"Trust" Ford

JackeeBoy

Just dropped my car into service. Typically, I do have a decent experience with Ford when it comes to servicing and no real issues. On this occasion however, I felt like I was just being sold to. The person I was dealing with was obviously a little nervous and been told to upsell as much as possible; changing break fluid, air conditioning etc. before any of it had even been checked.

The most ridiculous bit which has now made me want to question the entire service is when he asked if I wanted to replace the key battery or the entire key! It is apparently recommended that the battery is changed every two years, despite me using the same key perfectly for almost 7 years....

I am also on a service plan which cost about £17 a month but the last two services I have required a "top up" of that payment (this time it's £40). This is Ford Dagenham by the way.

tacpot12

Many organisations feel the need to push existing customers in spending more with them. If the purchase is beneficial to both parties, then there is no issue with this pressure, but when the customer doesn't get anything out of it, it is unethical.

Bear in mind that the service technicians don't know how hard the customer has been sold. The quality of the service is down to the supervision in the workshop.

So, agree to services you want to and decline those you don't. Listen to explanations given my the service reception staff very carefully and challenge any rubbish they spout.

Scrapit

They were dearer than Allen ford last time I checked too.

facade

There are usually things that "Need doing at the Service" that strangely are not part of the service plan.


e.g. brake fluid- the manufacturer recommends that it is changed at this service - but it is extra!
Either it should be changed or it shouldn't, and if it should, it must be part of the service surely?


Sharp practice, but they all do it.


The key battery does need changing before it fails, but you can do it yourself for a tenth of what Ford want- it will be covered in your handbook. They can't say when it needs changing, but for an average driver making 2 or 3 trips a day the battery will last at least 2 years, so they try to change it every 2 years. It might actually last 3 years, or even 10, but if it should fail, on a Modern Car, you have to dismantle the car to get in. (My[STRIKE] Renault [/STRIKE] Nissan has to have part of the handle removed to put the key in, and then it doesn't work anyway, as the car is deadlocked and the key won't unlock a deadlocked car)

Clive_Woody

JackeeBoy wrote: »

The most ridiculous bit which has now made me want to question the entire service is when he asked if I wanted to replace the key battery or the entire key!

That's a new one for me, trying to upsell you a new key.

How about they replace the seats too, just in case they wear out.

Clive_Woody

facade wrote: »

.....but if it should fail, on a Modern Car, you have to dismantle the car to get in.

Or you could just use the spare key (assuming the OP has one)

Brilley

..change the key battery after 2 years?.....currently have a 20 yr old Toyota that has never been changed and also a 17 yr old Mazda that has never been changed?

AdrianC

facade wrote: »

e.g. brake fluid- the manufacturer recommends that it is changed at this service - but it is extra!
Either it should be changed or it shouldn't, and if it should, it must be part of the service surely?

Brake fluid needs replacing due to time alone, not time-or-mileage, as with service schedules.

It's hygroscopic, and absorbs moisture from the atmosphere - over time, it becomes "wet", lowering the boiling point (which can lead to it boiling and leaving you without brakes in prolonged heavy use) and increasing internal corrosion.

Replacing it is cheap basic maintenance. The usual interval is two years. If you've got a 2yr/18k (say) interval, and the car does 12k in a year, when do you change the fluid? At the first service, 6mo "early"? Or at the second service, 12mo "late"?

facade

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Or you could just use the spare key (assuming the OP has one)

Chicken & egg time- I can't go home to get the spare key because I can't get into the car........:D




I change mine every few years, before it gives out, maybe I could have got another 10 years out of it, or maybe I'd have had to spend more than the cost of a battery on a 'bus ticket home

[Deleted User]

facade wrote: »

Chicken & egg time- I can't go home to get the spare key because I can't get into the car........:D




I change mine every few years, before it gives out, maybe I could have got another 10 years out of it, or maybe I'd have had to spend more than the cost of a battery on a 'bus ticket home

I dont understand? Does your key fob not have a pop out key for unlocking the car?
I’ve never heard of this changing the battery every two years ... sounds like a con to me.

oscarward

Brilley wrote: »

..change the key battery after 2 years?.....currently have a 20 yr old Toyota that has never been changed and also a 17 yr old Mazda that has never been changed?

But does it have keyless entry. Basically that means the car/key combo is constantly polling each other. That costs battery.


On my car (and previous same model) key fob batteries last 3 years then need changing. Car tells me !


A previous pug 405 (and others) have a remote unlocking only so key battery was only used when pressing button. so lasted forever!