I took my 2003 Mercury Mountaineer to my local Ford dealer today for service (the L-M dealer is further away so I figured that a Mountaineer is the same thing as an Explorer). When I got there, I told them I wanted the tires rotated and the oil changed. I pointed out that the vehicle called for synthetic blend oil and that the air pressures had to be adjusted since it gets 30F/35R.When the vehicle was done, the service writer asked me if I wanted the vehicle washed while she did the paperwork. It was relatively clean, but I figured "what the heck".10 minutes later they were done and I paid the $34.95 for "The Works". When I went out to my vehicle, it was sopping wet everywhere. They told me that they use a spotless system blah blah blah. I asked them if they delivered new and used cars this way and she said "yes, but we put them out a few hours a head of time to dry in the sun". I pointed out that this is Pittsburgh and we get 52 days of sun here.When I got home, I decided to check the tire pressure. I found that, yes, they HAD rotated the tires...because there was now 35F and 30R. I am RELIGIOUS about my tire air since my previous 1999 Explorer/Firestone tires. Anyway, I called the dealership and told them I was they guy unhappy about the wet car and that they did not adjust the air pressure. And I wondered if they REALLY used the correct synthetic blend oil (I can see from the dipstick that it is at least NEW oil).The serviced writer credited back my credit card which I was pleased about. But I'd rather PAY and get it right than get a refund and wonder. Should I complain further up the Ford food chain? Will someone get a reprimand (or worse) for failing to adjust tire pressure with the rotation. Or am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Is THIS why Ford is becoming a second-class automotive citizen?

You may want to bypass the service writer and speak to the service manager. If the person rotating the tires is not switching the air pressure, then he's not even checking any tire air pressures period, which is one item too many vehicle owners don't do and rely on the service dept to do. And who knows what else the tech is not doing.wth

Bad Dealer? Am I Making a Mountain Out Of A Molehill?

May 11, 2005 21 Replies

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Gerry Pierce 21 years ago

Jim, that's pretty harsh. I think he has a complaint about the service that is valid. If he asked them to do something, and they did not, he has a reason to question if they did all of it the way he asked. Since the dealer refunded the money for the service, I would just take it back and have them change the oil again.

The problem with them refunding the money is that you still don't know if they put the right oil in. I would have let them keep the money and just asked that the work be performed again for the piece of mind. After all, he paid the dealer to do the work, and it should have been right. As for the cas wash, it really sould have been dried off.

My .02, which don't mean crap.

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Hairy 21 years ago

So what's stopping you? Take it somewhere else and have it done again.

Should I

You ended up with a free tire rotation and oil change and you still want to raise a stink? Have you never made a mistake or forgotten something? Do you think the consequences should be dire everytime you do? Sheesh....

Concerning the wash job, you got more than you paid for.

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