Another reason why I don't trust most shops!

[antiqueshell]

My Dad took his 2005 Ford 500 into the local Ford dealer for a basic oil change since he has discount coupons. ( I had suggested that he take the car to the same indy shop that does most of his other work.(Although the indy doesn't like to do oil changes...seriously) So he takes the car into Ford and they come back and inform him that the roll resistor mount is failed (which it was I told my Dad a while ago) and the AC system is leaking refrigerant out of the compressor seal shaft (I also had informed him about this and we both knew about it, and had be recharged a couple of years ago.)

Well the AC was working marginally BEFORE he took it into the dealer..just afterwards it was COMPLETELY warm! Also the coolant reserve tank was filled properly just a month ago and also had never shown being down and yes, you guessed it it was down just to the bottom of the cold fill line...how interesting . The service writer was trying to press my Dad into having them charge the system for around 120 bucks! LOL The guy continued to [censored] him about the fact that it is a violation of EPA law for the dealer to let him drive out of there after they informed him about the refrigerant leak without the system being repaired ....BAHAHAHA!

Thankfully my Dad while now over 70 just politely declined any work and left.


Now what are the odds that that coolant tank is low and the AC suddenly was blowing totally warm is just an coincidence?

I told my Dad to NEVER go back there as I believe in their anger that he refused to have any major work done they screwed around with things...or at least the tech did.

I used to work in this business ( dealer, detail and paint shops) and I know full well that this [censored] DOES occur more often then you might think.

Just a warning for folks ALWAYS be on your toes and it doesn't hurt to let them know you have some idea about how your car works and the service it needs BEFORE they take it to the work shop.

BEWARE!

 

[hatt]

They didn't try and sell him a bottle of gimmick to combat the ethanol gas? That's the Ford place thing around here.

 

[WiskyBadger]

This is what makes me thankful for having a brother thats a mechanic. Don't have to worry about this garbage. That and it's way cheaper

 

[crazyoildude]

did you expect anything else from the stealer... Most are crooks but i have to admit i know one that is pretty honest.. I deal with the parts departments in many stealers and i know one that is pretty honest.. Pretty sad

 

[antiqueshell]

No they didn't try and push that....

I have never thought much of this local Ford dealer down here in the upstate of SC, they don't seem to care about competing with other Ford stores near by but this one is closest to where we live.

I had half a mind to drive back over there and politely but firmly inform the service manager what I thought of events that happened.

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't simply suck the AC system dry so that is DEFINITELY didn't work. So they got a a couple of pounds of FREE 134a and screwed the customer over. That coolant reserve tank as well.... what the heck did they suck some of that out of the reserve tank? I hope they didn't do something worse.
Maybe they put a pin hole in one of the rad hoses....but I haven't smelled any coolant smell yet...it has the OEM ford gold coolant in it...does that have the typical smell of old green antifreeze? I'd like to know.

I hate to say it but my gut instincts are pretty darn good, and I have a detective's mind as well. I smell a rat.


Of course the Honda dealer in the same town was the one that cross threaded all eight lug nuts on the front wheels on my Dad's 1994 Accord..and interestingly the radiator in that car mysteriously failed suddenly just a day or so after it went in for an oil change. Snakes abound here especially in the dealer stores. The term "the dirty south" fits . LOL

 

[panthermike]

Thankfully, between me and my BIL, we can do just about anything. Besides, the one shop I have trusted over the years closed down a while back.

 

[antiqueshell]

I'm very glad that at least some folks can avoid these places, so these scumbags can't prey on EVERYONE that needs service for their vehicles.

But a lot of us, even those like myself with some knowledge and ability to do most basic jobs simply don't have the tools, equipment, or ability to do anything else.

I warned my Dad about the Honda store as well. I told him take it all to the indy shop we use. They are not cheap but they are at least mostly honest as far as I can tell. It helps that I know the workings of my cars and my father's as well. And these people know that..

About that Ford Gold coolant (G 05).. does that have a distinct smell that I would notice, what does it smell like?

 

[surfstar]

One time when I was having a radiator hose changed for preventative maintenance, the darn tech went and cracked the hose bib on the radiator resulting in a $140 new radiator and an additional day. Stupid mech.

Oh wait, that was a DIY

 

[EType]

Most problems, misinformation and mistakes I have had with my vehicles have been caused by dealers or chains.

I have a couple of independents who I trust if I need them for things I can't do myself.

But I have a multi pronged approach if I have to use dealers or chains:

1) I now ask to talk to the foreman at dealers
2) I use dealers that have great BBB scores and other recommendations. I've actually been very impressed with my local Mercedes dealer
3) I use chains with a customer service ethic and contact corporate if I have an issue. America's Tire and Firestone will work to ensure your satisfaction.
4) I have a great relationship with my credit card companies and will not hesitate to dispute the charge. Whenever I've had to dispute anything, I have always won.

I suggest you:

1) Contact the GM and Service Head of the dealer
2) When they blow you off, tell Ford corporate. Tell them you already know about the blah blah about the dealers being independent but then ask them why the "factory trained" technicians that they trained ended up being incompetent and dishonest.
3) When Ford blow you off, just get a refund from your credit card company telling them that you've already tried contacting the merchant but they are ignoring your concerns.

 

[Johnny248]

I'm so sick of people and these dealer stories. Don't take your car to the dealer. In fact don't take it anywhere because you can't trust anyone. While we are at it, next time you have electrical or plumbing problems, don't call an electrician or plumber. Next time you get sick, don't go to the doctor.

Everyone always thinks they know everything. There are professionals in the auto industry just like any other industry that are honest and fair.

 

[Johnny248]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
No they didn't try and push that....

I have never thought much of this local Ford dealer down here in the upstate of SC, they don't seem to care about competing with other Ford stores near by but this one is closest to where we live.

I had half a mind to drive back over there and politely but firmly inform the service manager what I thought of events that happened.

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't simply suck the AC system dry so that is DEFINITELY didn't work. So they got a a couple of pounds of FREE 134a and screwed the customer over. That coolant reserve tank as well.... what the heck did they suck some of that out of the reserve tank? I hope they didn't do something worse.
Maybe they put a pin hole in one of the rad hoses....but I haven't smelled any coolant smell yet...it has the OEM ford gold coolant in it...does that have the typical smell of old green a

I hate to say it but my gut instincts are pretty darn good, and I have a detective's mind as well. I smell a rat.


Of course the Honda dealer in the same town was the one that cross threaded all eight lug nuts on the front wheels on my Dad's 1994 Accord..and interestingly the radiator in that car mysteriously failed suddenly just a day or so after it went in for an oil change. Snakes abound here especially in the dealer stores. The term "the dirty south" fits . LOL




No one is going to waste their time by evacuating your a/c system FOR FREE hoping that you may pay to repair it. They aren't going to do anything extra in that .3 hrs that they are getting paid to do your oil change.

 

[MBS500]

So far I've been really impressed with local MB dealer. Higest quality service (well it should,when you pay 100k for a car) I ever seen. They seemed very honest,and really trying to help with your problems. And they better be honest since most MB owners are have layer or layers themself, they will be in big thouble is something comes up. The only thing, service advisor was too relaxed, (and maybe not taking too seriously) because of my age.
P.S. i do all my work myself, unless I need a lift and it very specific, like MB hydrolic suspension. If not it goes on a lift to trusted mechanic that I used to work with.

 

[Burt]

I had a Ford dealer that twisted one of my spark plugs because I said I would pay the minimum diagnostic fee rather than the $1200 in repairs he wanted. Wish I would have charged him with a crime just to drive home a point. Instead I posted it in a yahoo review board. Thankfully, they went out of business.

 

[229]

You sound like a mechanic. Do you have tools back in chicago?

 

[EType]

If you step back and look at it, its amazing that what is effectively theft and crime is so rampant in this one part of our society and economy.

The people who work at and own these dealerships live among us. They are our neighbors, but at the dealer anything goes.

And the auto firms don't really hold the dealers accountable for their behavior. It's effectively become institutionalized and accepted as part of the industry.

 

[Roadkingnc]

I think somebody was driving by your dads and had a recycling machine and decided to steal some r134, they also needed some used coolant so they took a few ounces of it too. Do you really think this happens a lot at dealerships? What do you do for a living? Don't you think some people think you are screwing somebody too? I think it absurd people are always slamming dealership when the are usually the only ones that can properly diagnose and repair a late model car.

 

[Mr Nice]

I was at Tire Kingdom and they were trying to up sell their fuel injector cleaning service, alignment, trans flush... etc...

I just tell them I'm getting rid of the car in 6 months and won't spend any money on those services. They immediately stop their up sell services.

 

[Brybo86]

Originally Posted By: Roadkingnc
I think it absurd people are always slamming dealership when the are usually the only ones that can properly diagnose and repair a late model car.


He didn't go in for a diagnosis of a late model car... He went in for a basic oil change.

 

[eljefino]

Does this car have a traditional radiator cap? It's possible they opened the cap to get a coolant sample for their "free 84 point checklist) and the pressure burped a few oz of coolant out all over the floor etc.

Then then recapped it sucked some from your reserve.

Never assume malfeasance when it could have been mere incompetence.

When I worked at a tire shop we had these little "four square" blotter cards that had to be smeared with PS fluid, ATF, differential(?), and brake fluid. The brake fluid part got me, I could just imagine a tech sticking an oily gloved finger in the master cylinder to "sample" brake fluid meanwhile contaminating said brake fluid with that oil.

 

[Kira]

Hello, What E-type said a few posts back got me thinking about the time when I worked at a VERY dishonest dealership. They were known for their dishonesty and were exposed on the front page of the local paper for three consecutive days; a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. There were constant frictions between this dealership and the car company, but things just went on and on every day. I believe when someone is moving your cars out you don't complain too much about it. That is a conflict of interest. Kira