"nobody knows your ford like we do" pfffft

EL_futuraistic · 23-07-2005, 10:47 AM

"NOBODY KNOWS YOUR FORD LIKE WE DO"

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Took my EL into Ford the other week to fix a vibration at 100km/h. I had them machined my discs and do a wheel align and balance.

Anyway. After taking it back there the next day as it wasnt fixed, and was told "a wheel weight fell off" but having now putting up with 100kmh vibration for the better part of 3 weeks since. I took the EL to Pedders for a $14 safety check on Wednesday, they said no problems, get the wheels re-balanced. I then went to Bridgestone today, explained my issue. I was told my 300e dunlops werent the most balanced or quiet tyres so Had them fit 2 new turanza er30's to replace my 300e (which were still pretty new). Whilst doing so, they found that my righ side steering rack end was worn, and BOTH Brake Calipers were only Spanner tight, AND my Brake hose was twisted and rubbing on the strut. Having now had all this rectified my EL now is vibration free on the Highway.

Makes me think what else they havent done properley??

b2tf · 23-07-2005, 04:00 PM

Time to write a letter to the dealer principal, send a copy to Ford and ask in the letter for a full refund of your service price. Include the invoice they gave you.

Walkinshaw · 23-07-2005, 09:45 PM

Bloody good advice there mate.

LTDHO · 24-07-2005, 12:14 AM

Why did ya take ya car to ford in the first place?

Only take your car there when you have to for warrenty servicing.

Ozfords · 24-07-2005, 10:23 AM

Ford Service are the ultimate rip off artists, $40 for a top idler pulley for the power steering? Auto One were more on the money with $28!

$99 for a brake pad change? Some guys locally will knock over a pad change for $110. Give me $34 dollars and a radio for an arvo of swearing and cussing.

At least they did give our power windows a lifetime warrenty, one done one more to go for a free replacement. Hopefully this time I won't spend a day at Sinclair Ford waiting for the motor.

Pity the dollar speaks more loudly than anything else. We've bought your product Ford, at least give us some well trained mechanics and good quality parts!

Psycho Chicken · 24-07-2005, 10:44 AM

Apprentice to mechanic ratio at Ford is pretty high. It the cheapest way to do it. Personally I wouldn't touch any dealership unless I was getting warrenty work done. I work at one (not Ford) and the ammount of stuff that happens is unbelievable, even from qualified mechanics. You've gotta remember dealerships pay SFA in wages, so the guys working there are (usually) the less than average mechanics who can't hold a job at a real workshop. Or can't hack working at a real workshop.

b2tf · 24-07-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Apprentice to mechanic ratio at Ford is pretty high. It the cheapest way to do it. Personally I wouldn't touch any dealership unless I was getting warrenty work done. I work at one (not Ford) and the ammount of stuff that happens is unbelievable, even from qualified mechanics. You've gotta remember dealerships pay SFA in wages, so the guys working there are (usually) the less than average mechanics who can't hold a job at a real workshop. Or can't hack working at a real workshop.

Spot on. I remember walking through the workshops thinking "there is no way I will ever let my car in the hands of some of these guys".

megsy · 24-07-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozfords

Ford Service are the ultimate rip off artists, $40 for a top idler pulley for the power steering? Auto One were more on the money with $28!

$99 for a brake pad change? Some guys locally will knock over a pad change for $110. Give me $34 dollars and a radio for an arvo of swearing and cussing.

At least they did give our power windows a lifetime warrenty, one done one more to go for a free replacement. Hopefully this time I won't spend a day at Sinclair Ford waiting for the motor.

Pity the dollar speaks more loudly than anything else. We've bought your product Ford, at least give us some well trained mechanics and good quality parts!

top idler pulley in an eseries, generally it's the bearings that go, you can pick up a replacement sealed bearing for $8 at any local bearing joint, then all you need is the right size socket and a hammer, tooo easy

brake pad change, $99, lol

Casper · 24-07-2005, 12:45 PM

I walked out of a Ford dealership in disgust after being charged $50 for a new sump plug for my EB V8. Never been back, never will. They are a joke.

buickman · 24-07-2005, 02:41 PM

A lot of people don't seem to trust dealerships.
My wife had her Mazda Sp serviced for 30,000Kms the other week with a bill of $360 for change of oil, filter, sparkplugs & a load of workshop supplies?.
She got angry with me because I removed a couple of sparkplugs to see if they really changed them saying the service guys were nice & honest & that I should not be negative & trust people more.
For $360 (Rip off) for parts costing under $100.When the warranty runs out I will be doing a fair bit of the work myself plus using better quality oil & plugs.

buickman

jonbays · 24-07-2005, 03:09 PM

Dealers are there to sell cars. The "SERVICE" is just there to get the sale and no more.

If they really wanted to actually fix cars they would have to employ better mechs train them etc and make the sort of money they can by selling cars by servicing them and its all too hard for most dealers to do this.

Psycho Chicken · 24-07-2005, 03:13 PM

Nonsense, they make a heap off servicing. Most of the time car companies lose money on the sale, they make it back in parts and labour.

EL_futuraistic · 24-07-2005, 05:14 PM

nah, I wouldnt have my EL serviced by them. I only took it there for a couple of specific things i couldnt do at home, thinking they would be better as they are ford.

How wrong i was, thanks guys for ur feedback. I think i will invest in some more tools and jacks for home so i can do the work myself in future.

FRDXR6 · 24-07-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbays

Dealers are there to sell cars. The "SERVICE" is just there to get the sale and no more.

If they really wanted to actually fix cars they would have to employ better mechs train them etc and make the sort of money they can by selling cars by servicing them and its all too hard for most dealers to do this.

Actually its quite the opposite. The main money is within the ongoing costs (servicing, parts etc) thats why theres been a real shift towards keeping 'lifetime customers' lately.

Subura have led the way and other major manafacturers like nissan and toyota are now following subura's lead. There was an article about this shift towards making servicing and reparis their major revenue earner in cars guide last week.

TURBOTAXI · 24-07-2005, 09:37 PM

Ford sevice? - No thanks.
Premium price and crap work (well in my experience anyway)
.

Danny · 24-07-2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Apprentice to mechanic ratio at Ford is pretty high. It the cheapest way to do it. Personally I wouldn't touch any dealership unless I was getting warrenty work done. I work at one (not Ford) and the ammount of stuff that happens is unbelievable, even from qualified mechanics. You've gotta remember dealerships pay SFA in wages, so the guys working there are (usually) the less than average mechanics who can't hold a job at a real workshop. Or can't hack working at a real workshop.

Ohhh! And here I was thinking that they realy could tell how many off camber Kay's my car's tyre had done just by swishing round the motor oil in a wine glass

:

Supa R00 · 25-07-2005, 11:03 AM

Having seen the amount of silicon come of my rocker cover gasket by a previous ford mechanic and it still leaked makes me wonder. ive never taken my xr to ford...