Hello Guys,
Ok I just got a phone call from Enfield Fords Service Manager.

Here is the list of things they were "supposed" to do when I dropped the vehicle off 1 week ago, and here are the things they did/didn't do.

• Alignment (Cam Bolts Request or Upper, and Lower Control Arm Replacement)
• Check & Fix Paint Damage (Roof).
• (Check this preventative) Check for Intercooler Leaks
• Loose Ground Effects (tighten)
• (Check this preventative) Cracked Fog Light Lens
• Seat Damage
• (Check this preventative) Coil pack #4 shorting out due to loose heater hose leaking coolant.
• (Check this preventative) Tranny & Driveshaft Vibration/Leak
• (Check this preventative) Piston Slap Updates (Possibly Forged Piston Related & not dangerous on warn up!)
• (Check This) 3 Rib Belt Vs 5 Rib
• Change Oil, and Filter. I gave them Mobile One Synthetic 10W-30, and Ford Motorcraft Filter to fit!
• Rotate front to rear (Uni-directional)

Ok that is what I asked be taken care of! I don't think it was to much to ask, and here is the response I got at 7AM this morning from the Service Manager

1: "The parts for the alignment are not valid/marked, by SVT under any bulletin. The one's on your vehicle are fine, and there isn't a problem."-Service Manager

I told him to "call" SVT, and to take the vehicle for a short drive. While driving cut the wheel to the left as if you were parking in a spot. This should reproduce the clunk. They said they would simply grease the steering stops. (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)!

2: "There is no roof damage. It's wax build up the Service Manager claims"-Service Manager

Then why is my paint "Bubbling"? (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

3: "We can't look at the intercooler since a problem is not actually happening yet"-Service Manager

No **** sherlock I'm only at 3,000 miles, so the problem hasn't started, but I wanted them to be aware, and to at least check it. (NOT A GOOD ANSWER) They said they can't waste their technicians time on problems that haven't begun yet. (Hey fine buddy it's yours, and fords dime to waste when damage is done.

4: "The ground effects are fine, and tightened to SVT spec so we didn't touch them."-Service Manager

Then why are they "loose", and ready to fall off? (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

5: "Fog lights are fine, and we can't cover them even if a problem occurs"-Service Manager

Not a smart answer **** head. I'm not paying a dime for Fords mistake in producing faulty Fog Light covers. They should have been made of Pyrex, not just plain glass, so you will replace them. (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

6: "There is not seat damage at this time, so we can't help you, and even if there was a problem we can't help cause SVT doesn't have any notification about a problem"-Service Manager

No kidding. Again it's preventative maintenance, and a way to set my mind at ease when, and if a problem does occur. They basically told me it's my problem. (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

7: "Didn't check the coil pack, since you said it wasn't a problem yet. Again we can't waste our technicians time with problems that aren't happening yet"-Service Manager

Again it's your money, and unfortunately my time your wasting, so at this point I'm getting pissed off (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

8: "No known problems with the tranny, and since you said it wasn't a problem yet, we didn't look at it"-Service Manager

Ok now I'm getting really pissed. When/if those parts go it's gonna put my lightning out of commission for weeks, and it's going to waste their time, and money. (NOT A GOOD ANSWER)

9: "Ford said there is nothing wrong with these motors. No bulletins, nothing. We checked the motor at start up, and no problems"-Service Manager

Ok I'll give them 1/2 credit here. Ford "does" know about the piston slap, but my motor does not have the problem at this time. (Decent Answer), but I'm taking away points because they "lied".

10: The rear serpentine belt, which drives the alternator, power steering, has 8 ribs, not 3 so you are fine.

Well at least they looked, or "did" they? As far as I know there are either 3 ribs, or 5 ribs. Perhaps another Lightning owner can confirm this, so I "know" this guy is blowing smoke up my ***.

11: You gave us the wrong oil, and we can't change it for you. Mobile 1 Synthetic 10W -30 is what you gave us, and this will void your warranty. We need 5W - 30.

Ok now I'm pissed. I bought oil for nothing, just so these idiots can give me **** about viscosity weights? At this point I am steaming, and I'm taking my business elsewhere. I don't put up with BS like this. They did however rotate my tires, and tell me my front right rims is scratched, and 3 lugs are chipped. How the "HELL" does a vehicle get a scratched rim when I don't even "drive" it. It's been sitting practically since I bought it, and only has 3,000 miles on it.

Ok I'm done ranting, but I would like comments from others on this circumstance, and to tell me what you think about the Service Managers comments?

 

Just go elsewhere. My local SVT dealer first told me that Lightnings dont have intercoolers. After pointing it out underhood, he then told me that they couldnt find a leak in the radiator. I then had to show him the difference between the regular coolant and the intercooler. Finally, he then told me that intercooler fluid is a consumable and I should just top it off weekly.

I went to another non-SVT dealer and they have given me no problems. (aside from not fixing a broken foglight because they claim it was road hazard damage)

 

Take your truck to another dealer ASAP, but first tell the old Service Manager why your taking your truck somewhere else for service.
Service managers come and go pretty fast, most don't have a clue and they really don't
care. Unless you know him personal, like his a friend of yours or your families, your service from him or the dealer ship will always be questionable, period. So don't even waste time chewing his **S. We all face this problem sooner or later, for whatever reason or vehicle. Good Luck

 

Thanks Bob, and everyone else,
I went to the dealership, and didn't even let them get a word in edge wise. I spoke to the women who "sold" me the vehicle, and she is a sweetheart.

I told her I would continue always advocating their sales department when purchasing a new vehicle, but as far as the service department is concerned I will "never" take my vehicle back to them again. She felt very bad, and said she wished I had told her sooner. I told her it's not "her" problem what the service department does.

I made sure the service manager understood what I was saying as well, and told him it's his opportunity to gain from this loss. I may be "picky", but I have a god damn right to be picky seeing as I financed 40,000 dollars over 5 years to buy the vehicle.

SVT products are a "flagship" symbol, and they are exclusive, so if they can't meet my "picky" needs as a a protective enthusiast, then they don't deserve to work on (Exclusive SVT products)

It's that easy.

Metallic "Don't-Give-Me-****-Just-Fix-It" Blue

 

Hey "Metallic "Don't-Give-Me-****-Just-Fix-It" Blue",

They can't and won't fix it if ain't broke!! Period. And they sure as hell won't be doing any favors for you either. It's a give and take world out there and sometimes you've got to let the peons feel like they're winning so you can get what you need done.

Try it, it works!!


------------------
2000 Red Lightning - #835 of 4966 Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners, MPulse LoPro Tonneau, AIM 2" Drop Shackles, Bed Rug, PSP Filter Kit, Other Goodies, Group Buy Floor Mats
Best time: 13.45 sec. @ 101.99 mph

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car

My Zing.com Album Click Here



[This message has been edited by WHAT04 (edited 11-22-2000).]

 

What's sad is that a dealership has to buy thousands of dollars in special tools to become a SVT dealer and they don't even know the simplest things about the SVT vehicles.

 

Dealership are the worst place to go to if you want something done! And the customer has no choice because there Ford "certified". Even the salesman suck! I'll list off a few things that I've been having problems with.

1)My truck originally came with a spare tire lock. Except when I first got my truck, somebody had taken it off, and put it in the glovey. Unfortunately the pin was missing, so the salesman to the lock and tried order me one, and then found out that you can't get them anymore for some reason! If my spare gets stolen, there paying for a new one!

2)Remember the problem with the spare rubbing on the X support below the box? They had no idea about this, and really didn't care! Again, if it wears the sidewalls out, your paying for it!

3)My LS was grinding around corners so the dealer check it out, and found a small amount of moisture in the gear oil, and realized the truck was off-road, and voided the warranty on it!

4)[Continued from 3] I took my truck into another dealer that a good friend of mine is a mechanic at, to get them to check the LS out. I found out from my friend that he was talking to the service manager, and the sm told him warranty will be voided because he thought the truck was modified for 4x4ing with a suspension lift (NOT!) and oversized tires. My buddy straightened him out though, and we went to talk to the foremen of the shop, and he said to warranty the whole thing.

5)[Continued from 3] My buddy didn't get the job to work on my truck, but he did watch over the guy doing it. My buddy told me that the guy ended up damaging some splines inside, and just filed the deburs, and reinstalled the assembly, but did order the parts that were damaged for replacement. Except the loser service manager either didn't know about the parts being order for replacement or just didn't want the job because it wasn't retail. So when the parts came in, somebody called me to let me know there in, so I called back and asked the service manager, and he just played stupid and said he had no idea what they were for! I couldn't explain to him what happen because that would of got my buddy in trouble for talking to the customer instead of the service manager.

I definitely know where your coming from.

------------------
~'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4L, 3.55LS, tow package, 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's,K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: Bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift or 3" body lift.

~'71 F-100 Sport Custom Reg.Cab
-390FE w/Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, 780cfm Holley, ported & polished cylinder heads,
Hydraulic Crane Cam, 10.5:1 CR, Black Jack headers, true double roller timing chain, and high volume oil pump
-C6 transmision w/B&M 2600rpm stall
-9" Ford Rearend w/4.10 Richmond Gears & 31 spline axles
-215/65/r15 Yokohama's for the front & 28"x13.5"x15" Mickey Thompson ET Street slicks for the back
Best 1/4 mile time @ 3500ft altitude 14.69secs @ 92mph

~2000 Suzuki RM125 Dirt Bike
-no need for any modifications! (yet)

 

Blue,

I think you're getting all worked up for nothing.

If you want a good relationship with your dealer, don't be so fussy with the service manager. He is the one person at the dealership you DO NOT want to **** off.

All that "preventative" stuff IS a waste of your dealer's time. They can't bill Ford for time spent looking for problems that aren't there.

The fix for the the clunk you describe IS lubrication of the stops. If you haven't had the "big clunk", the bolt hasn't moved in the hole, and your truck is in alignment, they won't install the cam bolts or replace your control arms just for fun.

I would have to see your paint and ground-effects problems to comment. If you paint was "bubbling". I can't see why they won't fix it. If you're talking about the unevenness inside the roof gutters, that's just the way they all are. Unless the paint is cracked, they won't repaint it.

If you use a different weight oil than Ford recommends, you are just handing them an excuse to void your engine warranty. Why press the point?

If I were the service manager, you would have made my "A" list by now.




------------------
Regards,
Gordon

'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.249 secs

 

I would be happy if they fixed legitimate warrenty complaints satisfactory. Unless you were trying to establish a paper trail for future (common)complaints??? you need a DOSE OF REALITY....There isn't a dealer in the world that will check out phantom complaints.... Ken

 

remember guys..."anything is possible in " DEALERSHIP LAND".. A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN STEP OUTSIDE OF REALITY. MAKE SURE YOU COMPLAIN TO FORD,,, IT WILL HELP YOUR FAVORITE DEALERSHIP IN NEVER GETTING FORDS BLUE OVAL DESIGNATION... AN AWARD YOUR SERVICE MANAGER WILL UNDERSTAND... IT WILL MEAN HIS BONUS... HIT THEM IN THE WALLET,, ITS THE ONLY LANGIUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND...AFTER YOUR $30,000 INVESTMENT SOME SATISFACTION IS IN ORDER..

 

I agree with Baddog. You would have made my A list also. I would be sure not to sell you a car next time around. Now your going to tell Ford how to make a Fog light ? Geez, maybe you should build your own car.

 

Hello Everyone,
I have been a member here at the Lightning Forum for a long time, although I haven't posted much until recently.

My Service Manager at (Enfield Ford) understood that because I had "Crohn's Disease" that I could not perform preventative work. My lightning only has 3,000 miles on it even though it's soon to be turning 2 years old in the next 4 months. My Lightning already has had a lot of problems. Many of us have had problems, which are a direct result of "manufacturing faults" for the most part. This is "not" our problem to pay for, and or fix. This is "Fords responsibility, and the responsibility of the service department to ensure our "needs/wants" are met under these circumstances.


Basically the Service Manager originally told me over a year ago not to worry, and that they would check all my "pre-prepared" complaints that other Lightning owners on this board had mentioned.

I provided them with "simple" detailed descriptions of each issue, and made sure they, and SVT were in constant contact.

My Service Manager, and his department had "no" problems with this at first.

The dealership said that since I was a preferred customer they had no problem going out of their way to assist me.

You see I have referred other individuals to them who then purchased vehicles. It was a deal I made when I originally purchased the vehicle for 28K. I got a few thousand dollars off because my father knew the owner of the dealership, and I promised to advocate the sales department to ensure they made more sales.

So you see, when you bite the hand that feeds you, especially after they "already" made it clear they would assist me, then "They" are at fault, not me.

I prepared everything in a simple, efficient concise manor, and they just basically turned on me, and wanted to be ******. It's funny because they have worked with me since I bought the vehicle, and even repainted the vehicle when specific paint defects were pointed out. They gave me "zero" problems about that.

I've already found another service department to do the work for me. They are very nice, and I explained everything to them about what had happened at (Enfield Ford's Service Department). They have "NO" problem with looking out for "future" likely problems with the Lightning.

The Service manager understands that our "Lightnings" are a status symbol among the Ford community. They also felt bad that I had to deal with the jerks at the other dealership, and said that as long as I worked with the SVT Tech, and the girl who makes appointments they would work side by side to ensure the highest quality of satisfaction to me. I in turn said I would advocate their service department for repairs of all sorts "non warranty for the most part". They liked this, and were very polite.

"I may not be the smartest fella, but I'm smart enough to know I don't know everything, and this is why I come to the Lightning board to "prepare" my self for problems that will happen to my Lightning. It's just real sad that (Enfield Fords Service Department) decided to turn their backs on me.

Sincerely,
Metallic "I-Got-My-Way-Because-My-Way-Sits-Well-With-Common-Sense" Blue

 

Well having been down the road to "Hell",otherwise known as my SVT dealership,I can understand Metallic's dismay. Granted I also understand the dealership not checking the "phantom" problems.Those things being said...Go to another dealership. That's what I did.I went to my SVT dealerships sister dealership(a bit far away,but I was happening by) and they were appalled at how my few minor problems were being handled,or NOT handle as the case was. They called the SVT dealership and voiced my complaints in a manor I never could have.Since the phone call the SVT deapership has been kissing my proverbial "a$$". So I gave the SVT dealer another shot,fixing the regulator on the pass window,they told me they'd have me "in and out in an hr",they were gonna' "take good care of me(you)". NOT!!! I was there for over 3.5 hrs!!! When they finally brought my truck INTO the shop(over 2 hrs after I brought into the bay,they took it out the back,I saw it sitting back there)I watched the guy change the regulator(took like 25 minutes) and then waited for them to call me over the pa. I was fumming,I was late for work,and in no mood after all there previous screw ups.I told them not to expect me back every again,I gave them 4 tries and the dropped the ball everytime.I marched out and talked to the sales manager,then my dealer,then the owner. None of them were happy w/ what occured,but none of their "we'll correct it,let us handle it" bs is getting me back there.
I went to a local Ford dealer(about 2 minutes from my home) an OLD dealership,talked to them for a bit,told them of the plans to mod the truck,told them I "may"use Mobil syn at some point,etc and they said "no problem". I take it there now,no complaints. They treat me awesome. My brother who has a 93' gt that's heavily moddified goes there as well.The guys there love our vehicles and treat us w/ respect and they get high marks. Too bad not all dealerships can't be like this one.

And to all of you who poo-poo'ed Metallic's complaints(some of which may not be warranted,some of which IS) I sure hope you never get riddin' hard and put away wet by YOUR dealership. Cuz I'd hate to revisit this kindda thread and hear others rip you for your thin skin.Glad some of you feel it's "ok" for premier SVT dealers to neglect the customer and lie to an informed consumer.That's sweet. And as far as making an "A" list...Screw that,raise hell,it get things done. The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

Thus endth the rant.

 

Not to be a jerk but .........most of what you are asking of the dealer is truly a waste of time.The problem is that your truck is so special to you but is actually just a production vechicle and most importantly,The is No reason to try and fix or check things like that unless you are already having problems with those specifically.Its not that i dont understand what you are saying,I just think you need to relax until you have problems.

 

I hear so many problems with the dealerships from others and I myself has had a fair share in the past and the general consensus is to go to another dealership, I personally think that sucks and falls way short of good customer service. We should come up with a way to inform Ford of "Bum" dealerships so we get these issues addressed. I don't think the customer should have to travel from dealer to dealer wasting their time when we all own a Ford product that should be serviced right at the most convenient dealer for us. From what I've been told Ford oversees all of it's dealerships and can take possession at any time if they feel that the dealership isn't running things according to standards. Anyone have any idea's on whom to inform in this type of scenario so we can come together as a team and get some resolution? We, as a group have more power then we think.

Adam
1999 F250SD 4x4 PSD
2001 black L ordered