Ford dealer pleasure cruise

[Panther dude]

Today I brought my car into the local ford dealership for an oil change, they called later and recommended a coolest flush. I agreed to it, returned to pick up my super prestine black marauder and discovered from looking at the odometer that the car had been driven two miles. I complained to the service manager and he told me that the tech had to drive it to properly bleed the coolant system. I have never heard of having to do this, worked on a lot of water cooled Porsches over the years and never had to do this to burp the system.

So I assume someone took my car for a high rpm joy ride, I hope I'm wrong.

[secretservice]

Hidden camera.;)

[secretservice]

I am a dealership tech. I drive customer's cars with the utmost respect. Wife has had her Challenger in and out of the Dodge dealer for a couple of weeks for the same problem, they haven't duplicated the problem yet. Asked for permission for the tech to drive the car home (I have done the same thing many times at the Kia dealer) but she respectfully declined their request for permission to drive her Hemi Challenger home. For obvious reasons. She doesn't trust it. As she shouldn't.

[jsignorelli]

I have had several of my very high HP Mustangs "test driven" after an oil change at the dealership. If you think purging air from the system after a coolant change is odd, then please explain test drives after an oil change?

I now sit at the dealership and closely observe the repair bays.

[Odinson]

meh 2 miles. I'd just let it go.

I always take it around a few blocks even for an oil change. Hey you never know.

I'm down with the hidden camera though. You tube pays you after so many hits. Just sayin...

[secretservice]

Nanny cam in a Teddy Bear in the back seat...

[jerrym3]

Even if they did take your car for a performance test drive, I doubt they'd be "stoopid" enough to beat the p**s out of it.

(Try explaining how the customer drove the car to the dealership, but the rear end/trans/motor blew while in the shop?)

And, let's be honest, haven't we all put our cars through performance test drives more than once?

When I let folks drive my 03 TBird, I tell them, go ahead, nail it, otherwise they may as well be test driving a two year old foreign sedan.

(Now, my 64 Galaxie's a different story. Even with the new 390, I rarely nail that car. At 217,000 miles, it's still on it's second trans. Not pushing my luck)

[sflrainmaker01]

Today I brought my car into the local ford dealership for an oil change, they called later and recommended a coolest flush. I agreed to it, returned to pick up my super prestine black marauder and discovered from looking at the odometer that the car had been driven two miles. I complained to the service manager and he told me that the tech had to drive it to properly bleed the coolant system. I have never heard of having to do this, worked on a lot of water cooled Porsches over the years and never had to do this to burp the system.

So I assume someone took my car for a high rpm joy ride, I hope I'm wrong.

^^^I agree. In the end, though, probably not that big of a deal. But, you would think that these dealers would give at least a courtesy call that they "need" to take it for a drive. Not for all cars, but certainly for the limited production and/or high performance ones. That should be a given standard these days.

[MarauderMax]

Today I brought my car into the local ford dealership for an oil change, they called later and recommended a coolest flush. I agreed to it, returned to pick up my super prestine black marauder and discovered from looking at the odometer that the car had been driven two miles. I complained to the service manager and he told me that the tech had to drive it to properly bleed the coolant system. I have never heard of having to do this, worked on a lot of water cooled Porsches over the years and never had to do this to burp the system.

So I assume someone took my car for a high rpm joy ride, I hope I'm wrong.

They are all a bunch of crooks, I dropped a vehicle off for an alignment, it was a third vehicle, 4 months old, I was in no hurry, I got it back 3 weeks later with 300 miles on it, all the radio station presets changed and a bad alignment, I wonder who took a vacation?

[Dave2]

Nanny cam in a Teddy Bear in the back seat...

Either that or a trunk monkey....

http://store03.prostores.com/glens_garage_sale/catalog/Trunk_Monkey_A.jpg

[sflrainmaker01]

Either that or a trunk monkey....

http://store03.prostores.com/glens_garage_sale/catalog/Trunk_Monkey_A.jpg

Looks more like a back seat monkey! :lol:

[fordmike65]

They are all a bunch of crooks, I dropped a vehicle off for an alignment, it was a third vehicle, 4 months old, I was in no hurry, I got it back 3 weeks later with 300 miles on it, all the radio station presets changed and a bad alignment, I wonder who took a vacation?

Not defending them putting all those miles on it, but why would you leave a car anywhere for 3 weeks just for an alignment??? Did you get refunded for the repair? Did you talk to the service writer? Service Manager? Owner? Ask to view any cameras the Dealer might have. We had a similar issue a few years ago. Checked cameras, car was only moved for repairs & a car wash. Turned out the writer didn't jot down the mileage & the owner was mistaken about how many miles were on the vehicle when it arrived.

[Miranda03]

Not trying to be a jerk here guys, but I am a senior master ford tech and have been working at a dealership level for almost 20 years. I know a thing or two about that 32 valve engine in the marauder. They are extremely hard in stock forum to get all the air out of the system with a standard cooling system flush.. I have had several over the years that have come in overheating due to not being properly "burped" so to speak after an a/m shop has had their hands on them. I always drive them after a coolant flush and I own one myself.. So as long as the tech is respectful and careful with the car really the two mile test drive that you are concerned about is pretty normal.

[Dave2]

Looks more like a back seat monkey! :lol:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avOiTUcD4Y

[Dave2]

Not trying to be a jerk here guys, but I am a senior master ford tech and have been working at a dealership level for almost 20 years. I know a thing or two about that 32 valve engine in the marauder. They are extremely hard in stock forum to get all the air out of the system with a standard cooling system flush.. I have had several over the years that have come in overheating due to not being properly "burped" so to speak after an a/m shop has had their hands on them. I always drive them after a coolant flush and I own one myself.. So as long as the tech is respectful and careful with the car really the two mile test drive that you are concerned about is pretty normal.


Well, if that's considered "normal" the mechanic or service tech needs to tell the customer that up front so there won't be any surprises later on....


Any time the car gets a test drive.....

[fordmike65]

At least here, it's pretty much normal and understood that almost every car gets some kind of test drive, usually through our designated test drive route. That way if something does go wrong or fails, it happens to the tech and there are none of these "surprises" on the customer's way home.

[Panther dude]

Not trying to be a jerk here guys, but I am a senior master ford tech and have been working at a dealership level for almost 20 years. I know a thing or two about that 32 valve engine in the marauder. They are extremely hard in stock forum to get all the air out of the system with a standard cooling system flush.. I have had several over the years that have come in overheating due to not being properly "burped" so to speak after an a/m shop has had their hands on them. I always drive them after a coolant flush and I own one myself.. So as long as the tech is respectful and careful with the car really the two mile test drive that you are concerned about is pretty normal.

Thank you, feel much better about and I overreacted a bit, trust is difficult these days.

[Limited360]

Not trying to be a jerk here guys, but I am a senior master ford tech and have been working at a dealership level for almost 20 years. I know a thing or two about that 32 valve engine in the marauder. They are extremely hard in stock forum to get all the air out of the system with a standard cooling system flush.. I have had several over the years that have come in overheating due to not being properly "burped" so to speak after an a/m shop has had their hands on them. I always drive them after a coolant flush and I own one myself.. So as long as the tech is respectful and careful with the car really the two mile test drive that you are concerned about is pretty normal.

Does a vacuum fill not work on these cars? Confused how driving a car helps burp a car versus idling or angling with a lift to force air in one direction...

That being said a few miles doesn't bother me... 15+ would be suspect!

[jsignorelli]

I just find it odd that my 620 RWHP Mustang gets road tested and the vanilla Granny wagon does not.
Well I guess I would be concerned if several body fluids were left on the seats after testing the acceleration.

[8UWITH6]

Well, if that's considered "normal" the mechanic or service tech needs to tell the customer that up front so there won't be any surprises later on....


Any time the car gets a test drive.....

Read the invoice when you sign it. When you drop your car off at a shop when you sign the invoice you are giving permission to test drive the vehicle to diagnose, replicate, and finalize all customer concerns no matter how minor or major. If you are bringing your car to a shop and dont want them to drive it for some reason (read: you dont trust them) TELL THEM. Or here is another suggestion................. FIND A SHOP YOU TRUST. Plain and simple. 2 or 3 miles on the odometer is normal. My guys test drive EVERY alignment. If the steering wheel is off center they catch it then instead of getting the phone call or the car coming back immediately with a unhappy customer. Find a shop your trust and toss them the keys...............

[8UWITH6]

I just find it odd that my 620 RWHP Mustang gets road tested and the vanilla Granny wagon does not.
Well I guess I would be concerned if several body fluids were left on the seats after testing the acceleration.


Gotta make sure the car drives straight and true at WOT:beer: JK.

[marauder410]

2 miles is standard in such procedure like said above...to make sure everything is good and not going to overhead when u get your car bakc going down the road.....

im also a tech..i drive cusstomers cars ALL the time after brake jobs/overheating issues/ even after a tune up juts to make sure everything is good

but not after say an oil change no...let idle for a minute yea

[chrislindy]

:confused:Took mine in for dealer oil change. Tires rotated.... You think the tech would know tires can't be rotated!!! Last time I go there. Factory trained? I don't think so. Complained to deaf ears. Looks like I'm back to doing it myself.
Today I brought my car into the local ford dealership for an oil change, they called later and recommended a coolest flush. I agreed to it, returned to pick up my super prestine black marauder and discovered from looking at the odometer that the car had been driven two miles. I complained to the service manager and he told me that the tech had to drive it to properly bleed the coolant system. I have never heard of having to do this, worked on a lot of water cooled Porsches over the years and never had to do this to burp the system.

So I assume someone took my car for a high rpm joy ride, I hope I'm wrong.

[fordmike65]

[QUOTE=chrislindy;1334689]:confused:Took mine in for dealer oil change. Tires rotated.... You think the tech would know tires can't be rotated!!! Last time I go there. Factory trained? I don't think so. Complained to deaf ears. Looks like I'm back to doing it myself.[/QTE]

Factory trained to do an oil change and rotation on an '03??? Come on. When ur right next to a tire pulling it off for a rotation, it may not so be obvious that the front and rear are indeed different sizes. There really isnt a huge difference in size. From far way, yes. Honestly, lube techs arent used to or expecting staggered tire sizes on stock vehicles. Seems like alot of members here are quick to bash Dealers. Just an observation ...

[chrislindy]

Dealer told me they are better due to extensive training. Factory certified, etc. Others don't know car like they do. The lack of owning up to what happened really pissed me off. Almost got in accident when traction control activated in traffic. the tech looked at me like I did something wrong when I went back. Like I said, fell on deaf ears. Dealer never responded to my concerns. E-mails to Ford went unanswered.

[sailsmen]

I think you are out of line and if I were the dealer I would tell you to take your car else where.
I am over 50 and I run 2+ miles every week. That is barely enough time to warm up the car and see if the coolant system is functioning properly.
The dealer and the tech lose money during these so called "pleasure cruises".

[jsignorelli]

They are test driving the car after an Oil Change. How does that require a test drive? I don't have an issue with repairs to a mechanical system. I have issues with a simple fluid change. The 10 minute oil change venues don't see a need for the test drive. Why does the dealership? And only to my high HP cars, not my daily drivers, which are getting the same service.
I'm sorry that you don't see the reality of this. The mechanic is using my car for his Jolly's, not my safety. Test all of the cars, not just the "fun rides".

[sailsmen]

Today I brought my car into the local ford dealership for an oil change, they called later and recommended a coolest flush. I agreed to it, returned to pick up my super prestine black marauder and discovered from looking at the odometer that the car had been driven two miles. I complained to the service manager and he told me that the tech had to drive it to properly bleed the coolant system. I have never heard of having to do this, worked on a lot of water cooled Porsches over the years and never had to do this to burp the system.

So I assume someone took my car for a high rpm joy ride, I hope I'm wrong.

The only way to tell if the engine cooling system is properly functioning is to drive the car. If the car was never driven at all and the car overheated on you would you complain about that and the fact they didn't test it?
Got news for you the Marauder ain't that special a car.

[fordmike65]

They are test driving the car after an Oil Change. How does that require a test drive? I don't have an issue with repairs to a mechanical system. I have issues with a simple fluid change. The 10 minute oil change venues don't see a need for the test drive. Why does the dealership? And only to my high HP cars, not my daily drivers, which are getting the same service.
I'm sorry that you don't see the reality of this. The mechanic is using my car for his Jolly's, not my safety. Test all of the cars, not just the "fun rides".

I agree with this. A simple oil change should just be idled in the stall for as few seconds, then checked for any leaks and recheck oil level. No test drive required. I do however have a couple regular customers that will come over and tell me about the new mods on his car while the lube guy is servicing it. They usually hand me the keys and tell me to take it out and open it up a bit. That's a green light for a joyride.

[jsignorelli]

If the car is in an accident during the test drive, will your insurance carrier give me back the exact car that was trashed?
I have $ 37,000 in the '93 Mustang, not including the $ 17,000 I paid for it that year. It is not just about the $ 54,000 in that car. Will your carrier provide me with a super modified 1993 Fox Body Bright Blue & Titanium Mustang with all of the parts no longer available (GT 40 intake, X-303 heads, etc), plus all of my time in bright polishing the aluminum? How many 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs in Grabber Blue are around? And they have to be MCA national champions or it is not a replacement.
Don't test drive what you can't replace.

[fordmike65]

If you were referring to my post, I don't mean that I go balls out. Just a little fun spirited drive around the block and down a close-by straight away. I can't speak for the guys taking ur Stang for a spin tho. Like I said, just an oil change and no permission by the owner means no test drive. Car shouldn't even be driven off the lot.

[jsignorelli]

They didn't just drive it off of the lot... they went onto an interstate highway. That is not a test drive.
I have stopped using the dealership for simple things because of this.

The other problem is that many of their "young" mechanics don't know the engines. I had to explain the idle air motor. At that point, I asked for a different (older) mechanic. When I take one of the older (1969-1970-1972) cars, carburetors have them stumped.
I was actually asked where the computer plug-in was located.