Airbag recall - Ford refusing to replace
Discussion
Just looking for some advice please as unsure what to do.
Have a shed S-max for commuting duties. Car is working ok but was recalled for the Takata airbag issue. Car booked in, the dealer refused to swap the part out as coincidentally the airbag light came on a few days before the appointment and now wants 3k to replace a module which will "probably" fix the issue. I'm sure that it is a loose wire under seat or something so don't see why they just can't fulfill their obligations and I can move on and sort the light in my own time when the car goes in for a service in a couple of months
Contact Ford support who say its not their problem and up to me if I want to drive a car with a potentially lethal defect!
Apparently it's risky for a technician to work on an airbag whilst the light is on (even if the battery disconnected) but it's ok to work on the car to replace a module which they aren't even sure is the problem?
Thanks for any advice.
An airbag is a small bomb essentially.
If the triggers faulty would want to stand in front of it?
Then why do you think a service tech should?
Thers nothing stopping you getting the fault fixrd elsewhere before getting the recall.
Go to a local garage and see if they can fix the fault before going back to the dealership for the recall.
If the triggers faulty would want to stand in front of it?
Then why do you think a service tech should?
Thers nothing stopping you getting the fault fixrd elsewhere before getting the recall.
Go to a local garage and see if they can fix the fault before going back to the dealership for the recall.
sherman said:
Your opinion counts for nothing if no technician will do the work the way you think it should be done.
Ah, I see you're a service advisor for Nissan. So in your opinion, disconnecting the battery, waiting 5-10 mins for any residual power to drain out (stopping any chance of bags firing) and then swapping out the module isn't safe, really? Isn't this what they do anyway, light on or not? It's certainly what the Honda dealer did with my Accord....Yomamaisasnowblower said:
sherman said:
Your opinion counts for nothing if no technician will do the work the way you think it should be done.
Ah, I see you're a service advisor for Nissan. So in your opinion, disconnecting the battery, waiting 5-10 mins for any residual power to drain out (stopping any chance of bags firing) and then swapping out the module isn't safe, really? Isn't this what they do anyway, light on or not? It's certainly what the Honda dealer did with my Accord....Im not a Ford master technician.
I barely know that sort of thing about Nissans.
Thats why I work with a team of technicians who actually work on the cars.
I just bill people.
Its not changing the fact that Ford wont do the recall with your car in its current state.
You are out of warranty so you can get your car fixed anywhere-probably for cheaper than the dealership. You only need to go to the dealer for the actual recall work not the work needed so they can do the recall.
It sounds to me like you are just pissed off that you may have to spend some money on your car when you were expecting Ford to do it all for free as part of the recall.
Recalls only cover very specific parts and labour. No dealer will do any extra for free as the Manufacturer will already be paying the bare minimum for the recall work.
Another main dealer employee with a chip on his shoulder - great. Not really cheesed off about spending money, happy to sort out the light issue, I just don't see why my time was waste, they spent a whole trying to figure out what to do, then decided not to carry out the work when I should have the car back by lunch, sorted. Probably because I wouldn't stump up daft amounts of money for them to "investigate" further.
Have a great day at work billing people btw, it's people like you who make the general public avoid main dealers.
Yomamaisasnowblower said:
Just looking for some advice please as unsure what to do.
Have a shed S-max for commuting duties. Car is working ok but was recalled for the Takata airbag issue. Car booked in, the dealer refused to swap the part out as coincidentally the airbag light came on a few days before the appointment and now wants 3k to replace a module which will "probably" fix the issue. I'm sure that it is a loose wire under seat or something so don't see why they just can't fulfill their obligations and I can move on and sort the light in my own time when the car goes in for a service in a couple of months
Contact Ford support who say its not their problem and up to me if I want to drive a car with a potentially lethal defect!
Apparently it's risky for a technician to work on an airbag whilst the light is on (even if the battery disconnected) but it's ok to work on the car to replace a module which they aren't even sure is the problem?
Thanks for any advice.
To make life easier for yourself get the light fixed at the next service as you said you would and then take it in for the recall.Have a shed S-max for commuting duties. Car is working ok but was recalled for the Takata airbag issue. Car booked in, the dealer refused to swap the part out as coincidentally the airbag light came on a few days before the appointment and now wants 3k to replace a module which will "probably" fix the issue. I'm sure that it is a loose wire under seat or something so don't see why they just can't fulfill their obligations and I can move on and sort the light in my own time when the car goes in for a service in a couple of months
Contact Ford support who say its not their problem and up to me if I want to drive a car with a potentially lethal defect!
Apparently it's risky for a technician to work on an airbag whilst the light is on (even if the battery disconnected) but it's ok to work on the car to replace a module which they aren't even sure is the problem?
Thanks for any advice.
You could even have a quick look for the lose wire you suspect as well if it is that simple.
Yomamaisasnowblower said:
Another main dealer employee with a chip on his shoulder - great. Not really cheesed off about spending money, happy to sort out the light issue, I just don't see why my time was waste, they spent a whole trying to figure out what to do, then decided not to carry out the work when I should have the car back by lunch, sorted. Probably because I wouldn't stump up daft amounts of money for them to "investigate" further.
Have a great day at work billing people btw, it's people like you who make the general public avoid main dealers.
And it`s people like you that make main dealer staff`s job harder than it should be. Have a great day at work billing people btw, it's people like you who make the general public avoid main dealers.
He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
Yomamaisasnowblower said:
Another main dealer employee with a chip on his shoulder - great. Not really cheesed off about spending money, happy to sort out the light issue, I just don't see why my time was waste, they spent a whole trying to figure out what to do, then decided not to carry out the work when I should have the car back by lunch, sorted. Probably because I wouldn't stump up daft amounts of money for them to "investigate" further.
Have a great day at work billing people btw, it's people like you who make the general public avoid main dealers.
I think you are putting the dealer in an awkward position so I think they were right to refuse.Have a great day at work billing people btw, it's people like you who make the general public avoid main dealers.
How can you expect a dealer to warrant a repair when they will be knowingly sending you out the door with an active fault, which opens them up to accusations of it being their workmanship as the cause.
Hammer67 said:
And it`s people like you that make main dealer staff`s job harder than it should be.
He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
I didn't ask them for that, I fully understand the terms of a recall. I just want them to replace to dangerous module (which legally they can only do) and I'll be on my way. I didn't spit the dummy, just refused to give them the green light to bill me for hours of unnecessary "diagnostics".He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
It will likely be one of the plugs under the seats.
My focus used to illuminate the airbag light if you moved the drivers seat. Fiddling with the plug would sometimes fix it. I asked my garage to fix it properly at the MOT, and that lasted about a month.
I got some isopropyl (aka contact cleaner) and sprayed it all over the plug and socket (after disconnecting the battery). I then plugged and un plugged it about 10 times, then sprayed it again. I left the battery disconnected until the isopropyl evaporated. That was about 4 years ago and the light hasn't come back on.
S-max seems to suffer with the same problem. See the third reply in this thread...
https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/64319-...
My focus used to illuminate the airbag light if you moved the drivers seat. Fiddling with the plug would sometimes fix it. I asked my garage to fix it properly at the MOT, and that lasted about a month.
I got some isopropyl (aka contact cleaner) and sprayed it all over the plug and socket (after disconnecting the battery). I then plugged and un plugged it about 10 times, then sprayed it again. I left the battery disconnected until the isopropyl evaporated. That was about 4 years ago and the light hasn't come back on.
S-max seems to suffer with the same problem. See the third reply in this thread...
https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/64319-...
Edited by 98elise on Friday 16th August 10:31
Yomamaisasnowblower said:
Hammer67 said:
And it`s people like you that make main dealer staff`s job harder than it should be.
He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
I didn't ask them for that, I fully understand the terms of a recall. I just want them to replace to dangerous module (which legally they can only do) and I'll be on my way. I didn't spit the dummy, just refused to give them the green light to bill me for hours of unnecessary "diagnostics".He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
You don`t understand jack.
Hammer67 said:
Yomamaisasnowblower said:
Hammer67 said:
And it`s people like you that make main dealer staff`s job harder than it should be.
He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
I didn't ask them for that, I fully understand the terms of a recall. I just want them to replace to dangerous module (which legally they can only do) and I'll be on my way. I didn't spit the dummy, just refused to give them the green light to bill me for hours of unnecessary "diagnostics".He`s only following procedures that you don`t understand.
You need to have a think about why the dealer won`t work on an already faulty airbag system.
They cannot replace an airbag, and let it go back out with a fault in the airbag system.
Part of the recall repair procedure will almost certainly require the tech to sign it off with the airbag system functioning correctly.
You were hoping for a free repair to the existing fault and spat the dummy when the dealer wouldn`t play.
You don`t understand jack.
Had you played around with anything before?
Eg me being a numpty, disconnected airbag switch in Skoda with battery still connected.
Light stayed up…
Bought a calista usb plug £30, free month subscription, cleared it (rather than £60 diagnostics then clear it..).
Sold the dongle for £25.
Get the error cleared & book it in with someone else.
Eg me being a numpty, disconnected airbag switch in Skoda with battery still connected.
Light stayed up…
Bought a calista usb plug £30, free month subscription, cleared it (rather than £60 diagnostics then clear it..).
Sold the dongle for £25.
Get the error cleared & book it in with someone else.
Edited by James6112 on Friday 16th August 15:38
James6112 said:
Had you played around with anything before?
Eg me being a numpty, disconnected airbag switch in Skoda with battery still connected.
Light stayed up…
Bought a calista usb plug £30, free month subscription, cleared it (rather than £60 diagnostics then clear it..).
Sold the dongle for £25.
Get the error cleared & book it in with someone else.
Thanks for the info :-)Eg me being a numpty, disconnected airbag switch in Skoda with battery still connected.
Light stayed up…
Bought a calista usb plug £30, free month subscription, cleared it (rather than £60 diagnostics then clear it..).
Sold the dongle for £25.
Get the error cleared & book it in with someone else.
Edited by James6112 on Friday 16th August 15:38
I did fit a new aftermarket handbrake cable (£20) from xr8 due to poor Ford design (cable snapped, car grounded) meaning the other option was a whole new mechanism at £500+ fitted. The cable required removing lots of trim and pushing seats right back, I suspect I knocked something then!
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