Here's a good one. I took my explorer in to have the trans control replaced yet again, and seat covers and a new sunroof shade....etc...etc. When I got back to work I brought it in my shop to change the oil. One of my techs's put it up on the lift and called me over. He proceeded to point out the oil trail coming from the front of my engine. It was a surprise to me because every time I put it up in the air I check for this kind of stuff. Long story short, found out it is the crank seal. <O</O

Ok so here's the good part. When I took it in for service I only had 39 miles till the warranty ran out. I don't understand how a "Trained" Ford tech can be under it working no more then a foot from the noticeable leak. This all took place on Saturday, and apparently it is impossible to get a tech to look at a leak. So I left a nasty message on my service advisors voicemail. First thing Monday morning service calls me, by now I am over my miles they inform me that I am "very lucky”, since I have parts on order (seat covers) the work order is still open and that they will cover it under the factory warranty. <O
<O

So is it me or does anyone else think that they saw the leak and thought they would be "very lucky" if I didn't notice it for another 1,000 miles? I will let everyone know.

 

Not on work order = not gonna get noticed.

That's all.

So, it probably ties in to your theory in a perverted STEALERship sorta' way....

 

Gotta love Stealerships. I don't know if its a good thing or not but they have learned not to screw with me, because I will drive the truck throught the showroom window and park it there untill it gets fixed

 

What makes you think your money is any greener than Fords? Either way, it gets fixed and the dealership gets paid.

 

He He He.... .. . I have convinced my local dealer that I am crazy. It is to bad that it has to come to this.

On the flip side the other dealer in my area that is about 30 minutes further away has been great. They have lent me specialized tools from there shop and gone the extra mile to help me with various Ford related projects. It really comes down to weather they care about me. I know where I will be getting my next truck. My wife wants a 05/06 GT Mustang. This means two new vehicles in the next 18 months. Guess where I will be going first.

Respectfully

Dean

 

Exactly Dean-

good service is always the better business model.

 

My ford dealer doesnt bother giving me courtesy calls anymore, they always turn out negative.

 

Polar, the techs at my job tell me that dealer techs get paid more if it is out of warrenty.

 

True, but the difference isn't enough to make it worth anyone's while to push a claim past warranty and make it a customer-pay. What happens...every time... is the customer gets angry and the dealership winds up discounting the job to sooth ruffled feathers. Net result, you generally wind up making less, not more, than if you just slapped Ford with the bill.

 

This is the closest to the truth, the mechanics nowadays have blinders on, due to the mass amount of electronics in a vehicle (and that the diagnostic tool said it was ...... ), and due to 100 years of people yelling, "If I wanted it fixed i'da asked you to fix it!" Your situation is not really anyone's fault and just consider yourself lucky to have an accesible lift, as you caught it in time.

 

They don't notice what's on the work order either ! When I brought my Explorer in for the transmission hesitation and clunk into reverse, I told them about transmission fluid dripping off the bottom of the bellhousing and I saw that go onto the work order. The truck was in 3 more times for the transmission problem and I told them each time to check the trans leak and every time I called, they called or I picked up the vehicle, they didn't know anything about a trans. leak !!

Now it's in for the second time for the rear diff. howl and broken lumbar seat adjustment.... also told them about something protruding out the back of the drivers seat trying to poke through the material. First time I asked about it, they didn't know and I had them highlight the problem on the work order with a highlighter. Next time I asked them about it, they still didn't know about it. I said I had told them twice about it and it was even highlighted..... he said they will see it on the work order. Now they called and said they ordered parts for the rear diff. ......... still didnt' know about the thing sticking out the back of the seat !!!

Took three trips there for the trans. clunk and they never did admit that my particular truck had a problem, but they did fix it !!??

So far two trips to get them to hear the rear end howl and I had to yell in the service department after they told me there was a sound, not bad enough to fix and that I should just let it "wear in" longer !! After that, they called me two days later and said that they heard the noise and are ordering parts. So truck has been in the shop 6 times for 4 problems and only one problem has been fixed so far. The truck has less then 9,000 miles on it. Of cours when I bought the vehicle they said that the service dept. will take really good care of me and I will get a loaner car anytime I have to leave it. So far only got a loaner twice out of the 6 times. From now on when they ask me when I can drop off the vehicle, I say....... whenever you have a loaner for me !! Of course, threatening to call the owner of the dealership didn't heart either!
There goes my blood pressure again.

 

Yes the dealers get paid for warranty repairs... the problem is that FORD audits the $$$ they pay on these warranty jobs.. and if that money is too high they will visually inspect the work orders...

Any warranty work done to a vehicle that wasn't a direct customer complaint gets red flagged and Ford may not pay for that job... basically if YOU don't notice it, the dealer isn't supposed to fix it, therefore the technicians are supposed to turn a "blind eye" to problems they find while doing maintenance to a vehicle.

I personally do not believe in this theory.. and I note all problems I find.. and I let the advisor decide what to fix - I did my job. I don't want the accountability if something were to turn sour right after I worked on it, even if not related to what I did.

On a good note, I'm quite impressed with the quality... I don't see a whole lot of problems like this.

You mentioned transmission controller? Are you referring to the solenoid? (takes several seconds to engage Reverse and then slams into gear?)

Make sure they use MERCON V fluid and the ford additive (ford had a recall for that additive on 2003-2004's), if your explorer is 2002 or newer. Seen a lot of solenoids go bad right after a quick lube did a transmission flush - a brass washer inside the solenoid expands due to a chemical reaction to the fluid and makes it stick. The fluid additive is supposed to prevent this from happening. Could be what burned up the first one.

Good luck