$88.00 For The Dealer To Adjust The A/T Shifter Cable??

[ShelbyMotorspts]

On my MM you have to shove the shifter pretty hard into park to be able to remove the ignition key. I forgot to get this fixed under the 3yr warranty but I do have an extended Ford warranty so I thought why not see if they will cover it.

According to the service writer adjusting this cable is considered maintenace and will not be covered but if the cable is physically damaged it will be covered. Catch is they want $44 to diagnosis the problem.

So if the cable is physically damaged I don't have to pay the $44 but if it needs adjustment then I have to pay the $44 for diagnosing the problem. So I figure its a flip of the coin. 50% chance I pay nothing or 50% chance I pay $44 for the diagnosis and I assume adjustment.

WRONG!!!!

Go to pick up the car and find out that all it needed was the cable to be adjusted but instead of $44 I was charged $88.00

I ask why the higher charge and was told that the first $44 was just for the diagnosis and the second $44.00 was for the mechanic to turn a wrench.

So my question is doesn't $88.00 to adjust the trans shifter cable seem like a lot or does it take some effort to adjust the cable.

By effort I mean is the adjustment inside the car and the console has to be removed or can it be adjusted from underneath the car and I was charged an hours labor for 10 minutes work.

Any thoughts?

Steve

[finster101]

Yes, if you are not happy. Do it yourself nest time. Us dealership techs are real rip-off artist. :mad2:

[FordNut]

It's all about relationships...

A good relationship with the techs, the service writers, etc will ensure that everything is covered under warranty. He could have ordered the part, replaced it, charged it to warranty, and been paid more.

[ShelbyMotorspts]

Yes, if you are not happy. Do it yourself nest time. Us dealership techs are real rip-off artist. :mad2:

Yeah I guess I'm not happy mainly because I paid big bucks for the top of the line Ford warranty with a ZERO deductible and they still find a way to get more money out of the customer.

Seems crazy that I have to pay $44.00 for them to find out if Ford will cover it.

I have to keep reminding myself that dealers now make most of their profit from parts/service. So much for a Ford warranty. Car wont go into park and they say thats maintenance.

Hmmm if they used that excuse in the 1970's no wonder they lost the lawsuits because of the shifters that fell out of park into reverse.

Steve

[ShelbyMotorspts]

It's all about relationships...

A good relationship with the techs, the service writers, etc will ensure that everything is covered under warranty. He could have ordered the part, replaced it, charged it to warranty, and been paid more.

Yes I agree but this is the only Ford I own so there is no relationship other than minor service to keep the warranty valid.

Steve

[FordNut]

Not meaning to be a d**k, but you gotta pay one way or another. Either cash or time & effort put into the relationship. Hey, it's kinda like that with women too ain't it?

[carfixer]

...
A good relationship with the techs, the service writers, etc will ensure that everything is covered under warranty. He could have ordered the part, replaced it, charged it to warranty, and been paid more.
Warranty fraud is one of the reasons cars cost as much as they do.

[Mad1]

As far as time goes ... I took mine to a Ford dealership near me, where the service manager was also a Marauder owner. I was in/out in under an hour, most of which was spent talking with the service manager of course. (Work was covered under warranty too!)

He told me that he did the very same adjustment on his MM in the driveway, so I'd assume it wasn't a very time-consuming or labor intensive job.

Jeremy

[CRUZTAKER]

So if the cable is physically damaged I don't have to pay the $44 but if it needs adjustment then I have to pay the $44 for diagnosing the problem. So I figure its a flip of the coin. 50% chance I pay nothing or 50% chance I pay $44 for the diagnosis and I assume adjustment.........



Any thoughts?

Steve

Yeah. One thought.

YOUR DEALER SUCKS ASS.

I just had mine re-adjusted for the third time over 4 years no charge.

If you were open enough to post a basic location in your profile...I'd bet more of us would have further "thoughts" and suggestions to offer. ;)

[Aren Jay]

I have a private Garage I go to. If it is a little thing like this or if it is a problem they can't solve, no charge.

[ShelbyMotorspts]

The reason I didn't make the adjustment myself is that I was taking the car in for an oil leak. Since that is covered under warranty and because the car would already be on a lift I figured I'd ask about the shifter cable being adjusted.

To be told we can't tell you if it will be a warranty item until you give us $44 to take a look just seems like poor business sense. But again these guys including the service writer make money off of what they can get out of the customer.

So they got $88 out of me but thats it if I can help it. I'll keep going back for the $16 oil changes but everything else like the alignment, tires, battery, etc I'll be going elsewhere and getting better service at that.

Steve