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Comments
- Tim
Dean
- Tim
Dean
The thing is that Chevy & Gmc owners would be the only people that that like that song. They could shake going down the road just like the song.
sung to the tune of "rollin' on the river"
Brought to you by ford and their good partners, firestone.
LOL!!!
I can hear spoog.
"Hay they can go off road you know so that doesn't matter"..
Allen-
mike
- Tim
Where do aquire your "facts" on Ford service?
Quality is Job #1...Isn't It?
Published: May 30, 2000
Date of revision: None
Source: None
By: James Brennan
"Quality is Job #1". This is how Ford conveys peace of mind to the prospective new car buyer. Quality products backed by a manufacturer's warranty. The question that arises is just what does that warranty mean? This warranty should assure that short of any normal wear and tear, or damage that the owner causes, the vehicle will remain in the condition that it was purchased, while under the manufacturer's warranty. Ford does not do their customers any favors by fixing a car under warranty, because the cost of the warranty repairs is built into the MSRP. Ford owes these repairs to the customer when the buyers agreement is signed.
I am a Ford Service Technician
Over the last few years, I have witnessed an alarming trend in Ford labor practices. Ford is now reluctant to pay the labor required to perform quality warranty repairs. In 1995, the labor operation for a Windstar transmission removal and installation paid a qualified technician 6.7 hours. All Ford technicians that work on warranty repairs are paid by the job, not by the hour. If this repair takes the technician 11 hours to complete, he only is paid 6.7. Likewise, if it takes him 5.5 hours, he has made money on the repair, and can now move on to the next vehicle. Should the vehicle return for the same concern, due to a technician's mistake, he is required to re-do the job for free. This is called "flatrate".
This is an excellent way of compensating technicians, because it promotes good, but timely repairs. Recently, the labor allowance for the Windstar mentioned earlier was arbitrarily reduced to 4.0 hours. This almost guarantees that every technician that has to replace a transmission on this vehicle will lose money. Labor times have been slashed across the board, on all repairs, makes, and models, seemingly for no apparent reason. As a matter of fact, Ford generated a $70 million profit last year alone, simply by reducing what they were willing to pay for warranty labor.
Ford's stance on this issue is that they set the time for each repair so a reasonably capable technician will be able to meet the time, then add 20% to the allowance to cover things like ordering parts, extracting broken bolts, etc. This sounds like a great method for calculating labor times, but in reality, many of these times are impossible to beat. Some operations have been deleted completely, forcing the technician to work for free, or improvise. Ford has made so many cutbacks that a lot of good technicians are finding it hard to make a living. Many of the best techs out there are leaving the business altogether, leaving the younger, inexperienced technicians to handle warranty repairs. Ford claims that the times were reduced due to the use of air tools, but what about repairs like trim panel replacement, electronic engine control diagnosis, noise diagnosis and others where air tools are not used? These repairs have been affected as well.
What does this mean to the consumer?
In regards to symptom diagnosis, many repairs are closed out with "No Problem Found" written in the tech's notes. If the tech knows he is not getting paid to diagnose the customer's concern, he is likely to make a quick inspection, and release the vehicle if it does not act up promptly. As a technician, my goal is to perform the best repair possible. These warranty cuts, however, tend to promote speed, rather than quality, leading to repeat repairs, no problem founds, and customer frustration. Ford has been saving money on warranty costs by taking it from the dealerships, when they could just as easily make changes in manufacturing and engineering processes to keep the vehicles from breaking down in the first place.
The time has come for Ford Motor Company to take responsibility for the quality of their products, instead of forcing it's dealers and technician's to pick up the slack. There is no reason why Ford should not stand behind their cars, and be willing to pay a fair price for warranty repairs. After all, Quality is Job #1 isn't it?
Ryan
Harry
I don't know. Sounds like a disgruntled mechanic. I've heard these complaints from many dealer mechanics regardless of brand.
Dodge is #1 for gallons of gas per mile.
Dodge is #1 for Hick appeal.
Dodge is not #1 for resale value.
Dodge is not #1 for sales volume.
Dodge is not #1 for initial quality.
Dodge is a foreign owned company (Chrysler is #2 Diamler-Chrysler).
Dodge is #1 for people appearing on Jerry Springer's show.
Mercedes-Benz M class: 73%
Chevy Tahoe LS, 4-door, 4-wheel drive: 72
GMC Yukon, 4-wheel drive: 72
Ford Expedition XLT, 4-wheel drive: 72
Lincoln Navigator: 71
Toyota Land Cruiser: 71
Porsche Boxter: 70
GMC/Chevy Suburban, 4-wheel drive: 70
Honda CR-V: 70
BMW Z3 with 2.8 liter V-6: 70
Mercedes-Benz SLK: 70
Source: Automotive Lease Guide
I checked resale values and you are right jcmdie. I just forgot that Mercedes is actually a Dodge. And I suppose that Tahoes and Suburbans are Dodges too. Dont forget that up until the current style Dodge Ram was introduced the Dodge was selling about 82,000 trucks a year. I bet a lot of Dodge drivers think the K car is the best car ever built.
And western6, I have a buyer for your Suburban for $16K, when can you deliver it.
As far as tranny problems try a chevy.
My Dodge is a five speed, have never had a problem.
A: Cummins Diesel. At least it is not made by Dodge.
Q: How come Dodge only makes a V10? Why not a V12?
A: Dodge drivers (and engineers) can't count over 10 without taking off their shoes.
Q: How do you increase the intelligence of a Dodge driver?
A: Buy them a Ford.
Q: Whats the best way to help a Dodge driver?
A: Call a tow truck for them.
Q: I heard theres a lot of Dodges in Montana. Is that because there are no speed limits in Montana and Dodges are so fast?
A: No, that is because there are no speed limits in Montana and Dodges are so slow. In most states there are minimum speed limits that Dodges can't achieve.
Q: Why not make Firestone Wilderness Tires standard equipment on Dodge trucks?
A: Good idea.
you know powerjoke is better than cummings, we all have herd that fairy tale!
Dodge does believe in gas burners. Thats why everbody will be crying for mommy when they bring back the Hemi!!
The reason there are so many Dodges in Mt, You need power to pull hills!!
Ryan
For the most part advertisements spout off all these numbers and "facts" but in reality all they did was crunch some numbers and make themselves look good.How often do you walk up to a truck and say "wow this truck is beautiful it has everything I ever wanted on a truck,but next year when I sell it I wont get as much as a different brand of truck"? If you are in the position to buy a new truck every year more than likely you are not worried about resale value you are more worried about how to get more back on your tax return.
Ryan
The Hemi will be availible on the 2002 ram.
go to auto buzz.com to see torque ratings, they are impresive.
I don't agree with your statement about the starting price of trucks. I think it really depends on area and most of all, dealers. I can get invoice price on a GM truck in my hometown, then go down the road 20 miles to a larger city, and barely get off MSRP. Dodge and Ford are the same...there's no corporate mandate to how the dealer sells the truck....the big 3 get their money no matter what.