So for christmas last year, we leased my dad a new 05 Aviator (company lease) Anyway, at 10000 miles we started having starting problems. One day, it just wouldn't start up that morning. We jumped it off, took it to the shop, tested everything, it was all cool. Maybe just a freak thing I figure. Then about 3 days later, same thing. Then another week goes by and it happens again. I take it back in and test it, and lo and behold the battery has a bad cell. I called the dealer and they told me the stupidest thing I have ever heard. "we have to charge the battery for 72 hours and test it." I said fine, whatever, and I expect a loner for free, and I don't want a piece of crap 500, I want a lincoln. They put me in an 06 Navigator. Now, the dealer bills lincoln $50 for that rental per day. The next day they call, battery is fine they say. Isaid no its not, it has a bad cell. They said they couldn't replace it becuase it tested good. Fine I said, be there shortly. Drop off the rental (they made me pay $3.06 in taxes) and took home the aviator. 5 days later, the battery is dead again. Back to the dealer, back in teh 06 navigator (lincoln is again billed $50 for the rental) Next day, day, same thing the battery is good come and get it. Drop of the 06 (and another 3.06 in taxes) and take it home. Next morning it won't start. I get pissed off. Call and speak with great disdain to the service manager (a friend of mine, says there is nothing she can do if it tests good) Back to the dealer again, back in the 06 navigator again (another $50 billed to lincoln) and the same call the next day. Go to get it, they say the battery is fine you are crazy. Get in it to leave, it won't start. Go back to the service bay and say, which one of you is pushing me home since the dam thing won't start? Finally got the battery replaced.

But the issue is this. Lincoln just paid $150 in rental fees for me to ride that 06 Navi around for three days. The battery probably didn't cost them $50 to begin with. What kind of shiat for brains people do they have running that department?

Vent over

 

I *know* someone that had the same issue with an Expedition. After the second trip to the dealer and the whole, "It tests OK" line, he went home, popped one of the vent caps off the battery, sucked out some of the electrolyte and poured in some baking soda with water. That took care of that cell permanently!

Needless to say, the third tow to the dealership resulted in a new battery installation.

Sometimes you just need to play the game with them... it's a pain, I know.

-Joe

 

This sounds like the games I had at my first Ford dealer. It always seemed like hey would put more effort into getting out of doing work than just going ahead and doing it right the first time. You are nicer about it than me, I wouldn’t have paid the $3.06 either… Also, I know that the first Ford dealer billed Ford for work they never did on my car … Glad I don’t use them anymore…