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Once somebody shows you who they are, believe them. Find another dealer in the future.
Ford dealer diagnostic charge to see if AC is covered under Ford premium extended warranty
- Thread starter GON
- Start date
I understand and agree people need to be paid for the time. But when a customer shows up with a car that is under the original factory warranty, or a factory extended bumper to bumper warranty, and the service advisor starts by saying you have to pay a diagnostic fee of $200 to find out if the repair is covered, it causes the customer unease because it is not only the money but the question of whether I am dealing with someone reputable. After all I signed a contract where the manufacturer agrees to cover everything but wear items and cosmetics pretty much.
The better way to handle the issue is to explain to the customer that the customer doesn’t pay the fee if the repair is covered. I have had the experience, both with Toyota and Ram dealers, Iwhen they act as if the warranty doesn’t exist and then they call you like you won the lottery to tell you that the contract you signed actually means what it says. Honda and BMW dealers, in my experience, have handled this issue with greater skill. The underlying economics are I am sure the same. But one approach makes me feel like I am dealing with shysters and the other approach confirms that I am dealing with people who are reputable.
But to your point I don’t disagree that people should be paid for their time, but it is a customer relationship management issue. ( It is also one of the experiences that makes me less confident about monkeying around with service manual recommendations - if they act this way when something is clearly covered, I sometimes have the feeling I will have an argument on my hands for any sort of divergence from the manual, irrespective of the merit, if that makes sense.)
Well let me be the Devil's Advocate here, 
the warranty doesn't cover any & all breakdowns, which is what MOST people think, but only those that are caused by a "Manufacturing Deficiency" so IF the malfunction is caused by anything else one's SOL!
Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.
the warranty doesn't cover any & all breakdowns, which is what MOST people think, but only those that are caused by a "Manufacturing Deficiency" so IF the malfunction is caused by anything else one's SOL!Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
This is the second time I brought the truck in for warranty repair.Well let me be the Devil's Advocate here,
Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.
The first time I brought in for a warranty repair, the issue was the DEF heater hose. Dealer (Washington State) claimed the hose failed due to abuse. The dealer wanted $1100 to fix and not cover under warranty (three hours book time labor). I pulled the truck from the dealer right away. Purchased the OEM part online for about $100 USD, and replaced the part in my driveway in under one hour, with no special tools. Very high profit for the dealer and the tech to replace the DEF heater hose. Not so much under warranty.
The issue in this thread is NOT paying a diagnostic fee. The issue is the significant financial reward a dealer makes if they can find a way to have a repair not covered under warranty.
I wish I could find a link to it, but yesterday I say a YouTube short about a Nissan with 32K miles on it, clearly still under warranty. Dealer refused to cover it because of an aftermarket battery and air filter. The person ended up using a mobile mechanic who bought a part at said dealer and installed in their parking lot.
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