Help Required - Ford Main Dealer

crumpetmonster

Hi all,

Sorry all, bit of a saga here, but here goes! :eek:

Had a problem last Friday when I took my '52 plate 1.3 Ford Ka with 68,000 on the clock in to my local Ford Main Dealer for a 'value' £99 service. I got a call from the garage saying my car just need a few tweaks, it had a cracked oil thingy, so they replaced that, replaced near side suspension brushes (expected that due to living on a farm= potholes and had already had the near side wheel rim replaced as it had almost become square).

Went to pick up the car, they asked if i'd had any problems getting it into gear as it was tricky and they thought I might need a new clutch. I replied no, as car was fine when I bought it in.

Anyway, got in the car, couldnt get it into gear, it was juddering and clutch had definitely gone! I made the garage give me a couteousy car and keep mine over the weekend to take it apart until they confirmed the clutch had gone and that it was nothing they'd done.

They quoted me £550 (!) for a new clutch..... I told them where they could shove that and took my car to my normal mechanic (had only taken it to ford dealer as it's 2 mins from work and is more convenient!).

Lovely independent Mechanic quoted me £250 for replacement of clutch, I could have kissed him!

Got a call from him today, a while ago I had a 5mph bump into a stationary car in a traffic queue which bowed my radiator and damaged my front bumper. Car had been overheating recently and I thought the radiator might be the problem - I asked the Ford Garage to take a look and they said it was fine.

Well turns out it isnt, radiator is touching a fan, stopping it from turning and causing engine to overheat = new radiator. Lovely mechanic also said engine was covered in oil from Ford Mechanics and that they hadn't looked properly at my radiator or they would have seen this problem.

So generally, I'm very unhappy at the service I receieved from the Ford Garage- the radiator issue should have been picked up, as I specifically mentioned it when I booked it in and the engine was covered in oil which they should have cleaned.

I know it's a value service, but £99 is still expensive for an oil and filter change. If the clutch hadn't gone and I hadn't had the car looked over by someone else, my engine could have fried if the car had overheated and I hadn't been quick enough to act.

But what can I do? Advice needed!

MX5huggy

Nothing, it's all if buts and maybe's so never go there again and name them here.

Lemonade_Pockets

You could do what we brits do best

Write a strongly worder letter to Ford, your dealer or maybe even your MP.

Unfortunately there is not a lot you will get out of it apart maybe some good will vouchers.

Hintza

Surprised you don't just stick with your "Lovely independent Mechanic". After a car is out of warranty it would need to be something major to get me to go to a main dealer. Who is it Arnold Clark?

crumpetmonster

Ooh I like a strongly worded letter!

Name and shame you say...

TC Harrison Ford, Derby

Apparently " There's no comparison to TC Harrison"

I disagree.

crumpetmonster

I like to stick with him, but unfortunately I need my car to travel to work and to appointments, so as TC harrison is walking distance from work, I can at least get in to work and get lifts to my appointments - there's no way of getting a lift into work or taking public transport as it doesn't go to anywhere near my house...