keep doing the change points thing....yeah yeah...lazy bugger! Anyway... drove it uptown one day and parked. Came back to the truck to go home and nada...crank crank crank....nada. After a cursory examination under the hood, I replaced the black box and never had another issue like that with it. Coils used to do that too...heat up, start missing, die, cool down , start and run till hot, then start process over until coil was finally dead.

As for the topic of the thread... the lawyer is probably the best route to take. You can argue till you are blue in the face to a business that has no honor and only come away madder than when you started.