Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches E. Great Lakes Good Dealer, please.

I just drove my 99svt to McDonald in Northville, in third gear. I cannot get it out of third. They have told me they won't do any warrantee work on an SVT, without a signed letter from ford billing dept, saying my work is covered. =-( I have talked to the service manager who said they got royally screwed doing some work on a 95R. They do and have done wonderful work on my non-svts.

I am now driving a rental LS (Chevy Silverado LS that is). Please help me, I am scared of this thing, corners @15 feel like corners @50 in the SVT,(pre-help).

Where have you had NO problems? What dealer? 139.86 miles away is not out of the question, if only HMS was an authorized service location =-(

(Speaking of which would a dealer put in a quaife while they had the trans out?)

But more seriously, I really need to find a dealer that will not spend two weeks with my transmission on the floor saying "duh! I dunno(complete with drool)" or leave worse than when it came in.

Sorry I have rambled on a bit, but it took some help* to get me over what happened to my car

Thanks Geoff

*HELP=

Hi Geoff,
your prob sounds like it could be either a cable issue or the shifter tower...not sure about the Quaife...to be honest I hear that most dealers hate stripping an MTX ( I have a Forrd dealer in Il who sends the transmissions to me for repair!)...so I doubt they will fit a quaife but you can try...TH

I would go to Blackwell ford here in Plymouth, an authorized SVT dealer. Richard and Mr. DeHority will take care of you. They have taken great care of all three of all my SVT vehicals.

Or you could go see Nick Zak at Village Ford here in Dearborn. My car is in the process of getting the drivetrain replaced. They do real good work there.

Try Demmer Ford in Wayne. Ask for Jim Demmer and tell him Seth sent you ....

Thanks for all the help. I called svt this morning and complained about McDonald not wanting to do it. They told me to have McDonald call the ford warrantee hotline. So I talked to the service manager, they called the hotline. They still claim, "were not supposed to work on them, but we will"

Given this, no quaife, I am not going to push my luck.

Thanks Again
Geoff

Some dealers are so fugging stupid...and Ford just lets them slide

considering how they've treated you so far, I would seriously consider going elsewhere...

Call Nick Zak at Village Ford. He will take care of you. Just tell him that Marc sent you. He will even put in aftermarket parts for you. Has done it to many SVT`s. Most of my friends deal with him.

Thanks again for the advice, but I usually loyal to my dealer. I would have purchased the SVT at McDonald if they sold them. Both the 96SE and 99SE came from there. The reason I was really worried was that McDonald didn't want to do the work, and Varisty, where I purchased it, has given me nothing but problems. Seeing as how I have had absolutely everything go right for me at McDonald, I really really like them. I posted before I was sure they wouldn't work on it. Once again I recomend McDonald Ford to anyone not wanting an SVT.

If you want to know the story behind Varsitys mistakes, read on otherwise end post
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I bought my SVT a day after test driving they had two, but one had been sitting for a long time. So I left a deposit on the one that had just come in. Receipt and paperwork in hand I left, when I returned the next evening, they had changed the documented vins to give me the car that had been sitting. I complained, they had already sold my car. They convinced me there was no difference. I reluctantly agree, and drive my new car home. I look at the car at home to find acid rain spots all over the car. I call them, they will repaint the whole car free.

(AT THIS POINT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR FROM VARSITY)

I schedule with the body shop. I bring the car in. They make me go wash it because it is dusty. I go to get the loaner, "oh you're under 21, we can't rent this to you." I wait 2 hours for a ride, then bum rides for a week. I go to pickup my car after work. It covered in dust, I ask them to clean it. They say they can't. I take it home, and hand wash it next morning. I notice strange swirl marks on the grill, the c pillar, and the trunk. In addition there is roughness on the driver's window. I have no receipt because they paid for it. Find under the seat the bodyshop's sheet for what to paint, 3 doors, 1 fender, the trunk, and "Spot paint" roof. Well I snap, loose it. I call the general manager, he says he can repaint it, but "he can't guarantee they will do any better"

(NOW BODY SHOP IS OUT OF THE QUESTION)

I call ford customer service. Ford sends me over to McDonald Ford. Since it was body shop work it is not waranteed, except by the body shop that did it. HA!

I file a complaint to Ford about Varsity. I talk to friend of mine at Ford doing the blue oval certification thing. He tell me that I should give their service department a chance. He said that Varsity is rated highly by its customers in their service. I concede I know nothing about their service. I let them change my oil, it is convient for me since I am at school. They do a good job, nothing wrong at least. I let them change it a few more times. I go to my parents house for the weekend (about 2000mi after a change), when I park on their driveway(I usually park street side), I notice an oil spot. I freak, I climb under the car. I start checking to find the drip, its at the bottom of the oil pan. I get worried check every oil bearing seal, nothing. Then almost by accident, I check the drain plug, it falls on my face, followed by about a half quart. NO ONE TIGHTENED THE DRAIN PLUG. I check my oil level, I am down about 3 quarts. I refill it. I am terribly worried since I have done a ton of full tilt 270deg right clovers. I call Varsity once again. I explain that I want my engine examined and another oil change (with mobil 1) They make me buy the oil. I explain that I expect a complete inspection since CSVTs have a tendency to seize bearings. They tell me that they have never heard of any contour seizing the block. So I take the car in complete with a print out of the offical dead list from here. They respond, "Whenever you get enough people together they will find problems"

(NOW SERVICE IS SHOT, VARSITY IS ON MY SCHEIZ LIST)

I get done talking to the customer satisfaction manager, and I see my car going into a bay. I investigate, I see a guy changing the oil, straight in to the oil disposal can (what about checking the color), and shining a flash light into the oil fill hole (it has a name, but I am tired) I wait he refills it with my oil and changes the filter. He backs it out of the bay, I tap the glass, ask if its finished, he says yup, but you gotta see the desk about the bill, we'll pull it around then. So I go to the desk, smirking, and ask if I can have my car since it is "done" They say, "of course it isn't done an engine inspection takes a long time." I ask about the mechanic who told me my car was done, they say he must have been mistaken. They tell me to come back tomorrow. I leave and pick it up the next day. Since then (roughly 4 months) McDonald, or Campus Lansing (where my parents now live) has done everything on my car, but all I have need was oil changes, and minor stuff

So that is why I wanted a good SVT servicing dealer.

I want to make one thing abundantly clear McDonald Ford has been spectacular in everyway imaginable, (except their rental service which was bought out and should be better now).

Oh yeah and livinsvt, thanks but no thanks, even the name still scares me.