Just Out Of Warranty - Will Ford Help Out Or Fob Me Off?

[TinTentTourist]

I have a 2003 1.9tdi Ghia Galaxy first registered on 31.03.03. 53,000 miles. Full Ford service history.

 

It was fully Ford serviced on 17.02.06 prior to it's first MOT and tested in good time too. I did everything I could do in case I needed to make a warranty claim, and all seemed fine.

 

Then summer came early and I found the air con did not work. (blowing warm - no flashing pannel)

 

Had it re-gassed and it still did not work.

 

Had it checked independently and the compressor is believed to have failed - very expensive repair

[jkspoff]

Fingers crossed for you, I had a similar issue with a Peugeot a few years back, the car was 4 months out of warranty but because I could prove it was a missed item on my last major service they did the repairs and recovered the costs from the manufactuer. So its not unheard of, however I believe it will be entirely at the discretion of the dealer.

As you can see from http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...pic=2227&st=180 there is a lot of issues surrounding your problem, mines going in tomorrow for complete failure repairs. I recommend a third party warranty as soon as possible to cover you for such issues.

[NikpV]

It would probably help if you can find a dealer willing to support you as well - had an issue with an instrument cluster which got changed 14 months out of warranty but the dealer supported me and ford stumped up - but the dealer had nothing to lose and helped ( saved me

[johnb80]

Forget warranties whats written on paper has no value as far as Europe is concerned. Under European law goods must be 'fit for purpose' and also be of 'merchantable quality'. Clearly a vehicle and it's systems are supposed to last more than 3 years / 50,000 miles and thus yours has failed because it must have been faulty from new.

 

I had just the above argument regarding my alloys, don't let them bullshit you, stand firm, threaten court and you will get a response I'm sure, they know legally theyre on extremely thin ice.

 

Regards - JB

[TinTentTourist]

Thanks chaps,

 

I am encouraged by your comments.

 

As you say the dealer has nothing to loose - except my custom.

 

I will have to pay up front for any repairs as I understand it, then claim back. Seems like negotiation from a point of weakness to me, but there is alway the small claims court!

 

Regards

 

Martin

[seatkid]

Sorry to dampen your optimism but I had almost exactly the same scenario with SEAT. The A/C started giving problems at the end of the 3rd year - dealer pratted around with top-ups, dye etc. Kept it going for three or so months. Then I started paying

[greg_68]

I'm with SK on this one 3 months out of your warranty I think you would be extremely lucky to get anyfink.

 

How about taking out a 3rd party warranty, they are a couple of hundred quid a year aren't they?.

 

Leave it a couple of months and stick your claim in.

 

The money you are going to stump up for the diagnostic check will pay for a good chunk of your warranty cheque.....ha ha ....do you see what I did there...no....never mind.

 

I always think crafty.

 

Maybe a cheper way out, especially with an aircon fault.

[johnb80]

Thanks chaps,

 

I am encouraged by your comments.

 

As you say the dealer has nothing to loose - except my custom.

 

I will have to pay up front for any repairs as I understand it, then claim back. Seems like negotiation from a point of weakness to me, but there is alway the small claims court!

 

Regards

 

Martin

DONT DO THAT, negotiate first, get them to agree before work starts.

 

Regards - JB

[Andrew T]

I've had a 75% refund from Vauxhall on failed camrollers out of Warranty, and a friend has been offered 90% of a

[tim-spam]

As I understand it, if a fault is reported before the warranty runs out, you're covered. When you reported problems with misting up, the failed A/C was almost certainly the cause, and therefore it is encumbent upon the dealer to fix it - their claim that the pollen filter was to blame is so lame as to be almost laughable.

 

In addition, they failed to carry out the service they should have done before the warranty expired.

 

So, keep on at them about the car continuing to mist up (just like it did when you first reported it) when the weather is damp. Do not accept any excuses - the fault was reported before the warranty expired, and just because they were too incompetent or dishonest to correctly diagnose the fault does not get them off the hook.

 

If they refuse, threaten to go legal - I agree with others here that just losing your custom will not bother them at all. After all, if it did, they would put more genuine effort into customer satisfaction. If they continue to refuse, then go legal anyway - it's amazing what a solicitor's letter can sometimes achieve.

[TinTentTourist]

Thanks again for some useful pointers.

 

I did tell the garage about the steaming up/ not demisting. And I also told them it was coming up to being 3 years old and to give it a good going over to check for any warranty work that might be needed.

 

Of course they can deny any conversation ever took place (as they have in the past - but not this particular Ford dealer). But do the garage have anything to loose?

 

If they say to Ford "yes he did report it, but we mistakenly diagnosed it/ failed to find it" etc do they have anything to loose?

 

Martin

[sepulchrave]

"If they say to Ford "yes he did report it, but we mistakenly diagnosed it/ failed to find it" etc do they have anything to loose?"

 

Yes, they'll have to buy the parts and do the work for nothing! :(

[TinTentTourist]

Another inspiring result from the Fraud Main Stealers.

 

 

[seatkid]

You have my sympathy as I know exactly how you feel. :P :D :( :D

 

Unfortunately, your feelings regarding Ford customer service and your DEALER will stay with you a long,long time. B) e.g. Would you buy another Ford? (or SEAT/VW for that matter?

 

:) I doubt if Ford have a policy to "replace the whole system", that is as stupid as replacing the engine if it won't start..

 

Oil black with metal particles in it? Maybe but I doubtt. Thats just a ploy to try and take you in. It could just be a condensor leak...

 

Don't waste your time and money with solicitors. In your case,Ford are untouchable and you don't have enough hard evidence to win a case. You could try the small claims court, which will just cost you the filing fee (approx

[gregers]

just a thought,how about writing to someone like auto express detailing everything and see if they can fight on your behalf,might be worth a go?

 

regards gregers

[tim-spam]

It's very simple - you reported the fault whilst the car was still under warranty. Speak to someone at the CAB, and then straight to the small claims court if the garage does not respond to your letter. If the garage decides to defend itself, their legal costs could soon exceed the costs of repair, so they may roll over fairly easily when they realise you are serious. By the way, they will not consider a diary of events or a letter of complaint as serious, and neither will Ford UK.

One more thing, as this will be a civil case (rather than criminal), liability will be decided on the grounds of 'balance of probability', and not 'proven beyond reasonable doubt'. You should have a very good chance of winning this, but don't be put off by their attempts to fob you off as others have obviously done. Of course they will try to tell you that you do not have a case - what else would you expect? After all, as this thread has shown, it works with most people!

[johnb80]

Don't waste your time and money with solicitors. In your case,Ford are untouchable and you don't have enough hard evidence to win a case. You could try the small claims court, which will just cost you the filing fee (approx