RF Cobra
07-08-2004, 09:55 PM
New Cobra owner (2004 Redfire on 6/21/04) and had my first problem. Got stuck with dead battery and had the car taken back to the dealer. I tried to make the service writer understand that the alternator was the problem. I had a Thunderbird that had the same problem with 3 different alternators. However, he was more concerned with going to lunch and just had a guy change the battery while he took off for lunch. Before leaving I gave them a warning that I would not be very kind if I had the same problem again. I took the car and then exactly one week later on 7/6 guess what...battery is practically dead and car barely starts. I decide to drive the car back to Greensboro...while going through W-S on I-40 we hear ping, ping, ping under the car and then POP! and the car starts pulling to left. I pulled off on the left shoulder and walked around the car. Sure enough, the right rear chrome wheel was sitting on a very flat brand new tire. :mad: I called Ford and made them send a flatbed under the warranty coverage and had them take the car the rest of the way to Greensboro.
By the time we got there I was really ticked :blast: and gave them the following instructions: 1. Replace the alternator. 2. replace the flat tire. 3. I'm not paying for the tire. My point with the tire was that it would not have been flat if the car had been fixed right the first time because my drive to work does not include driving on I-40 where it got punctured. We got the usual pat answers and I left in a slightly slower Focus loaner not quite sure what they would do. BTW: my wife works in management for them and I was trying not to do anything that would come back to haunt her.
The new tire finally arrived and I got the car back today! :D I didn't ask about any charges before going to pick it up. I got there a little late, but since the cashier knows us she went back in and got my key and the ticket. I glanced down the ticket... Replace alternator.....Warranty, N/C..... Replace tire.......WARRANTY, N/C. Apparently after some thought they agreed with my reasoning and wanted to make things right. (I also think that while I was firm in my requests, I tried not to act like a jerk or worse about it which helped)
Also, when I went to get my car, they had parked it in an out of the way area and had nothing else parked anywhere close to it to keep it safe from dents/dings. :)
So I have to give them a thumbs up :thumbsup: for what they did the second time around. I believe everyone makes mistakes and they should be given the opportunity to correct them because it is how they handle correcting those mistakes that shows their true character. In this case I think they did an excellent job of trying correct the situation and my hat is off to them.
Besides, where else am I going to be able to buy Cobras on Ford's A/D plan? :D
By the time we got there I was really ticked :blast: and gave them the following instructions: 1. Replace the alternator. 2. replace the flat tire. 3. I'm not paying for the tire. My point with the tire was that it would not have been flat if the car had been fixed right the first time because my drive to work does not include driving on I-40 where it got punctured. We got the usual pat answers and I left in a slightly slower Focus loaner not quite sure what they would do. BTW: my wife works in management for them and I was trying not to do anything that would come back to haunt her.
The new tire finally arrived and I got the car back today! :D I didn't ask about any charges before going to pick it up. I got there a little late, but since the cashier knows us she went back in and got my key and the ticket. I glanced down the ticket... Replace alternator.....Warranty, N/C..... Replace tire.......WARRANTY, N/C. Apparently after some thought they agreed with my reasoning and wanted to make things right. (I also think that while I was firm in my requests, I tried not to act like a jerk or worse about it which helped)
Also, when I went to get my car, they had parked it in an out of the way area and had nothing else parked anywhere close to it to keep it safe from dents/dings. :)
So I have to give them a thumbs up :thumbsup: for what they did the second time around. I believe everyone makes mistakes and they should be given the opportunity to correct them because it is how they handle correcting those mistakes that shows their true character. In this case I think they did an excellent job of trying correct the situation and my hat is off to them.
Besides, where else am I going to be able to buy Cobras on Ford's A/D plan? :D