Ford Dealer Service...is your dealer taking you for a ride.

[OwnTheRoad]

Gday folks, well as you might have guessed by the title I'm not impressed by my dealer with their service department.
The stories I've been spun by their counter staff are too long to list here.
Lets just say it's difficult to remain loyal to Ford when the their advertising campaign is nothing like the reality.
Ford of Australia your being let down by your support network on a grand scale.

I would really like to hear your thoughts ..............ford need to hear this.

[GT450]

Wignall Ford not living up to the Ford ideals???

[OwnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by GT450

Wignall Ford not living up to the Ford ideals???

Oh your good, reading between the lines very well there.
Ideals...not even close .
Service should be based on a long term plan not trying to deceive people for a quick dollar or to improve your performance stats.

[uniacidz]

ELXR6 went into Ford to get front headlights aligned due to insurance company panel shop couldn't align the headlights

Waited one and half hours and only cost me $22 and I was to submit this to insurance company for reimbursement

Anyhoos, get home and headlights not adjusted

Went back with photos next day of the dismal non attempt and service dept manager admits that was a poor effort and disbelief as they have alignment tool or something

Refunded

Even my now ex mechanic couldn't do it and then I decided to try and successfully did it

Holden
Was told that my car couldn't use the Tech2 diagnostics system and will need my car for a long period of time to sort wrong fuel gauge issue

His front desk colleague even looked stumped of the lie this dick was telling me

Btw, ended up getting dash cluster reprogrammed with a forum members Tech2 later on



Dealerships, some bull**** and some are honest

But always remember, most cars are worked on by apprentices
Whilst some are good, some are also bad


In a nutshell, not just Ford, its everywhere




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[superfly]

That's right, bad service can be found anywhere and everywhere.

FWIW, I'm happy with my local Ford dealer. They've always done right by me.

[gilly2497]

Same thing in Darwin.
They suggested I rotated the tyres on my fgx xr8 .. had to point out that it would be impossible considering different tyre sizes etc.
Felt sorry for the service person as it was their specialists ford mechanic who suggested it.

[OwnTheRoad]

I was told today that I had to change my A/C refrigerant gas as well as deoderize with filter because it will cause mould as my receiver dryer needed to be clean , this should be done every 3-5 years .
Now I get the pollen filter and perhaps a spray with disinfectant can be good but when I questioned the A/C gas replacement with logic and some knowledge he realized his bull**** contrived story wasn't going over too well.
So I wonder just how many people these con artists are fooling because let's face it if your reading this your a motoring enthusiast but we are in the minority so there must be thousands of clueless motorists falling for these stories every day.

[dunga]

Originally Posted by OwnTheRoad

I was told today that I had to change my A/C refrigerant gas as well as deoderize with filter because it will cause mould as my receiver dryer needed to be clean , this should be done every 3-5 years .
Now I get the pollen filter and perhaps a spray with disinfectant can be good but when I questioned the A/C gas replacement with logic and some knowledge he realized his bull**** contrived story wasn't going over too well.
So I wonder just how many people these con artists are fooling because let's face it if your reading this your a motoring enthusiast but we are in the minority so there must be thousands of clueless motorists falling for these stories every day.

Its called upselling and is becoming very common in this country . They tell lies like your brake pads need replacing soon or you need a couple of tyres .The one about changing your a/c gas is a new one to me total bs .The best way I have found to deal with the dealer idiots is to let them know that you are mechanical minded and not prepared to accept the garbage that spews out of their mouths.

[OzriderXR8]

It depends on the dealer...

The very large one I bought the FG from in Geelong was terrible, I would never take the car back.

Westside in Melton, fantastic, great service, courtesy car, roadside assist.

Everything Ford advertises.

[Crazy Dazz]

Back in the day, they just ripped everyone off, but the payoff to all the overpaid bludgers was that they built up a lot of specialist knowledge.
Now, the intense competition from 3rd party chains, and the resultant advent of fixed-price servicing, has had a number of deleterious effects:
Margins are so tight they can barely afford trained monkeys. Whereas your "service adviser" used to be a fat old mechanic, now its some pimply 19 yr old who failed the IQ test for job at Maccas.
The service department has become a production line. Your car gets allocated 30 mins, and that's. Anything not done either gets ignored completely, or becomes the basis for an extortionate quote.
With basic servicing now completely unprofitable, it has become all about the up-sell. That's the only way they can make any money.

[Sancho]

Pretty sure all of Ford NZ is giving everyone a ride on 100% more expensive parts than Australia

[Mainforcepatrol]

Originally Posted by OzriderXR8

It depends on the dealer...

The very large one I bought the FG from in Geelong was terrible, I would never take the car back.

Westside in Melton, fantastic, great service, courtesy car, roadside assist.

Everything Ford advertises.

Has a new Ford dealership set up in Melton?

The one that was there a number of years ago closed down after unscrupulous activities.

I also had poor service from the Geelong dealership.

[FairmontGS]

City Ford Sydney for 15 years - no problems, always about what they quote, cars are always immaculate on pick-up. Sure they cost a bit more than el-cheapo corner store mechanic but they use Ford parts.

No complaints from me

[OwnTheRoad]

If they actually did follow the service schedule and did it 100% then I would have no problem paying for it however as we all know they cut corners lie to our faces constantly.
They have no credibility at all.

[ronwest]

I'm sure that at times (a lot of the time??) a scheduled service is boiled down to an oil and filter change.

My cars do a lot less than "average" kms so a 30k km service might see the car at 20k kms.

A few years ago the timed schedule service dictated that (amongst other items) wheels were rotated, door latches lubricated and something else that I can't recall.

None of them were done - the wheels because not needed because of low relative kms and the other two items because of whatever.

So I wonder which other items are left off the checklist but also note that there is no price discount for timed services (where stuff isn't required to be done).

[bangm001]

Find a decent private mechanic. You will get your genuine parts through them at trade prices anyway, so genuine parts, with a non apprentice to work on your pride and joy. Your car may not be washed and scratched during a dry rub wash at a dealer but you will be better off for it.

[Tassie f100]

As I said in an earlier post a regular service is allowed 30 mins max.Up on the hoist and out with the sump plug,while oil is draining remove and replace filter,then walk around ,check brake pads and tyres,give susp and exhaust a shake.Refit sump plug and lower to ground,walk around with lub stick for door and bonnet catches etc.Refill and check oil level,job done.

[jmack]

but your service books is stamped,that all some tools think of.thats why i do all my own servicing,i know its done right and with care

[GO FURTHER]

Let's face it.... Most scheduled services are just a simple oil & filter change, and a drop in 2 minute replacement air filter, and a few stabs with the grease stick on the door hinges and latches.

The rest such as tyres, suspension, brakes, seat belts and lights are just simple walk around checks.

Most of which the average punter can do themselves with a few simple tools, jack stands and watching a couple of "how to" Youtube videos.

If your car requires repairs or fault finding due to a problem.... Then that's a different story, and good enough reason to take it to a professional.

The only reason for taking your car to the dealer for most people for a scheduled service is to get the log book stamped.

If that's all you are worried about in doing your own service.... Just buy a rubber stamp "kit" that allows you to make up your own name ... E.G. "Rick's Mobile Auto Service" ( Mobile ... as in come to you and service at your home), and the mobile number off your data Sim (which won't take phone calls) and stamp the log book yourself.

That way if anyone tries to contact the number.... It looks like they just went out of business.

Every car I've traded in over the years.... Not one dealer asked for or wanted to see the service log book and when it had or if it was regularly serviced!

They are so interested in selling you a car... Your trade in value will not vary much, as they know the value and what they are prepared to offer you as soon as you walk in the door.

[jd dad]

The last service on my wife's ST they tried the upsell on me. Called and said the car was down on the left side and needed an alignment? Asked him what down meant and he couldn't explain just said that's what he was told. Said to him the if they looked at it that it had new tyres fitted and an alignment done less than 1000ks ago so I doubt it needs doing again. Then asked if I wanted an inlet manifold clean as the carbon buildup makes poorer performance etc. told him no thanks as if it needs decarbon after just 33000ks running on premium the whole time there would be bigger issues at play. Have been happy enough with them up till now but seriously considering giving them the boot after that effort.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by OwnTheRoad

If they actually did follow the service schedule and did it 100% then I would have no problem paying for it however as we all know they cut corners lie to our faces constantly.
They have no credibility at all.

What car are we talking about? Is it your 16 YO AU? If so, how could you expect it to be accurate for something that FoA thought would be recycled by now?

Servicing an older car is a different kettle of fish to a newer one.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by jd dad

The last service on my wife's ST they tried the upsell on me. Called and said the car was down on the left side and needed an alignment? Asked him what down meant and he couldn't explain just said that's what he was told. Said to him the if they looked at it that it had new tyres fitted and an alignment done less than 1000ks ago so I doubt it needs doing again. Then asked if I wanted an inlet manifold clean as the carbon buildup makes poorer performance etc. told him no thanks as if it needs decarbon after just 33000ks running on premium the whole time there would be bigger issues at play. Have been happy enough with them up till now but seriously considering giving them the boot after that effort.

Decarb seems to be the new flavour of the month.

[OwnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

What car are we talking about? Is it your 16 YO AU? If so, how could you expect it to be accurate for something that FoA thought would be recycled by now?

Servicing an older car is a different kettle of fish to a newer one.

No we have a 2yr old Territory and 1 yr old Ranger bud.

[OwnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Every car I've traded in over the years.... Not one dealer asked for or wanted to see the service log book and when it had or if it was regularly serviced!

:

You might also say that their lack of interest in the service history of a car is directly related to their previous lack of service ..........
In the past a stamped book had some value , these days it's highly overinflated at the start and undervalued at the end...

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by OwnTheRoad

You might also say that their lack of interest in the service history of a car is directly related to their previous lack of service ..........
In the past a stamped book had some value , these days it's highly overinflated at the start and undervalued at the end...

I think it has the most value if you are selling your car privately.... Dealers don't give a damn.

The thing is, most trade-ins (under a certain value and age) are not resold by the dealer on their yard....They are sold off to the wholesalers or other smaller non-dealer car yards, often with only a few dollars on the original trade in price.

The service history becomes the next dealer's / customer's problem.

So long as the new car dealer gets his money back on what he gave you for a trade in, they don't really care... Neither do they really want your car.

[Sabantien]

When I took my second hand FG with a LOT of kms on it I was expecting them to come back at me with a massive list of issues.

They did the service, called me up to tell me the boot struts needed replacing (which I already knew) and asked if they could do that, told me how much it would be over the phone.

When I went in they gave me a quote for my bushings that I had asked about (which I got done for about $500 less elsewhere), but the guy I spoke to seemed genuinely surprised that they found no issues with the car. It felt like while they thought they were about to make a mint on repairs to a well driven vehicle, they also weren't going to make anything up either.

They DID charge the cap price for the service though, but I didn't expect anything less of them.