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Hiya 'Heads, Been having trouble with the new truck we bought recently. After the second trip back to the dealer for service, they still can't figure out what's wrong. The trucks engine dies for no reason and without warning. When the engine dies, there's no power for steering or brakes. A real bummer while the vehicle's moving. After doing some homework, I found out that this problem is not an uncommon occurance, although the dealer leads us to believe otherwise. We contacted the manufacturers rep for the area and they basically said too bad, Lemon law doesn't apply yet. The vehicle has in for service for 30 days or in for the same repair at least 3 times. We would be more than happy to exchange the vehicle as long as it doesn't die on us again. Anyway, this is my current solution out of anger and fustration
Do you think this will get results? or am I being too harsh. Any input, thoughts, experiences or comments are greatly appreciated. Not havin' as much fun, but still smiling, Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hehehehehheeeee....one of my customers was having trouble with an insurance company settling a claim...after much frustration, he repainted the back of 4 trucks and had me do a similar thing on them. Mailed a picture to the insurance company, and told them the 4 trucks travel all over the western US.
They settled VERY QUICKLY!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Go and park it outside the dealership and leave it there for a few hours with the number of your lawyer on it. I'd send a copy of this drawing to Fords public relations department too. In the UK we have a law called the Trades Description Act this states that any thing that is sold must be fit for its purpose, well a truck that doesn't go obviously isn't fit for its purpose.
-------------------- Steve Broughton Alpha Grafix Signs Lowfields Road Benington, Boston Lincolnshire, England Posts: 315 | From: Boston, Lincolnshire, England | Registered: Aug 2001
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Dear ole Dad had the same problem with his 78' VW van for weeks, he'd be driving and then it would cut out. He finally figured that the combination of heat in the engine compartment and the engine touque would pull the wiring harness ever so slightly away from where it plugs into the brain causing a poor connection. Check the contacts.
-------------------- james perkins boston, ma Posts: 38 | From: boston | Registered: Jan 2002
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Have had 8 Rangers in a row and very little trouble with most of them. The problems I have had have usually been fixed under warranty without any quibbling on anybodys part.
It is true about the quitting unexpectedly on earlier Fords, and there was some form of recall/repair on it.
I think your problem lies with dealer attitude, and not with Ford per se. Never mind the factory rep, get ahold of customer relations at the factory and state your case. Keep calm and reasonable while you're doing it. Having had a little experience with customer relations, I can tell you that they are interested in keeping you as a customer.
In my own case, I had to have the rear brakes done twice in 6 months. Off warranty both times, and I paid for repairs both times. The second time though was due to automatic adjusters rusting out and breaking, with parts floating inside the drum and tearing up the shoes and scoring it. These were parts that should have been good for the life of the vehicle, and I said so to the customer relations person I spoke to. This person agreed, and authorized the dealer to reimburse me that same day for the cost of the second brake job, and included parts and labor.
If you talk to these people first, and in a reasonable fashion, I think you will find they will work with you to find a solution.
Good luck.
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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Send a copy of the layout to the regional sales office before you do the install, give them time to resolve the issues. It may save them embarrassment, and you time & trouble. If you get their backs up they'll ignore you.
We have one guy in town who spray painted (crudely) GM Lemon down both sides of his new cavalier, Its been there for over a year now .. If it had been done professionally enough to get media attention, it would have been resolved long ago. (plus the car now will require major work to remove enamel spray paint)
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Yes, do it! You'll get what yoiu are looking for. I did a set of magnetics for my cousin last year because she moved into a brand new house that was filled with screwed up construction and they didn't follow the blueprints, etc. She had them on her car for two days in the "Exclusive Country Club Neighborhood" before they put them in another house all expenses paid while the corrected all problems. Let us know what happens!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Thanks for the input guys. We've spoke to the service dept too many times, called the mfgr's. rep and Saturday, we had a face to face discussion with the sales manager (who, supposedly, was unaware of the problem). During our conversation with the sales manager, we explained that we are aware of the NHSTA investigation on these vehicles and how the dealerships are unable to find the cause of the problem. We also know that since they are unable to duplicate the problem, they can't fix it. Therefore, we don't want that truck back. The salesmanager stated that he will speak with service and the owner and call us back on Monday. Unfortunately, Lemon Law doesn't apply in this case because, 1 - the dealer must be able to diagnose & fix the problem and 2 - fail to fix the problem 3 times. Which means we have to risk our lives at least 2 more times before we can even file suit. If we don't get satisfactory results on Monday, I'll take the truck back from the dealer and letter it up. Then, file a formal complaint with NHSTA, and the state attorney general, who is in charge of the PA lemon law. Finally, I'll contact one of my companies clients, which happens to be a local TV station. Fortunately, my girlfriend works for a law office and we're getting some pretty good advice there. I haven't mentioned this design to the dealer at all. I figured it would be safer for me to let him find out the hard way (:
Havin' fun, Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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