Ford - difficulties in fixing a fault

Ford - difficulties in fixing a fault

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MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Thursday 24th September 2020
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Hi

I bought a used Ford Ranger from Ford last year. I got a 12 months RAC warranty.

With 2 days remaining of the warranty, I get the engine management light come on.

Vehicle was booked in for a new sensor for the ad blue system. This took 2 days. This didn't resolve the fault. Booked it in last week for them to strip out the ad blue system and try and identify the fault which they eventually diagnosed as a faulty pump. A week later (this Monday), they said the pump was being replaced and ought to be ready by the end of the day.

It's now Thursday and they still haven't fix the problem. They cannot get the EML light to switch off so there's still a fault somewhere. They are in touch with Ford UK technicians.

In total, I've lost 11 days of work while they attempt to fix the fault. I cannot work as my work equipment is fitted to my vehicle.

There does not appear to be any progress made at all. I'm losing money and customers each day.

I simply don't know what to do. I have only set up my business this year, been difficult during lockdown etc and just as things were picking up, this happened!

Not sure what I can do but this is very frustrating and it putting me off Ford, although I'm sure the technicians are doing their best.

How do you manage when your vehicles are broken down?

Edited by MYOB on Thursday 24th September 16:40

powerstroke

10,283 posts

167 months

Thursday 24th September 2020
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I sometimes get tempted to look at Rangers then I remember friends experiences with them and the ford dealers I've attempted to use to repair a transit custom we owned so I understand your pain ..
and as someone who can't work without a vehicle I'm glad I have my current hilux the latest of many which have all been as reliable as a reliable thing ....
hope you get it sorted ...

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Friday 25th September 2020
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Thanks.

I got the call this morning to say everything was fixed and I could collect the vehicle!

Collected it, got 10 minutes down the road before the engine management light came back on.

Now we are waiting for a Ford field engineer to take a look but he can't call over until 2 weeks time. Apparently he's so busy. Must be lots of Fords out there with problems!

Am totally disillusioned with Ford now. I rely on my vehicle for work and I cannot rely on Ford.


Venisonpie

3,648 posts

89 months

Saturday 26th September 2020
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MYOB said:
Thanks.

I got the call this morning to say everything was fixed and I could collect the vehicle!

Collected it, got 10 minutes down the road before the engine management light came back on.

Now we are waiting for a Ford field engineer to take a look but he can't call over until 2 weeks time. Apparently he's so busy. Must be lots of Fords out there with problems!

Am totally disillusioned with Ford now. I rely on my vehicle for work and I cannot rely on Ford.
Sadly this is the reality of running Ford commercial vehicles. It must be hugely frustrating as your living depends on it.

It's not much solace but it's the same regardless of how many vehicles you run. I run 350 and the Ford's are atrociously unreliable and the dealers appalling.

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Saturday 26th September 2020
quotequote all
It's annoying because I spent 30 years avoiding Ford as I heard too many horror stories.

Not sure if their commercial vehicles are on a different level to their cars, but in 30 years of motoring, I've never experienced a case where a vehicle is off the road for so long and they can't identify the fault.

To be fair to the dealership, they identified a series of problems with the ad blue system and fixed them but a fault is still reading.

But having to wait 2 weeks for a field engineer to inspect the vehicle is beyond a joke!

It does sound like I've got a Friday afternoon vehicle!

Nick928

352 posts

162 months

Sunday 27th September 2020
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I’ve run a Transit Custom and Ranger (at the same time) and sadly your experience is pretty much spot on.
Took three years of visits and eventually dumping the Transit at the dealers telling them I didn’t want it back until fixed.
After three months without a van I complained to Ford U.K. and it eventually was tracked down (the initial dealer sent it to two others in turn) and delivered back.
Finally lost it when the Ranger was in the dealers for two weeks following a breakdown requiring new glow plugs.
Got the vehicle back and then got shot of both of them before something else dropped off.
Shocking service and blatantly false marketing tag lines (keeping your business on the road/backbone of business) just add insult to injury.

Djtemeka

1,873 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th September 2020
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I’ve heard so many horror stories of Ford vehicles then the same people slagging off Vauxhall’s. I bought a new Vivaro 6 years ago and still have it today. I also had a company Vivaro, new, since 2011. Never a serious issue.

The first had a clutch (not slipping) go pop but it was 4 years old.

Mine had no issues apart from a loose sliding door handle and a faulty dpf sensor in its 6 years I’ve had it. Sensor had it off the road for 2 weeks at a small local garage but cost £600 including a full service, dpf lean out, vat etc.

Sure it had a stone through the rad a couple years ago but that’s not a reliability issue.

I like the look of a custom van but I’d rather stick to a good ol Vauxhall Vivaro. Price per mile, it’s been great.

And that’s 3 vans since 2011

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Monday 12th October 2020
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This is still ongoing...The engineer diagnosed the ad blue pump needed replacement (last Friday). The tech reassured me if they diagnosed the fault on Friday, he would work on Saturday to get it fixed for me. Apparently the part was arriving until today and I was told it would be completed today but now it will be tomorrow!

All this work is being completed under warranty (RAC approved) - I do wonder if they have stretch this job to get as much money as possible from the warranty. They have had my vehicle for a total of 21 days now!

I'm utterly disgusted and so much want to swear at them...but I won't! smile

Venisonpie

3,648 posts

89 months

Tuesday 13th October 2020
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They're comedians.

I had a T350 in Ford Chichester yesterday for a service. Tech drained the oil and it was creamy apparently. I got the call to say there was coolant in the oil and it needed a new engine.

I suggested this was quite a leap and what was the diagnosis. Turns out there wasn't one and they wanted authorisation for 13 hrs labour to investigate.

It's being recovered to a local indie I trust and they will no doubt diagnose a cracked head (known issue) and the bill will be 30% of a new engine.

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Tuesday 13th October 2020
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After 3.5 months of to'ing and fro'ing, I think Ford has finally fixed it smile

It took 3 visits (one of which was a stay of 2 weeks) to finally fix it!

Venisonpie

3,648 posts

89 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
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MYOB said:
After 3.5 months of to'ing and fro'ing, I think Ford has finally fixed it smile

It took 3 visits (one of which was a stay of 2 weeks) to finally fix it!
That's a relief. What dealer was it?

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Wednesday 14th October 2020
quotequote all
Venisonpie said:
MYOB said:
After 3.5 months of to'ing and fro'ing, I think Ford has finally fixed it smile

It took 3 visits (one of which was a stay of 2 weeks) to finally fix it!
That's a relief. What dealer was it?
I don't think we are permitted to name and shame!

I truly do believe it could have been fixed sooner and I have my suspicions that they were milking the 3rd party warranty party to maximise their profit.

I was speaking to 4 different people at the garage and they were all reporting different faults and reasons for the delays.

Quite shocking on the whole.

MYOB

Original Poster:

4,999 posts

145 months

Friday 27th November 2020
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And now I've another fault!

"ESC service required - hill decent control unavailable"

What a joke!