YankeeMarauder
01-14-2011, 10:50 AM
Back in august I bought my 2003 300A Marauder with like 48K on the clock. Shortly after, I realized it had a the dreaded weak rear axle on the passenger side. I was fresh, and went on a shops recommendation of a good rear end shop. It has since been a nightmare. I had the two rear axles replaced and upgraded to 4.10 gears. Here is my letter to my CC company since I am contesting all or part of the charges:
"I was billed for service from (merchant) on 10/14/2010. The work to be performed was diagnose a noise coming from the rear of the car. When I dropped my 2003 Mercury Marauder off on 10/5/2010, no one could find the "light wheel" service manager. So I waited for almost 30 minutes. Finally I told one of the men at the sales counter I had to get back to work. He took my keys, gave me a business card for (service mgr) and told me he would be in contact with me.
All day long I heard nothing from (service mgr). Finally, shortly after 5pm , I called and left a voice mail to check the status. I heard back from (service mgr) the next day stating he had the vehicle in the shop, would diagnose the issue and get back to me. 3 days went by and I never heard a word. Finally, again frustrated, I called again. Still was not able to get ahold of (service mgr). I informed the folks I wasn't going to wait anymore and I wanted to pick up my vehicle and take it somewhere else. They said they would have to get back with me because they had the entire rear axle housing out of my car. I explained that I had not authorized that and they said wait for (service mgr) call.
Later that day, (service mgr) called. I asked why he pulled the rear from my car when I didn't authorize it. He stated that I wanted the noise diagnosed and that was what they had to do diagnose it. I disagreed and told him I wanted the car. He told me there was fee to pull and diagnose and clean the rear which was, I believe, either $200 or $400. Feeling like I was going to have to throw even more money at the car, even though I did not authorize the dropping of the rear or agree to the fee, I asked how much to fix it. (service mgr) gave me 3 prices. One if he had to replace no axles, only seals, another if he had to replace one axle and finally one if he had to replace both axles. Of course, the vehicle needed both axles. I also explained that I wanted to upgrade from a stock 3.55 gear ratio to a 4.10 gear ratio and I only wanted to use OEM Ford parts. He assured me that the rear axles would be Ford parts he purchased from a third party (parts house), the ring and pinion set would be either Ford or Ford motorsports and the the seals would be Timken.
When I picked the car up the following week, we went for a ride in the car. (service mgr) explained that there was a noise coming from the rear that he couldn't locate but it couldn't be from any of the work they performed since they rebuilt the entire rear end. (service mgr)showed me the damage as I had requested the old parts. I paid my bill and left.
Upon returning home, I noticed that the parts he used were not Ford and Timken as he stated and I had requested, but rather a lesser, generic line. I specifically asked for Ford parts since that was my preference. I did not address this with (service mgr) since I was trying to be optimistic that the parts were not inferior. My son Chris and I used some material to put under the rear seat to act as a 'sound deadener" to sort of quiet the noise.
In the coming weeks, I had noticed spots if what smelled and appeared to be differential fluid in the driveway,but discounted it since my 19 year old drove a 1998 F 150 with 175,000 miles on it and would expect it. However, on Saturday, 12/11/2010, my son noticed a large spot of fluid where my car was parked. We inspected the underside of my car and found that the seal was leaking on the passenger side rear. I notified Citi at that point.
We dropped the vehicle back off at (merchant) on Monday, 12/13/2010. They replaced the rear seal explaining that "it happens sometimes". Well, now it looks like its doing it again. I have not taken it back, and quite frankly I don't want them touching my car anymore. Bottom line is they did not use the parts I requested and was promised, and in fact used inferior parts, and the level of service they performed was poor at best. Although they performed the work requested. I am currently having and feel I will continue to have an issue with the rear of this car. When you spend $1500 on auto repairs you want it done right the way you were promised, not with a poor level of service.
If need be, I can scan and E mail a copy of the invoice. I beleive it is in my filing cabinet at home. That is the only documentation I have. I can also take pictures of the boxes my parts were returned in. None are Ford, and the one box that says "Timken" on it is a product MARKETED not MANUFACTURED by Timken. My number is at the bottom of the e mail should you need to call. Just left me know."
I know thats alot of BS to read and go through, but better too much info rather than not enough. I believe the rear seal is leaking on the passenger side again. I guess I am looking for any suggestions on what I can or should do? $1500 to rebuild a rear and upgrade te gears is costly enough, without taking into the fact that I am having and will continue to have issues. And its not like I am hard on the car, I just like having the power. I dont do burn outs, or hammer her at every light, Im just and old guy driving a fast car slow.
Any suggetsions?
And I apologize if this is in the wrong area of the site
"I was billed for service from (merchant) on 10/14/2010. The work to be performed was diagnose a noise coming from the rear of the car. When I dropped my 2003 Mercury Marauder off on 10/5/2010, no one could find the "light wheel" service manager. So I waited for almost 30 minutes. Finally I told one of the men at the sales counter I had to get back to work. He took my keys, gave me a business card for (service mgr) and told me he would be in contact with me.
All day long I heard nothing from (service mgr). Finally, shortly after 5pm , I called and left a voice mail to check the status. I heard back from (service mgr) the next day stating he had the vehicle in the shop, would diagnose the issue and get back to me. 3 days went by and I never heard a word. Finally, again frustrated, I called again. Still was not able to get ahold of (service mgr). I informed the folks I wasn't going to wait anymore and I wanted to pick up my vehicle and take it somewhere else. They said they would have to get back with me because they had the entire rear axle housing out of my car. I explained that I had not authorized that and they said wait for (service mgr) call.
Later that day, (service mgr) called. I asked why he pulled the rear from my car when I didn't authorize it. He stated that I wanted the noise diagnosed and that was what they had to do diagnose it. I disagreed and told him I wanted the car. He told me there was fee to pull and diagnose and clean the rear which was, I believe, either $200 or $400. Feeling like I was going to have to throw even more money at the car, even though I did not authorize the dropping of the rear or agree to the fee, I asked how much to fix it. (service mgr) gave me 3 prices. One if he had to replace no axles, only seals, another if he had to replace one axle and finally one if he had to replace both axles. Of course, the vehicle needed both axles. I also explained that I wanted to upgrade from a stock 3.55 gear ratio to a 4.10 gear ratio and I only wanted to use OEM Ford parts. He assured me that the rear axles would be Ford parts he purchased from a third party (parts house), the ring and pinion set would be either Ford or Ford motorsports and the the seals would be Timken.
When I picked the car up the following week, we went for a ride in the car. (service mgr) explained that there was a noise coming from the rear that he couldn't locate but it couldn't be from any of the work they performed since they rebuilt the entire rear end. (service mgr)showed me the damage as I had requested the old parts. I paid my bill and left.
Upon returning home, I noticed that the parts he used were not Ford and Timken as he stated and I had requested, but rather a lesser, generic line. I specifically asked for Ford parts since that was my preference. I did not address this with (service mgr) since I was trying to be optimistic that the parts were not inferior. My son Chris and I used some material to put under the rear seat to act as a 'sound deadener" to sort of quiet the noise.
In the coming weeks, I had noticed spots if what smelled and appeared to be differential fluid in the driveway,but discounted it since my 19 year old drove a 1998 F 150 with 175,000 miles on it and would expect it. However, on Saturday, 12/11/2010, my son noticed a large spot of fluid where my car was parked. We inspected the underside of my car and found that the seal was leaking on the passenger side rear. I notified Citi at that point.
We dropped the vehicle back off at (merchant) on Monday, 12/13/2010. They replaced the rear seal explaining that "it happens sometimes". Well, now it looks like its doing it again. I have not taken it back, and quite frankly I don't want them touching my car anymore. Bottom line is they did not use the parts I requested and was promised, and in fact used inferior parts, and the level of service they performed was poor at best. Although they performed the work requested. I am currently having and feel I will continue to have an issue with the rear of this car. When you spend $1500 on auto repairs you want it done right the way you were promised, not with a poor level of service.
If need be, I can scan and E mail a copy of the invoice. I beleive it is in my filing cabinet at home. That is the only documentation I have. I can also take pictures of the boxes my parts were returned in. None are Ford, and the one box that says "Timken" on it is a product MARKETED not MANUFACTURED by Timken. My number is at the bottom of the e mail should you need to call. Just left me know."
I know thats alot of BS to read and go through, but better too much info rather than not enough. I believe the rear seal is leaking on the passenger side again. I guess I am looking for any suggestions on what I can or should do? $1500 to rebuild a rear and upgrade te gears is costly enough, without taking into the fact that I am having and will continue to have issues. And its not like I am hard on the car, I just like having the power. I dont do burn outs, or hammer her at every light, Im just and old guy driving a fast car slow.
Any suggetsions?
And I apologize if this is in the wrong area of the site