So I took my truck into the ford dearlship in State College, Pa to get my recall done with the cam position sensor and while it was in there I had them look at my cruise control because it hasn't been working and I had them check my brakes because being that I'm a college student and I'm in school most of the time and it is really hard for me to get home to use my own tools and garage. I had the truck there at 7:45 am and asked them to give me a lift back to town and just call me when it was done and I would come pick it up. So I sat down and waited for the shuttle service to get and by the time the guy showed up it was already 9:30. I asked how much longer they thought it would be and they couldn't tell me so I figured I better get the ride back in case it takes them a while longer. Don't you know my phone rings at 10:00 and the truck is done. No sooner did I get back to my house and I was leaving to go pick my tuck up. What a waste of time. Anyhow when I was getting onto the truck I noticed the two caps from behind the steering were sitting on my floor mat so I just put them back in and left. Well I should have know that meant a unfinished business and a hurried up job by the technician that was working on my truck. Well I got in my truck around 9:00 at night and started down the road only to notice that all my instrument panel lights were out so I pulled over and got out to notice that my tailights, cab clearance lights, and my parking lights were also out. I was furious to put it nicely. I thought to myself once again that this same guy who managed to not re-connect a wire and screw up my lights also check my brakes earlier that day. So what if he forgot to tighten my lugs when he done......could be BIG problems. Fortunately the lugs are fine but my point is that you can't trust anyone anymore, not even the certified ford serivce center, unless you really know your mechanic. Just curious what your opinions are on my matter. I plan to take the truck back to the dealership tomorrow and have them fix their mess because I shouldn't have to. Am I dumb for doing this?

 

No not at all, I believe you are doing the right thing. As you notice on here several times, people call them stealerships, and that's why. They are only after your money, not providing a good service. It's hard to find a good service department now day's.

 

I'd be pissed if I were you. Who knows what else they could've possibly forgot to reconnect. Not to mention you coulda got nailed by a cop for not having your running lights on. This is the kind of dealership that gives those few good ones out there a bad name.

 

i live in mass and have a friend who has worked for a ford stealership for over 15 years, and over that time i've visited him a million times. and i can't tell you how many guys i've seen get promoted from being LOF (lube-oil-filter) guys to mechanics. the dealerships around here are ALWAYS desperate for help so they'll put uncertified techs on a car just to keep the shop as full as possible. they all work on flat rate so they only get paid when theres work-no lose to the dealership. now some of these kids are good-and they're just lookin for there break into the biz BUT like ALOT of things these days quality is sacrificed for the all mighty dollar.

 

That is exactly why if I EVER take my truck to the shop, I watch everything that is done. I'll go grab someone's creeper and slide under the truck with the mechanic to see what he's up to. That is also exactly why I do 99% of my own wrenching- then I have no one to blame but myself.
On a somewhat related note, another thing that really yanks my chain is the shop/dealership that likes to play the "dumb girl" card. When I was in college driving my 92 F250 it developed a bad vibration around 35 mph one day. I knew in my head it was a U-joint. I drove it like that for a week because I didn't have time to look at it. My wife one day asks if there's anything she can do on her break, so I told her yes- take my truck down to the tire store and have them check the U-joints... very specifically the U-joints. Well she comes back... "the tire store said 'your tranny is looser than *****' and that's the problem." I'm thinking WTF... crawl under the truck and twist the rear driveshaft- trashed rear U-joint. How hard can it be? They even DROVE my truck I found out- what a bunch of clowns! I took it back shortly after to have them fix a flat they didn't fix right the first time, and while one guy was laying under my truck putting the spare back in there another tech tried to back a car out and ran him over right at the knees! I got out of there and never went back again.

 

Hey there, guy, watch the language. There ARE dealership technicians who post here. I work hard for my paycheck and I do a quality job. There are those who don't do correct diagnosis (parts changers) because they can't diagnose problems or they simply don't want to waste the time. There are those who don't give a rat's a ss about whether or not the vehicle is fixed right the first time. But don't type out a "blanket statement" that says all dealerships are crooked.

Thanks.

Being as I work in a small community, my dealership is the only game in town (except the Ford dealership) besides a few independent shops.

I have to be on top of my game. And no, the technicians DO NOT make the $80+ an hour that the shop charges. If only...........

 

I'm sorry, 'Quality' and 'dealership' do not go together. please edit title.

I had the unfortunate experience of working at one. some 'technicians' actually graduated from highshool. I never have, and never will take my PSD to a stealership.

 

Cleatus has a point and I stand with him, even though I own an indepenant garage.
In every walk of life there is the good, the bad, and the ugly.
It's not the dealer/independant garage that makes the difference.
It's the one who is working on the truck.
There is some great, very talented techs working at the dealer.
And there are some terrible, sloppy "techs" working at the independant garage.
Those who are making the general statements about us are simply letting thier short-sightedness be known and if I ever break down in Reed Point, MN. I know exactly who I want helping me with my truck.

 

Dan, make that MT. Quite a bit closer to you.

 

Thanks, Dan.

Wiping tears from my eyes as I type.......


Keep up the good work.

 

Cody - I wish you lived in or near Missouri- You're the type of mechanic that I would want to fix my trucks (If I didnt do most of my own work). If more people like you took pride in their work it would definately be easier to get thru every day life.

 

[QUOTE=cleatus12r]Hey there, guy, watch the language. There ARE dealership technicians who post here. I work hard for my paycheck and I do a quality job. There are those who don't do correct diagnosis (parts changers) because they can't diagnose problems or they simply don't want to waste the time. There are those who don't give a rat's a ss about whether or not the vehicle is fixed right the first time. But don't type out a "blanket statement" that says all dealerships are crooked.



Well, it's funny how many times people on here talk about problems that they have at a dealership, and slam them for the poor job that they do, and I post one time about what has been said alot of times "Stealership", and I get slammed for it. I was not talking about all dealerships, I was making a general statement about the dealership that he was having problems with, and I know there are very good dealerships out there working very hard every day, with very good techs. I apologize if I offended you with my statement. This was not my intention.

 

Woops. .........

 

I also do not like anyone to touch my truck. I Just had it to our for dealership for the cps recall. When I picked it up they said the air box was bad. $360 for a OEM or $480 for a "heavy duty, high performance upgrade". I said no thanks and immediately came home and looked here. Saw 6637 mod and ordered one from Fleet Filter. To the dealers credit there was some dirt inside the intake. I did the 6637 mod for $37. When I went to do the mod the next day after filter arrived (I had not driven the truck since coming home from dealer) I found the + clamp on battery was just sitting on top of post. I assume the dealer removed prior to installation of cps. It makes you wonder what else was forgotten.

 

Well.............................................. ........................


Here's a reassuring thought for those of you who will not take your trucks to a dealership or someone else to work on them:

I won't take my truck to the Ford dealership either. I figure that as far as the 7.3L and the 4R100 goes, I know more than their people anyway. Nobody's touching my truck but me.

On a side note, for those who don't know, I am a dealership technician for the "General". I have been for 10 years. Do I like GM? Well, they do have a few good ideas, but I sure as heck ain't going to be buying one of their products. I fix 'em and make a good living at it. I specialize in electrical diagnosis, driveability, automatic transmissions, and Duramaxes. But I do everything under the sun to these vehicles being as my dealership has two mechanics and I'm one of them. So I have to be good to keep the small-town Chevy dealer up and running.

One good thing about being in a small town with people that are easy to sway one way or the other is that I end up with a lot of the Ford dealership's work because they **** a few people off...and most of the ones I get from there are 7.3s. Oh, and we're the only game in town with an alignment machine........

So, if you think I'm being all high and mighty here and trying to tell you that you have to take your Ford truck to a Ford dealer, I'm not. I won't take mine there.

Have a nice day.