May have to visit the dealer...

[Rider90]

I may have to visit the dealership to get my seat heat switch fixed. The illumination blinks on/off and its an LED, so at night, its very very annoying. Bright Flash.

So what do I do about the mods? I had a truck with a Diablosport installed and before I traded it in I uninstalled it 2 weeks ahead of time, and atleast 20 cold starts later, I brought it in. They said they would like to scan the computer to see if I had a programmer since I had the EGT, boost, and trans temp gauges. They couldn't find nothin.

So I have the K&N FIPK, Diablosport, and 4.10s. Wouldn't they notice this stuff?? should I put on the factory intake? remove the tuner? They shouldn't be able to detect my gears unless they drive it, which this should not need a drive, but would that void the warranty?

Looking for some wise opinions before I dive and see if I hit water or concrete...

I wonder how hard it is to disable the hood release from the interior...hmmm

[RF Overlord]

So I have the K&N FIPK, Diablosport, and 4.10s. Wouldn't they notice this stuff?? ...would that void the warranty? As I've said many times before, if your dealer wants to play hardball, almost anything CAN void the warranty, although in this case I can't imagine them having an issue with your mods...none of them has anything to do with the seat heater...I would think that most dealers would cover an honest warranty issue like this as long as there's no chance of them getting burnt by Ford.

[fastblackmerc]

As I've said many times before, if your dealer wants to play hardball, almost anything CAN void the warranty, although in this case I can't imagine them having an issue with your mods...none of them has anything to do with the seat heater...I would think that most dealers would cover an honest warranty issue like this as long as there's no chance of them getting burnt by Ford.
I had the same problems with the heated seat lights on the passenger side. I didn't remove / disable any of my mods before I took it to the dealer for service. Had no problems, in fact most of the mechanice / techs came over to look at it. They replaced the heated seat switch assembly.

[TechHeavy]

I had the same problems with the heated seat lights on the passenger side. I didn't remove / disable any of my mods before I took it to the dealer for service. Had no problems, in fact most of the mechanice / techs came over to look at it. They replaced the heated seat switch assembly.
Ditto! ^^^^

The mechs at my dealership drool over my mods and fight over chances to "test drive" it around the block. :) If the problem issue has no chance of being related to your mods then I don't think it's an eyebrow-raiser for them.... but I'm just relating my experience with "my" dealership thus far....

I'd go for it with mods intact if it were mine.... just my .02.
Good luck.

[SergntMac]

One of our Windy City crew is Mark-"N40GL" Look him up in the members list and e-mail him. He has us hooked up with a Ford/SVT dealer in your area that is "mod friendly", and has even sponsored a few events for us. Don't sweat, if that doesn't pan out, my L/M dealer will love to give you a hand. With all the crap I've got on the Kenny Brown #1x, and all it's abuse, just recently they fixed an expensive short in the electrical system under warranty.

[Merc-O-matic]

Mods have nothing to do with a switch for "heated seats"
Take it in..

Gotta Love It! :P

[Marauder2005]

I think you will be ok, I had cooling problems two seperate times, I
brought it in with the JLT Intake in-tact, they didnt even mention it....

[Rider90]

One of our Windy City crew is Mark-"N40GL" Look him up in the members list and e-mail him. He has us hooked up with a Ford/SVT dealer in your area that is "mod friendly", and has even sponsored a few events for us. Don't sweat, if that doesn't pan out, my L/M dealer will love to give you a hand. With all the crap I've got on the Kenny Brown #1x, and all it's abuse, just recently they fixed an expensive short in the electrical system under warranty.
I know Mark, he is the Midwest Panther Alliance that I am head of. I'm guessing he is talking about Sessler, which when I had my truck was very unfriendly about mods. My tech wanted to void my drivetrain warranty when he saw mud under the truck - from my mom's unpaved driveway in Wisconsin and it is a LONG driveway. He put up a lot of fuss, then again he was just a jerk. Maybe the SVT crew is nicer. Mac, where is 'your' dealer..

Take me to your dealer :rasta:

[SergntMac]

Mac, where is 'your' dealer..Take me to your dealer :rasta:
Sorry to hear all that about Sessler. Never been there, or, needed anything from them myself, K? Just "connecting the dots" map wise.

Unless you somehow "supercharged' your butt warmer, you have a factory warranty through my dealer NQA, who's very south-east of your Lake County "20". If you really need warranty coverage and this badly, it can get done. E-me when you really need this, I'm not going to broadcast names and numbers here. Let's talk on the 15th?

[Rider90]

Dude, sorry to hear all that about Sessler. Never been there, or, needed anyting from them myself, K? Just "connecting the dots" map wise.

Unless you "supercharged' your seat heat, you have a factory warranty through my dealer, who's very south east of Lake County. If you need warranty coverage this badly, it can get done. E-me when you need this, I'm not going to broadcast names and numbers here. Let's talk on the 15th?
Sounds good. Until then I will sport the electrical tape mod :cool4:

[Bradley G]

Hey Rider 90,

How long ago was that?
I was introduced to the S/M @ Sessler Ford by N40GL at a show they sponsered last summer. I forget his name,he was very interested in our Marauders.
I am going to go there for my inner front tire wear(featheredged).Steering wheel nibble is comming back @ god speed:D .
My selling Dealer has crapped on me for the last time.First they blew off my appointment for an alignment"We don't have an alignment rack open, nor anyone qualified to perform it"2nd appointment request in two weeks: "You are out of warranty, adjustments are only covered for 12/12,000". I never mentioned warranty.last request: Reply after no return call or e-mail from service director: "We don't do alignments on Marauders", "We don't have the adapters for your wheels".:mad2:
I phoned the Ford hotline and filed a formal complaint this morning.I have an e-mail from the service Director@ Wickstrom that states "Our service history shows, We never did an alignment on your car.I provided you with a referral, Motorwerks to do your alignment.I gave you the info to have your camber adjusted."
"No matter what we do you never seem to be happy" This is the third time, I have heard or read this same comment from him.
I e-mailed him the warranty claim # ,The date Wickstrom performed the alignment.I had a copy of my history.
His info consisted of camber spec "Positive camber, a little"
And the referal for Motorwerks to check/revise the alignment was returned by the Sales department."We will be contacting you shortly".
(Never heard from them).
At least I e-mailed the "Service director" , Fords hot line reference number, and called the owner.
The owner told me he was busy! "In a Meeting" with his two partners(Brother/Father)
He Said he would call me back(never did) 2nd time in two weeks.
Sorry for the rant.:shake:
Bradley G

[Rider90]

Brad, I know what its like even for being so young, but I've got my own rants that I'm holding back on from a previous experience. When are you going?

MINI-MEET :D j/k

[Bradley G]

I should go soon, as I am hope to go to St. Louis this weekend for the Ford World Challenge.I may have to stay below the speed of sound:rolleyes:

It may help if you go right to the cheeze.
Bradley G

[SergntMac]

Brad, if I'm reading you right, your alignment is out of whack, and your front end vibration is returning. If so, you are tearing up your front tires, and after a point in wear, they will be permanently damaged.

The Marauder doesn't need a special rack for an alignment, if the wrench knows his stuff, he'll remember a way around this from the olds days. Let the air out of the tire and hook the rack to the wheel at the inside of the rim at the bead, and restore PSI. It's a PITA, yes, but leaves no marks anywhere on the MM wheel. Find a wrench willing to take this approach, and you can get a proper alignment on any machine, anywhere.

[Bradley G]

Thanks Mac,

That's kind of what I thought.
Tires have a little over 10K,They are probably past the point of correcting/saving them.I can't believe after the problems I had initially with this symptom,The dealer did not re-check/verify the specs especially after the front tires were replaced.
The Dealer has made it obvious they don't want me to ever go there again.Still not even a GFY!:censor: "Weenies":rolleyes:
Too bad, cause I have built some fine relationhips with thier staff.
This may be part of the problem.
I know way too much for thier liking.
With all your and others help!
thanks for your reply!Have fun at the Chicken Run!:P Sounds like you guys will have a great turnout!
Bradley G

Brad, if I'm reading you right, your alignment is out of whack, and your front end vibration is returning. If so, you are tearing up your front tires, and after a point in wear, they will be permanently damaged.

The Marauder doesn't need a special rack for an alignment, if the wrench knows his stuff, he'll remember a way around this from the olds days. Let the air out of the tire and hook the rack to the wheel at the inside of the rim at the bead, and restore PSI. It's a PITA, yes, but leaves no marks anywhere on the MM wheel. Find a wrench willing to take this approach, and you can get a proper alignment on any machine, anywhere.

[RF Overlord]

I can't believe after the problems I had initially with this symptom,The dealer did not re-check/verify the specs especially after the front tires were replaced.Bradley, the problem is that the factory alignment specs are wrong, so the dealer could have checked them a hundred times, and you will still have the inner wear issue. Use the specs from this forum and find a good independent alignment shop that will work with you.

[Bradley G]

Thanks RF,
I did supply Wickstrom the specs that I found here.I pulled them off mm.net site right in front of them.I asked them to compare what my car was set to last turn,where it is now and make the necessary correction.It did not seem like a unreasonably big deal.
I guess they don't like being shown, that it's possible, that they don't know everything.
Bradley G


Bradley, the problem is that the factory alignment specs are wrong, so the dealer could have checked them a hundred times, and you will still have the inner wear issue. Use the specs from this forum and find a good independent alignment shop that will work with you.

[RF Overlord]

I did supply Wickstrom the specs that I found here.Well, that's a start... :)

Your reply title says you'd rather stay with Ford...but it doesn't seem like they are doing too well by you...who paid for your initial alignment and tire replacement? If they did, that's all well and good, but they're obviously not fixing the problem...and what happens when they won't do it for free any longer? At some point you're going to have to either pay them to do poor-quality work, or find a shop that will take care of you right. Why not do that now and save yourself the hassle? (you did say they made you feel unwelcome...)

Sorry, didn't mean to lecture... :rolleyes: :D

[rayjay]

Where does everybody find these mod friendly dealers? When I "tested" my dealer about mods I thought the service writer was going to faint. She actually started to white out. Oh, no sir, any modification will void your warranty.... :P

[Bradley G]

I hear ya RF,

The Dealer Runs hot and cold.The only Guy I have not a positive experience from was just promoted from Manager to Service Director.Wickstrom, just aquired (2 years)L/M franchise two blocks west of thier Ford store.The dealer has made wholesale changes regarding thier staff.The General New car sales manager.And the Previous Service director were just removed recently. Both had been employed there since the store was aquired in 1970.
They have made an effort to resolve my problem.They got BFG to warranty the Tires.
I don't have a problen with paying them,I have spent a good bit of money there,both in parts and service.
They have a negetive view on Marauder owners in general.I have even heard the owners tell me "Marauder owners are too picky"I get great service from them for routiene maintenence.(The easy stuff)But when it comes to diagnosing drivability issues, All I ever hear is :blah: *********.
Sorry for the rant.
Bradley G
They are just moments from my house,and I did purchace the car from them.

Well, that's a start... :)

Your reply title says you'd rather stay with Ford...but it doesn't seem like they are doing too well by you...who paid for your initial alignment and tire replacement? If they did, that's all well and good, but they're obviously not fixing the problem...and what happens when they won't do it for free any longer? At some point you're going to have to either pay them to do poor-quality work, or find a shop that will take care of you right. Why not do that now and save yourself the hassle? (you did say they made you feel unwelcome...)

Sorry, didn't mean to lecture... :rolleyes: :D