Losing Faith & Paitence

[NighEve]

So Ford impresses us all with the development of the XR6T. Not only loyal fans of the blue oval go out and buy one, but even devoted loyalists of the dark side think they have seen the light so they too convert.

It seems too good to be true; an awesome car, enthusiast public and then we get to the aftercare..... Or should I say lack thereof. You don't read about this in the Wheels or Motor mags (Ford are clever where they spend their money outside of actual car itself - the same can't be said about their service).

So why I am so pissed? Things went downhill in the service side of things ever since the 45K "reflash" that was supposed to fix the occassional idle probelm. For the last 3k I have enjoyed a dud fuel pump (or so I was told, now I am not so sure if this was ever the problem), and now today I am finally told that my dramatic loss of power and occassional missing accelerator pedal is thanks to an ECU error with the wastegate. So fine, I thought, diagnose and now fix.

But no, Ford apparently can't fix this yet and I have to wait and take yet another day off work to return when they have the solution (which is "soon"). I know others have been told this and I'm just whinging to the same tune, but for farks sake Ford, the car has been released for over two years now, not to mention a Mk11 version which you would have presumed would have been a testing ground for resolving bugs from the original. So why the fark is this solution not yet available?

If aftermarket tuners can solve the problem, why can't a multi-billion dollar company that has much more development and research power at its hands. I will tell you why. It is because they are too busy selling cars and making the fast buck in the here and now (which is fine because this is all part of business). All I will say though is I wonder if Ford has adjusted their budget to handle the immense man hours and service costs for warranty problems (we're talking MANY brakes, overboost, wastegates, diffs here!).

I'm losing faith and I certainly have no more patience for a company that does not support their customers properly by providing dedicated aftercare. Here is the result of my 9 hour experience today:

"Checked plugs and all coils. Checking for arching out. All ok. Refitted plugs and coils, connected WDS found trouble code P1227 for wastegate, cleared code. Checked for latest calibration - none available, rung hotline, told by Richard it was software issue, calibration update not available yet, bypassed boost solenoid, as temporary repair"

This is how I read this:

"Checked sh*t that a backyard mechanic would be able to do. I have a diagnoistic tool that tells me a code and I know how to wipe that code off; I'm smart. But I'm not so clever because all I can do is reflash new programs that the really smart ford people send us occassionally to "fix" problems. Opps, I guess the really smart people at Ford headquarters can't help either; that's cool I will just dodgey it up by pulling off a wire."

I was told in person that "we're waiting for a new calibration, but don't worry your car is fine and it will not hurt it". I read that as "we are dumb enough not to be able to fix it but we are stupidly confident that everything will be ok". WTF are Ford doing, they can't clear at program problem but they can build a whole farking car? They must be waiting for the Boss Edit too - maybe its only two weeks away and they will call me when its ready to fix the problems LOL.

Pathetic Ford.

[Falchoon]

Yeh it sux bigtime when a great car is let down by faults such as these and even worse when the dealer either fobs you off or doesn't know how to fix the problem.

Are there any other dealers you can go to?

[DallasQLD]

I believe that these isses are the "Ethos" of how Ford as Dealers operate. They have little regard or commitment to solving issues from Dealership to Corporate level.

I have used a least 5 dealers in the past and only one in Canberra (who I knew form rallying connections provided any real help and then they gave me a new motor)

I expect good service regardless of weather its a Falcon or a BMW.

The fact that I dont own a T anymore is testimount to their poor service history with me. If they dealt with me properly I wouldnt have a BMW in the garage.

Not happy Jan and I sympathise....

I traded mine, took a hit on it and moved on. I just dont understand their attitude. its so anti sales its not funny.....

Still like Fords though, wish BMW would buy them out! They fixed the Roller and the Rangerover pretty quick!

Dallas

[NighEve]

I agree with everything above and if I could afford the repayments for a BMW I would be there also (sadly there's a promotion or two begging before that happens).

Your comment reminds me of the original Wheels Car of the Year propaganda on the BA where the writer arrogantly and smuggly noted how the Ford was as good if not better then german engineered vechiles "3 times its price". I wonder how many Beemers have had to have brakes fixed, diffs clunking and in need of replacement. I wonder if Beemer drivers have to get farked around for 9 hours to only be told that they can't fix your car. Anyone that believes that statement about Fords being as good as these cars should really wake up and realise you get what you pay for; as difficult as it is to admit this. We T owners have paid for a very good car technically and generally we have got a steal in comparison to other cars out there - just corss your fingers though that it doesn't have any problems requrining aftercare because Ford is half-arsed and devoid of any real "service" to their customers (for this they will ultimately loose me and I suspect many others regardless of how good they can promote their cars).

[Falchoon]

Commodores in general don't seem to have as many problems that you hear about. OK the LS1 motors have a bad rep (are they fixed now?) but you don't seem to hear about the same number of probs with Commodore.

[TurboDewd]

Nigheve

in all jurisdictions in Oz there are consumer protection laws that are pretty much the same. If a vendor sells you goods which are faulty or are not of merchantible quality you are entitled to a refund.

I assume you bought this car brand new and if the dealer cannot make your car work then use the law, its on your side. Simply begin by calling the relevant body in your state, explain your story, point out that the dealer admit they cant fix it and take it from there.

Im not aware of vehicle warranties absolving manufacturers from getting around these laws.

Maybe even demand a new engine?!

[voy74656]

sorry to hear Nigheve - I had the same dealings with my dealer....needless to say im not going back there.

Its so sad when they dont care - theyve got such a good car and it really wouldnt take much to make the customer happy. Instead they choose to rip u off, screw you around or say its not our problem.

I'm getting wound up here so I'll stop before I get going.

*moves onto next thread*

[ZAP]

The biggest problem I have with Ford service is using them. I have my local workshop to do all my servicing, but I still need to use FS for warranty. I hate taking my car there as I know ,they know, that I know, they are as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. I wished there was a way I could get warranty work done by my workshop......sometimes its just better to pay for the work to be done properly.

SHAME FORD....your After sales "service" S U C K S, you will never be able to compete with Jap and Euro car makers until you sort out your dealer service.

[GOLDIE]

I agree there is issiuse the after sales service but it is not confined to ford and for that matter Expensive Daewoo as I have my own workshop I have people coming nealy every day complaining about the lack of service and ability of these workshops to fix there cars.

This ranges from the low ranks of kia all the way up to bmw and merc and before I get attack from some on here I will state that it is not all dealers that are like this.

As for this problem I would suggest that first you talk to the service manager or general manager of said dealer and a say talk not rant as this will not help as they have the right to show as much curtosy as you show them.

If you have no luck there I would locatate another dealer.

Ian

[Guest]

I agree with all of the above,as a group lets do something about it,at least sign something like a letter of complaint.

I like dally would have been long gone,but this car has got soooo much potential its hard to give up,so WTF do ya do???

vik