Ford dealer failed my inspection/emissions
08-03-2011, 10:25 AM
#41
Originally Posted by Marc242
Spoke with a retired Ford engineer yesterday, As far of this crap them telling my truck was "muddy" the guy told me its engineering fault. The front wheelwells have opening in them allowing dirt to splash up onto the motor and lower transmission. The F250 and 350 have rubber aprons that completely cover that opening down to frame. This older guy was extremely upset and said it's a truck damn it! Also, he pointed out the specific off road obstacle course they test the trucks on which are certainly mud packed. We'll see. Called Ford four times now. Each time they say it gets forwarded and someone will contact me within four days. Should be getting allot of calls. Each time you call there is a case number created and assigned an agent.
08-03-2011, 12:17 PM
#42
Well being an "unretired" engineer I can say that there are a lot of shortcomings with every auto manufactures vehicles. You can buy a roll of what's called rubber gasket making material and cut it to fit the openings of the wheel wells. Almost every other Ford vehicle has these except the newer F150's. It's a great insurance policy against dirt, water, mud and rocks. I plan on doing mine this weekend, I'll take some pics and post them up.
08-03-2011, 01:01 PM
#43
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I agree about all manufacturers shortcomings with engineering flaws. Just own up to it though. I'm just agitated about the 486.00 "not covered by warranty because it was dirty" That is completely unacceptable. Your telling me that 10' f150 never off paved road with 10k should not have warranty coverage on a transmission harness that got dirt in it somehow? Is it not plausable that was not secured properly from factory or seal was substandard? How about the fact that the pins that were replaced in that harness sensor may have been fractured while the tech was removing it and never needed replaced in the first place. I still find it amazing that the tech falsly documented that the check engine light kept coming on when it never did for me previously to taking it to the dealer. Sounds to me that they were trying to build a case to protect there ***! Let me know what you think. Gotta go call Ford again.
08-03-2011, 01:37 PM
#44
I agree you have a valid argument. The substandard tech that worked on your vehicle prob. tried to remove the harness to clean the mud out and broke your pin connector. Then covered his ***** saying the check engine light was on and it was do to contamination from mud, this happens all the time and is by no means right. It's common practice for the dealership techs to also claim phantom engine lights and such because they can claim more time under warranty for the "diagnosis" and "repair". Ford and other manufacturers frown upon this but are virtually powerless to do anything about it short of sending someone to recover the actual info that was in the PCM. This bad practice problem will be fixed because all the manufacturers within 3 years will be running a Black Box program in their PCM's. Just curious, but this isn't the main bulkhead connector that goes into the transmission that was damaged or just the OSS sensor ? If so there's a TSB for faulty o-rings causing fluid leakage and contamination intrusion around the bulkhead connector. Here it is :
TSB 11-3-25
03/31/11
6R80 TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD CONNECTOR
SLEEVE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID
FORD:
2009-2010 Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac,
Explorer, F-150
LINCOLN:
2009-2010 Navigator
MERCURY:
2009-2010 Mountaineer
ISSUE
Some 2009-2010 F-150, Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac, Explorer, Mountaineer and Navigator vehicles equipped with a 6R80 transmission may show signs of transmission fluid leakage around the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve.
ACTION
Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Verify the leak is present at the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve. With the vehicle in neutral, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 100-02.
1.Disconnect the transmission vehicle harness connector by twisting the outer shell and pulling back on the connector.
2.Remove the transmission fluid pan and allow the transmission fluid to drain.
3.Pull the release tab and pull down on the transmission bulkhead electrical connector retainer.
4.With the release tab down, pull the connector sleeve out of the case/mechatronic assembly.
5.Lube new connector sleeve 0-rings with clean transmission fluid, then install connector sleeve into case/mechantronic assembly.
6.Press up on the tab and lock the outer shell of the transmission bulkhead electrical connector sleeve in place. Make sure that the locking tab is securely locked.
7.Install the transmission fluid pan/gasket and refill transmission fluid refer to WSM, Section 307-01 for refill procedure.
NOTE DO NOT TOUCH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PINS OR THE EXPOSED SOLENOID TABS ON THE TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE MAY OCCUR AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM).
NOTE BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVES MAY COME WITH RED OR BLACK 0-RING SEALS. USE ONLY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVE THAT HAS BLACK 0-RING SEAL FOR THIS PROCEDURE.
TSB 11-3-25
03/31/11
6R80 TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD CONNECTOR
SLEEVE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID
FORD:
2009-2010 Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac,
Explorer, F-150
LINCOLN:
2009-2010 Navigator
MERCURY:
2009-2010 Mountaineer
ISSUE
Some 2009-2010 F-150, Expedition, Explorer Sport Trac, Explorer, Mountaineer and Navigator vehicles equipped with a 6R80 transmission may show signs of transmission fluid leakage around the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve.
ACTION
Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Verify the leak is present at the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve. With the vehicle in neutral, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 100-02.
1.Disconnect the transmission vehicle harness connector by twisting the outer shell and pulling back on the connector.
2.Remove the transmission fluid pan and allow the transmission fluid to drain.
3.Pull the release tab and pull down on the transmission bulkhead electrical connector retainer.
4.With the release tab down, pull the connector sleeve out of the case/mechatronic assembly.
5.Lube new connector sleeve 0-rings with clean transmission fluid, then install connector sleeve into case/mechantronic assembly.
6.Press up on the tab and lock the outer shell of the transmission bulkhead electrical connector sleeve in place. Make sure that the locking tab is securely locked.
7.Install the transmission fluid pan/gasket and refill transmission fluid refer to WSM, Section 307-01 for refill procedure.
NOTE DO NOT TOUCH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PINS OR THE EXPOSED SOLENOID TABS ON THE TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE MAY OCCUR AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM).
NOTE BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVES MAY COME WITH RED OR BLACK 0-RING SEALS. USE ONLY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR SLEEVE THAT HAS BLACK 0-RING SEAL FOR THIS PROCEDURE.
08-03-2011, 02:48 PM
#45
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That would make sense of how dirt or "mud packed" the pronged inside the connector got that way. no transmission leakage that I'm aware. How do I convince Ford to reimburse me for these charges and agree it should've been warranty?
08-03-2011, 03:15 PM
#46
There's NO evidence of misuse of the truck, like going through a mudbog hole or something like that. Avergae off road use, like muddy roads, farm property driving or whatever is perfectly acceptable. Tell them you're going to turn this over to your lawyer and sue them for false advertisement. In their TV commercials the F150's are doing everything short of flying, and yet you get a little mud on the underside of your truck and the warranty claim is denied for normal driving conditions. Regardless of how far fetched this may seem, no manufacturer wants bad publicity, especially with their flagship #1 selling vehicle. Tell them you'll change the saying Built Ford Tough to Built Ford Tough until you drive through a mud puddle. Convince them that the connector had to have been not seated completely letting corrosion get into the connector, these connectors should stand up to years of water, road salt and mud so there's no way alittle mud would cause this issue unless it was defective from the factory. Finally beat the issue to death about the check engine light never being on for you, only after the tech looked at the vehicle or whatever he did, did the light come on, so clearly he must have damged it further causing a repair you prob. didn't need. You have to play hard ball or you'll get tossed around like a hot potato from person to person until you just say screw it and give up.
08-03-2011, 03:44 PM
#47
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Thank you for your assistance on this matter. Greatly appreciated. I pointed out to the tech his hypothesis was not accurate since the frame and underneath my vehicle was not muddy. I believe all the firewall and motor dirt is from the opening in wheel well. I'm extremely **** with my truck. Not that I'm opposed to taking my truck off roading, just haven't thus far. Come hunting season I'll have it off road on farm I hunt. Regardless, I think they formed an opinion and planned this circus when they saw my truck had a leveling kit, aftermarket rims and tires. Prob didn't help when I had the phone con with them and they told me @ 1230 my truck wasn't in the garage yet despite me having 0830 appt. I advised them that that was good to know for further endeavors when they said it wouild be completed by the end of the day. (refrencing my state insp/emissions that I still don't have)
08-03-2011, 05:04 PM
#48
In my experience, once dealerships dig in their heels and become uncooperative, little can change the situation with them directly.
At this point I wouldn't deal with anybody but the owner. Get his name, call and leave him a message. If he returns your call, you have some chance of resolution. If he does not, there's your answer...
Don't waste your time with the "I'll sue".. threats. They will accomplish nothing. First off, the GM probably could care less if you sue, second, he probably knows more about what the dealerships legal exposure is than you, so it just makes you look desperate.
I definitely would escalate the issue within Ford Corporate. Try and get to Ford's regional service manager for your area, and tell him quite simply your in-warranty truck was denied a simple warranty fix because there was a small amount of dirt and mud splashed on the underside.
Finally, go back to your selling dealer, or at least a new dealership. Try and develop some rapport with the service manager there, and have him help you get resolution with Ford Corporate, not directly with the nasty dealer.
At this point I wouldn't deal with anybody but the owner. Get his name, call and leave him a message. If he returns your call, you have some chance of resolution. If he does not, there's your answer...
Don't waste your time with the "I'll sue".. threats. They will accomplish nothing. First off, the GM probably could care less if you sue, second, he probably knows more about what the dealerships legal exposure is than you, so it just makes you look desperate.
I definitely would escalate the issue within Ford Corporate. Try and get to Ford's regional service manager for your area, and tell him quite simply your in-warranty truck was denied a simple warranty fix because there was a small amount of dirt and mud splashed on the underside.
Finally, go back to your selling dealer, or at least a new dealership. Try and develop some rapport with the service manager there, and have him help you get resolution with Ford Corporate, not directly with the nasty dealer.
Last edited by pfbz; 08-03-2011 at 05:08 PM.
08-03-2011, 07:02 PM
#49
Just another member
Originally Posted by Jack Bauer
Listen to this guy. Go take that money and invest it in an attorney that will write one HELL of an eye opening letter that shows just how far you're willing to drag this dealer across the mud flaps of your "off road" excursion. Let them know that while they may hope you're dragging them across the mud, it will actually be asphalt and concrete because that is where you drove.
Time to file a law suit with this if you want to save your tail and seek retribution for the false advertising, manipulation tactics... better yet. Take it to the local news and papers... radio. Hopefully they won't black ball you with conflict of interest issues. You can Go national if you like. But, that's up to you and the almighty dollar. I don't use dealers for anything but target practice. They are blood sucking vipers. edited to add... I hate them so much that I usually buy used and low ball the hell out of em when I even consider purchasing from them. They want to get rid of me so bad that they either stop talking or they laugh while doing the paper work. I've bought 1 care, 1 minivan and 2 trucks from CarMax because I hate dealers. I'd rather throw my time and money somewhere where they don't give me a migraine from wanting to twist their pin heads off. Yeap, I get that mad. I figure it keeps me out of prison.
Time to file a law suit with this if you want to save your tail and seek retribution for the false advertising, manipulation tactics... better yet. Take it to the local news and papers... radio. Hopefully they won't black ball you with conflict of interest issues. You can Go national if you like. But, that's up to you and the almighty dollar. I don't use dealers for anything but target practice. They are blood sucking vipers. edited to add... I hate them so much that I usually buy used and low ball the hell out of em when I even consider purchasing from them. They want to get rid of me so bad that they either stop talking or they laugh while doing the paper work. I've bought 1 care, 1 minivan and 2 trucks from CarMax because I hate dealers. I'd rather throw my time and money somewhere where they don't give me a migraine from wanting to twist their pin heads off. Yeap, I get that mad. I figure it keeps me out of prison.
