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Mom’s New Car
My mother bought a fairly new car two weeks ago. It was from a Franchised Ford dealership – and she paid extra for an extended warranty.
A few days ago she heard a rubbing noise coming from one of the front wheels when turning corners so took it back to the dealer to have the noise investigated. When she came back for the car she was told it had been checked over and everything was fine. My mother took the car away again but told me it was still making a noise.
Now I’m not a mechanic but it only took me 5 minutes to discover that the heat shield next to the front disc brake was broken and consequently rubbed against the disc when cornering. I went back to the dealership with my mother today and told them what the fault was. I was told the heat shield served no real purpose and that the best solution was to remove it. That being the case I asked for a written statement from the dealership to confirm this. So reluctantly they agreed to fit a new heat shield to the car tomorrow as soon as they could get one in stock. Meanwhile – the heat shield was removed as a temporary measure to stop the noise.
My Nephew examined the car this evening and discovered that the ball joint rubber boot was now also split (probably as a result of removing the heat shield) and they should have noticed this today when they carried out the work.
So tomorrow I’m straight on the phone to advice them not to bother with just fitting a new heat shield, as they now need to replace the entire track control arm as well.
My mother who is a pensioner is very disappointed with the service she has received. Me, I’m just mad that these people think they can get away with shoddy workmanship and try to kid us with some smart bullsh1t talk
|t seems to me it is virtually impossible to get good service from a car dealership these days. This is from a reputable Scottish dealer – not a "back street garage".
My Nephew also spotted that the fuel tank was rusty and has advised me that this needs to be replaced also. The car was advertised as having an RAC inspection which should have picked up on these faults. I’m left wondering what else could be wrong with the car.
End of rant 😀
..sorry – Just realised I posted this in the wrong forum – can a moderator move this to off topic discussion. Sorry 🙂
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11 Replies
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quote Phill:End of rant 😀..sorry – Just realised I posted this in the wrong forum – can a moderator move this to off topic discussion. Sorry 🙂
:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
I was wondering why it was in this forum. Your anger has blinded you! 😉 -
:lol1: :lol1:
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All car dealers are wankers.
I had a noise coming from my car. When I took it back to Volvo they said the wheel bearing needed replacing. The instant (and I mean the instant!) I mentioned that it was covered under their warranty they decided it was tyre noise and therefore not covered. Strangely, when I mentioned an AA inspection and trading standards they decided it was the bearing again.
Like I said, car dealers are wankers.
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Can’t you just throw the keys back at them Phil, I think they were taking advantage of your Mum.
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I don’t have a lot of time for dealerships either, it seems they are only interested in taking your money, I payed £240 for my car and it didn’t even have a radio !!! I was tempted to try and get my money back or at least make them fit one, luckily I had a spare one knocking about which I put in.
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Phil,
This may be too late to help. I’ve just spoken to my son who works for some ‘wankers’ as Andy describes them, although neither Ford or Volvo. He is going to find out what the RAC inspection includes, from a contact at Ford dealer, and also what the situation might be with the steering/suspension joint boot.
With regards to the rusty fuel tank, I wouldn’t worry about that, there are plenty of 20 year old cars on the road and they aren’t all being driven around pouring fuel out onto the roadsSteve
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Thanks for the support.
I’ve calmed down now – and the dealership have already replaced the track control arm today. They argued that this wasn’t covered by the warranty but did it as a gesture of goodwill.
They’ve argued the case that there is nothing wrong with the fuel tank and I have asked for a written confirmation that the car is safe with the current tank.
Martin – those robbing b@stards 🙄 😉
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quote martin:I don’t have a lot of time for dealerships either, it seems they are only interested in taking your money, I payed £240 for my car and it didn’t even have a radio !!! I was tempted to try and get my money back or at least make them fit one, luckily I had a spare one knocking about which I put in.:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: obviously no ethics Martin… Don’t know what the world is coming too 🙄 😛
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Phil,
Your mums car will have been subject to a multi point inspection before sale, carried out either by a local RAC man or RAC approved inspector and the condition and operation of steering and suspension joints will have been on his list. I think that if you ask to see the report the dealer is obliged to show you.
Ball joints and their rubber boots along with driveshaft gaiters most of the brake system, drive belts, light bulbs, tyres etc etc etc are generally excluded from warranty, check the very tiny print, so if they’ve changed the TCA as ‘goodwill’ then they haven’t admitted fault but have saved your mum a bill.
Like you, there is someone there, who wants to keep his customer happy.Steve
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Thanks for the advice Steve – I think my Mother is satisfied with the outcome and I have been re-assured with your comment about the fuel tank. 😀
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