I brought my truck in last month to get the coast down moan fixed. At the time I told the dealership that I was experiencing a slight vibration in the gas pedal at 18mph, 28mph, 38mph. Told them to go ahead and rotate and balance the tires while checking the moan out.

They changed my oil and stated they had to order parts to fix the moan. I was missing the right rear valve stem cap when I brought the truck in. Seemed funny, they were supposed to rotate and balance the tires for which I paid for - but the right rear valve stem cap was still missing after they were supposed to have been rotated. I asked the service rep who told me he would check into it.

Well I dropped it off when the special order parts came in. I let them know again that I didn't believe the tires were rotated and that I still experienced the vibration. Didn't get to pick the truck up until late that night. Noticed the vibration still, they said they didn't and "could not duplicate". Just like the coast down moan that I brought it in four times until they finally did.

I went home and made the wife drive it and she noticed it. Well I had to leave on an very extended business trip so I told my wife to bring it in and have an oil change done and to demand a free rotation and balancing. She called and they agreed.

They called her at work and stated the problem was that my tires had flat spots and needed to be replaced at a tune of $800! When she went there and refused new tires they tried to charge her for the rotation and balancing. She argued her way out.

A friend took her to a tire specialty store later that day. The manager took the truck into the shop, inspected the tires and rebalanced them. Told her there were NO FLAT SPOTS and that whoever balanced them did it incorrectly. Stated she still had a good 40-50,000 miles left on them. Suppose to be writing a letter for me.

FORD if you're listening, you have a long time customer that is pi$$ed off. One for not doing the job correctly when identified, and two for trying to take advantage of my wife when I'm unavailable. If they had "flat spots" why didn't they notice them two weeks ealier when I was there and they supposedly had balanced and inspected them then?

I looked at those tires and all the fluids/belts/hoses real closely before I left knowing that I wouldn't be home to fix things for a bit if something went wrong.

It's amazing that if they did rotate the tires initially as I had paid them to do that they would remove the valve stem cap and put it on the front tire, I THINK NOT! Cheapos, doing an oil change and rotation/balancing and they didn't put a 2 cents valve stem cap on the tire? That's because the didn't check them or rotate them. Just took my money.

I'm waiting for the letter from the tire store so I can attached it to my letter to FORD.

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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs



[This message has been edited by JD (edited 06-01-2001).]

 

I'm not defending them but, the air pressure is supposed to be different between front and rear. If the tires had the correct pressure to start with (and they SHOULD check) then when rotated, the (new) backs would need air and the fronts would have to be bled. That done, there is a 25 percent chance that the tire missing a cap would still end up missing one...

...and that's what I think happened......NAH!!!

 

Sounds like you got a bad dealer. If you have to take your truck back to them in the future, I would suggest you start marking things to make sure they are replaced or moved in the case of tires.

 

One time when I was having my Nissan Altima's tires rotated, I put a mark on one of the wheels just for the heck of it. When my car was ready for me to pick up, I noticed the marked wheel was in the same location. I was ready to raise hell. I was just about to go talk to the service writer when I realised I had marked the plastic hub cap, which probably just stayed in their locations. I am glad I cought that, before I made a fool out my self.

JD, I hate my local dealer also, they have pulled crap like that with me also. When I bought my truck , the salesman told me their service dept. was known for being terrible and if I had a problem he would make it right. Well, I had a problem and when I went to find my salesman, I found out he did not work there any more. I was on my own.

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'99 F-150 XLT SC 4x4 5.4L Auto 3.55LS Tow pkg, skid plates, keyless entry, UWS tool box, Superchip, Gibson pipes w/ Flowmaster 40 series muffler, K&N filter, BFG 265/75/16 All-Terrain TA/KO

 

JD, Throw stones (here) at the dealer, not Ford! Slam em' good, sleeze ***** need that every now and again. There is nothing worse than NEGATIVE publicity! Dennis

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'98 White Super Cab 4X4 Lariat

WustaMass, Where we pahk ah cahs!

 

That's who it's really directed at. I really liked the dealership, that's why I didn't list their name - yet. This on top of the hassle with the coast down moan topped it, now I'm starting to think they're not doing everything correct. First time in for the coast down moan my stereo was cranked when I picked it up, how can they hear the problems like that! I'm writing to them first before I send anything on up the chain. I'll give them the opportunity to make good on their mistake (at least that's my opinion). But you can imagine when you are about 5000+ miles away from home how mad the situation above can make a person.

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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs



[This message has been edited by JD (edited 06-02-2001).]

 

When ever I had to have service done at the dealer in the past I take it in and wait as well as watch to make sure the job gets done. Its funny when they know your waiting on it how they do work on it and if you leave it and come back no work has been done but you still get charged for any work they may have done like drive it into the shop then back out to make it look good.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

Just remember that the squeaky wheel gets the lube.

I had a terrible time getting my truck out of the body shop at the local Ford dealership. They listened and wrote down all my concerns and when I came back only half the work was done... they had missed trim pieces and forgot to replace damaged trailer hitch parts... they just looked at me and did nothing... until I complained. In fact, I called the insurance company who was handling the claim and had them rip them a new one too.... told them they were wasting there money using that shop.... since I was driving a rental they were paying for all the extra days it took to fix things right.
They also took the truck out for a test drive and told me the route they took and all... guess they didn't notice I zero'd out the trip meter... 2 tenths of a mile showed me just how far they drove it.

Ever wonder how these people would react if they received service this bad?

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2000 F-150 XLT SC SB[*]4.2 V-6/ automatic/ 3.55 LS rearend[*]Class III tow package[*]K&N filter[*]Mobil 1 synthetic oil[*]Pendaliner SR Pro Bedliner "Nascar Trucks Edition"

Cruising in the "Dry Heat" of Tucson, Arizona.

[This message has been edited by OO F-150 XLT (edited 06-12-2001).]

 

I know exactly what you're complaining about. I've worked at two different Ford dealerships over the past 4 years and you wouldn't believe how many people they majorly screw over daily. But don't feel to bad because I own a Chevy and the local Chevy dealership screws me everytime I go there.

 

unfortunately I think thats the nature of the beast. Used to be that the dealerships wanted to get your car running right while saving you money, etc... same with local mechanics, now they try to lie there way into telling you things are wrong unless you complain they'll never even apologize for their horrible business practice. Hence why people hate car dealerships so much, they get jacked around when buying the truck, and get jacked around when trying to get it repaired. The "could not duplicate" to me means "didn't try" or "knew exactly what it was, didn't want to replace it" It's a pain in the keester it is .