Facelift Ghia Wheels

[Denis]

Has anyone else had the allen-key effect nut covers damaged (and the alloys too) by dumb Ford dealers levering them off with a screwdriver between the cover and the wheel, rather than use an allen key as the manual says?

 

A lot of damage for the sake of saving a few seconds to go and get the correct tool! http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbdown.gif

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Mine's an older model with the 5-spoke Ghia alloys, which have been scratched to death by the previous owner and/or their dealer(s).

[Andrew T]

Mine too. Wonder if they know there's a little wire loop with a hook clipped to jack just crying out to be used ?

[Guest mick]

Oh yes. Had all four damaged late last year by a Dutch Ford garage when having winter tyres ftted. Luckily doesn't show too much. Will remove them myself before car goes in for service / link rod replacement.

[jkspoff]

Oh yes ! I have actually bought 4 new centre caps for mine, as they had been prised on and off over the years that many times by careless unprofessional dealer mechanics :blink:

[Guest FlyingDutchMan]

Yep, had exactly the same, done by the tyre guys. Used a srew driver rather than the key that is in the car tool set with the jack. javascript:add_smilie(":blink:")

mad.gif

[Guest blatters]

Me too - all work undertaken on the wheels including tyre changes has been by the one Ford main dealer but the centre caps show where they've been prised off with a screwdriver.

 

My alloys are also showing a cloudy effect which is spreading from the centre. I don't use any special cleaning fluids on them - just the normal shampoo in the water for the rest of the car.

 

Any suggestions as the car's only 20mths old and at this rate the whole wheel will be clouded within another 12mths

 

Blatters

[Denis]

Me too - all work undertaken on the wheels including tyre changes has been by the one Ford main dealer but the centre caps show where they've been prised off with a screwdriver.

 

My alloys are also showing a cloudy effect which is spreading from the centre. I don't use any special cleaning fluids on them - just the normal shampoo in the water for the rest of the car.

 

Any suggestions as the car's only 20mths old and at this rate the whole wheel will be clouded within another 12mths

 

Blatters

I think the cloudy effect might be corrosion caused by water etc getting under the lacquer... down to the dealers that damaged the wheels in the first place!

 

The good news is that you can have an alloy refinished for about

[Guest mick]

Took a closer look at centre caps over weekend - wish I hadn't! Had one downlink replaced some weeks ago. That sides center cap looks to have been popped off with large screwdriver with the result of one badly damaged cap. Car due in soon again for service and another downlink replacement. Guess I'll take the caps off before car goes in. Then tell them not to damage the sills any further. Talk about negligence. You have to trust these money grabbing ba****ds to carry out work under warranty, and the only thing you can guarantee is they will f**k your

[Marky]

Blatters...get down to the dealer and start moaning..i had two changed as a

goodwill gesture as wheels are only guaranteed for 12 months. Had to

pay 5% towards the cost to get another 12 month guarantee on them!

It is a VERY common problem on this style of wheel, if you get no joy from

the dealer speak to Ford Customer Services, they sorted it out for me.

 

 

HTH

Mark

[handy andy]

Me too.

Dealer service - they removed all four centre caps with a screw driver and damaged the wheels and caps.

After much arguing I managed to get a new set of wheels and caps out of them.

[johnb80]

I've just complained to my dealer, 30 months old, I suspect dealer damage to the laquer and caps on my gal. They have come back with an offer of 4 brand new wheels and caps with a payment from me of

[Marky]

Go for it JB...but tell them you want to keep the originals..afterall you are

'paying' for your new ones even at a 'special' price. They aren't being done

under warranty so don't need to be returned to Ford and you'll soon get

your 100 quid back when you put them on ebay!! :ph34r:

[Guest blatters]

My dealer has my alloys at the moment and has promised to refurbish them at no cost to me.

 

They have them because I have my winter steel rims mounted at the moment so I won't know what the quality of the finished product is until the spring. I don't know if they'll be replacing the centre hubs which are water damaged and slightly buckled from screwdrivers. If the wheels are ok I may have to put up and shut up.

 

Blatters