How long can a dealer keep a car for service?

[lee11]

What is the name of your state? KY

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this....I took my 2004 Ford Explorer to a dealer for service. They told me it needed a part replaced that had to be ordered (still under warranty). At first they told me it would be 2 days...then 3...then 4...you get the idea. My car has been sitting in their lot for 30 days. The part still isn't in. I can't drive it without it. I'm paying $400 a month for a car I can't drive and $100 for insurance on it. They don't offer loaner cars. I actually had to buy a second car 3 weeks ago. Is there anything I can do? Can they just keep it indefinitely?

 

[lee11]

Forgot to say...

The dealership is in WV.

 

[justalayman]

uh, you can go get it and tow it elsewhere.

talk to the manager or owner of the dealership. if he provides no satisfaction, call the Ford zone rep and speak with them.

Have you considered they actually are having difficulty getting the part?

 

[lee11]

we tried that...

About a week into the wait...we had an emergency need to get it fixed (ended up buying a 2nd car) went to the dealer and got it...took it to a garage that told us they could fix it. After looking at it and talking about bypassing with a straight pipe (???I don't know anything about cars) what they were proposing was I believe illegal and would void the warranty...so we took it back to the dealer.

I just never dreamed that it would take this long when on the first day they told us 2 days, 3 days tops.

 

[xylene]

About a week into the wait...we had an emergency need to get it fixed (ended up buying a 2nd car) went to the dealer and got it...took it to a garage that told us they could fix it. After looking at it and talking about bypassing with a straight pipe (???I don't know anything about cars) what they were proposing was I believe illegal and would void the warranty...so we took it back to the dealer.

I just never dreamed that it would take this long when on the first day they told us 2 days, 3 days tops.

So you tried talking to the ford rep directly?

Is there another dealer?

 

[acmb05]

About a week into the wait...we had an emergency need to get it fixed (ended up buying a 2nd car) went to the dealer and got it...took it to a garage that told us they could fix it. After looking at it and talking about bypassing with a straight pipe (???I don't know anything about cars) what they were proposing was I believe illegal and would void the warranty...so we took it back to the dealer.

I just never dreamed that it would take this long when on the first day they told us 2 days, 3 days tops.

Well there is one problem. When you went and picked the car up they probably canceled the order on the part because now they would not need it. So when you brought car back they had to reorder again.

Is this an exhaust problem?

 

[lee11]

We haven't talked to anyone other than the dealer yet...but will try that.

My husband was only gone with the car for an hour to the garage. They didn't mention cancelling the order, but I guess that's possible.

The part is a C-(not sure how it's spelled) converter...something to do with emissions???

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: How long can a dealer keep a car for service?

A: As long as you allow.

 

[justalayman]

The part is a C-(not sure how it's spelled) converter...something to do with emissions???

catalytic converter.

get on the phone and call places like Midas Muffler or Tuffy or Menieke Muffler and ask them if they have one in stock. If you have the engine size along with the make, model, and engine size, they should be able to tell you over the phone if they do have one.

It should not be that difficult to find a catalytic converter for your vehicle.

Sometimes dealerships do have a hard time getting some parts for whatever reason. Things like this are generally easily handled by an aftermarket exhaust shop.

 

[xylene]

Sometimes dealerships do have a hard time getting some parts for whatever reason. Things like this are generally easily handled by an aftermarket exhaust shop.

Its called standard Ford waranty customer 'service'.

While its true any muffler shop could easily replace this part, probably in hours, they will not honor the ford warranty, and this part (ignore labor) is at least $1000, probably more like $1600.

This is why the dealer and Ford in general is dragging their heels on this to begin with...

One Solution - buy a foreign built car from a foreign owned car manufacturer.

PS - A catalytic converter should last 10 years and easily more. The fact that it is worn out in 3 to 4 years tends to suggest other fuel system / emissions / engine problems that are just waiting to blossom into car crippling catastropes as soon as your warranty period is over.

 

[Zigner]

Its called standard Ford waranty customer 'service'.

While its true any muffler shop could easily replace this part, probably in hours, they will not honor the ford warranty, and this part (ignore labor) is at least $1000, probably more like $1600.

This is why the dealer and Ford in general is dragging their heels on this to begin with...

One Solution - buy a foreign built car from a foreign owned car manufacturer.

PS - A catalytic converter should last 10 years and easily more. The fact that it is worn out in 3 to 4 years tends to suggest other fuel system / emissions / engine problems that are just waiting to blossom into car crippling catastropes as soon as your warranty period is over.

This part could be replaced for under $500...if you want to use a "Ford" part...then you *might* get close to $1,000

The cat can go out much sooner depending on the type of gasoline used, mileage of the vehicle etc.

 

[xylene]

This part could be replaced for under $500...if you want to use a "Ford" part...then you *might* get close to $1,000

The cat can go out much sooner depending on the type of gasoline used, mileage of the vehicle etc.

I doubt that price would be that low, its possible but given the market price for platinum is extremely high all catalytic convereters are quite pricey.

Only a "Ford" part will not void the warranty.

If the vehicle was extremely high miles -true, but than the warranty issue would be moot.

Fuel Quality - Unless the poster is diluting the gas with used motor oil, I stand by my assement that something in either the fuel system, emmissions control system, and/or the engine itself is either faulty, failing, and/or poorly designed to beign with which caused this premature failure of the catalytic converter.

 

[justalayman]

I must apolgize. I would swear the model year was 1994, not 2004.

That changes a lot.

Warranty for a cat converter is 8 years or 80,000 miles. The converter should most defintaly last more than 3 or 4 years. No queations about it. A poor running engine, for whatever reason will take out a converter in short order.

The ECU and the OBD are also covered for 8/80,000.

Call the Ford zone rep. This is a rep from Ford, not the dealer. I would make a very big stink about this. If you get nothing from them, let them know you are going to contact your states attorney general and the EPA. Emmissions systems are a touchy point..


btw when I thought it was a 1994, I looked up the converter. I found one for $200. With a couple hours labor you are still under $500. If I shop around I could more than likely find one for $150 bucks (parts only). This vehicle uses 2 converters and the prices I just quoted are for replacing BOTH of them.

 

[Zigner]

btw when I thought it was a 1994, I looked up the converter. I found one for $200. With a couple hours labor you are still under $500. If I shop around I could more than likely find one for $150 bucks (parts only). This vehicle uses 2 converters and the prices I just quoted are for replacing BOTH of them.

And...
I looked up a converter for a 2004 and found it for under $200 - granted, it's not a "Ford" converter...

 

[ajs09876]

Who did you talk with

Who did you talk with at the dealer?

If this is a 2004 and you are still in the warranty, you WANT to get this done at the dealership because it won't cost you a thing. If that dealer is dragging it's heels, try a different dealership to see if they have your warranty part in stock or how long a wait that they have for this part. If it is a problem with your specific model of vehicle it may very well be back ordered. If you make a big enough fuss, the dealer might give you a loaner to drive while you wait. I used to work at a dealership in MN and if a customer complained enough to the owner of the dealership, (not the gm but the owner) sometimes they would get a used car off the lot for you to drive while your car is in the shop. Granted...don't be rude. You get a lot furthur in a dealership if you're nice than if you call up screaming all the time. There's a lot a dealer can do for you, IF THEY WANT TO.

I don't understand this quote though...

While its true any muffler shop could easily replace this part, probably in hours, they will not honor the ford warranty, and this part (ignore labor) is at least $1000, probably more like $1600.

This is why the dealer and Ford in general is dragging their heels on this to begin with...

What do you mean by that, xylene?