Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Ford help (kind of long)

Ok a few months ago I had my transmission go on my 99 Cougar and the car had just run out of warrenty . It had like 38,000 miles on it. The car just got stuck in first one day and wouldn't come out. I brought it in and they tell me that Ford will not help me and that a bolt from the tranny tower sheared off and fell in the tranny. So I end up getting raped with a $1000 bill. I take the hit and go to get my car, but when I get it the car shifts horrible. It was impossible to get into some gears. I immediatly bring it back and complain.

I go and talk to the tech (looks like a bum) and he tells me the cable is streched. I'm thinking the cable can be adjusted so really it would have to be streched pretty bad. Well I go home to adjust the cable and find out this A-hole didn't put the clip into the end of the cable so the cable would have about 1 inch of slack in it. I get one from the junk yard and put one in and adjust it the best I can and the car improves somewhat, but is still not nearly as good as that $1000 bill I got. The thing is the tech is always right at Ford so I have no pull. Nobody cares about anyone there.

Just recently, I go to a mechanic to get my stuttering problem addressed, which many of you have been waiting to see the results of. Well he tells me my shifter is beyond bad and should be fixed. He said there is know way that it is a streched cable. Now this guy is a very good mechanic so I trust him, but what can I do about this? I wasted $1000 on some screw off Ford mechanic that can't even figure out that he forgot to put the clip back into the cable.

Can I write a letter to someone or should I just call and start *****ing? Oh and on a side note someone on the cougar board had their sun roof track break and had the sun roof replaced by the dealer for $100 even thought it was out of warrenty (he had 42,000 miles on the car). Same thing happend to me (and same miles) but this crappy dealership said that unless you have had previous problems we can't help. The bill for the sun roof is over a grand because they don't sell parts seperate.

Also I would love to go to another dealer but all of the other dealers around here said I have to go to where I bought the car from if I want Ford assistance.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris...

First you don't have to go to the dealer it was sold from. If that where the case what happens when you move a 1000 miles away. They void your warrenty? I don't think so. I'm not addressing that to you but to the people that are dicking you around. They just don't want to deal with it.

Second, A lawyer is sounding like a good option for you. They are doing nothing but lying to you. You can get the glass separet and it's not even that exspensive. 1000 dollar bill is alot of money for a shifter problem. They are raping you and know it. I would go back one more time and tell them to fix the problems right (including the sunroof) for free or get ready to go to court. Also document with pictures your problems before you take it and also ask your Mechanic friend to testify if need be.

I think the dealers around here just say that so they don't have to deal with the problems. It is like the guys on the phone act like the money comes out of their pocket. I will be *****ing big time tomorrow and I will see about getting a lawyer, but I am in college right now and I don't have a ton of money or the time at the moment.

Thanks for the reply,
Chris

isn't transmission part of "Powertrain" which is covered up to 50K\5 years ?

Your shift problem...most of what you have been told is BS.Sticking in gear is usually a failure of the shifter tower interlock forks 'spreading' and not pulling the selector fork back out of gear.This is on pre 2000 transmissions.The tower is removed and replaced with the latest 2000+ level tower with modded rev light switch jumper harness.Of the many transmissions I have done on Contour/Cougar I have yet to find streatched cables...Had they changed the tower in the first place your problem would be gone...TH

Hey Terry what would you suggest I do then? More then likely this dealership is just going to screw me over again and end up charging me a ton. I feel more capable of fixing it then I would feel if they were working on it. I might just wait until summer and have this mechanic that knows what he his doing fix it.

This mechanic also had the same reaction when I said that I was told it was a streched cable. He just looked at me and said no way! He said that there is still something binding in there and that he can't believe that I can shift with it. I guess after a while it is like anything and you can learn to adapt. There is no way I can get the tires in second to chirp like I used to because I can't get it to go in that fast.

Thanks,
Chris

Uh, I think you need to gather some ammunition to fire at this tech and start looking for a refund. If they don't want to play nice, use the BBB and the Attourney Geenrals office to your advantage, if THAT doesn't work (it usually wil) then you need to find an attourney and sue them.

It's a lot of work, but it will be worth it!

Chris, Don't be afraid to get hostile with them. Being a nice guy can only get you so far. They know most of the people will just accept what they tell them and not do anything. You need to be the exception. I would take Terry's words with alot of weight since he tears them down all the time. The solution is sitting right there. Just write down the problem and tell them how to fix it. Don't ask. At this point they have stolen $1000 worth of service that wasn't performed. It's up to you to get it back.

Also you shouldn't have to pay a dime more...

Also call Ford's Customer Care line...

Ok, I'll give a different perspective to this problem. If you have a legitimate concern that the repair was not correctly done, you need to report it to the service manager of the dealership. I dont mean "*****, whine, moan, piss, complain, etc" Be professional and BE FIRM. Have documentation. Be in control. Save the ranting and raving for another occassion. DO NOT ACCUSE. Be an ace and you will be treated with respect. If one of his employees clearly blew the diagnosis and repair, it is in the best interest of the service manager to know. This is the ONLY WAY that the responsible tech is going to LEARN and PROPERLY REPRESENT FORD - the company that he works for. To NOT do anything is to let this kind of incompetance continue. FORD needs to MAKE IT RIGHT. I know this may be idealistic, but there is no other way folks.

NO ACTION = CONTINUED INCOMPETANCE.

My idealistic two cents ...

Good Luck,

Jab

being nice and professional didn't help in my case as the service guy was beyond defensive when i had some complaints about work done on my car....but i do agree that u should definitely call ford customer service....they were very helpful when mommy had a couple issues with two different fords