Everybody always complains when things don't go right, so I thought I would post this on the good news dept. Ford does get it right from time to time. They have made me very happy today.
Ok, the car starts getting an intermeittent CEL anout 76,000 miles. I, being the prcrastinator that I am, aviod dealing with it immediatley. Have it checked at AutoZone, cat #1 bank is not working correctly. Hmmm, could be oxygen sensors or cat. At 79,514 miles I roll into Brandon Ford (FL). I have an appointment at 7:30, they take the car and a tech immediately goes to work. I station myself next to the Krispy Kream donuts they thoughtfully provide and try eat enough to guarantee that I have a cardiologist in my future. At 8:15 Joe shows up, says the cat is bad and it will be covered under warranty but they don't have it in stock. OK, their efficincy annoyed me a bit, because there were still donuts left and I only ended up missing a 1/2 hour of work.
A couple of weeks later I get a card in the mail saying the parts are in. I wait a few more weeks and then schedule another appointment. I leave the car. About mid morning Joe calls all apologetic. Wrong parts. Apparently the parts guy forgot there are V-6 contours. So I guess they're set if someone needs a cat for a Zetec. OK, we all make mistakes, I'll give them the mulligan.
A few weeks later I get TWO cards in the mail saying the parts are in. They couldn't fit all the parts on one card. I wait a few weeks again, then drop the car off unannounced this morning. By now I have put another 2447 miles on it (it says so right on the service order.) The greeter girl apologizes for not remembering my name. But she somehow remembers that Joe's the service writer for my car. (It's a big dealership, thay have at least 6 service writers.) Joe remembers the problem, takes the parts cards and away we go. Calls me this afternoon, tells me the car is ready (And by the way, you need a new serpentine belt VERY soon.)
Anyway, heres the good part. The light said trouble with the bank #1 Ford has thoughfully replaced all three cats, and the attendant plumbing. Maybe they found a bigger problem when they put it on the 'puter, I don't know. The whole exhaust system from the heads to the connector pipe between the cat and resonator is NEW. Even replaced all the bolts and nuts. Over $1000 in parts (OK that is at dealer prices, but it does include new manifold/precats, main cat and the flexible pipe in between.) Very impressive in standing behind the product.
Total bill: $0.00
Ford and Brandon Ford have made me very happy.
Richard
