fighting a warranty

[Larsonator]

Anyone been into or read about fighting a warranty claim not being honored?

A buddy has an 05 with only an MBRP exhaust, using the stock cat. He said he noticed a lot of black smoke the other day, then the truck overheated. Took it to the dealer, and they said it's head gaskets.

At some point in the middle of the job, which also turned into cracked heads, they claimed that a Ford Rep came to the dealership, looked at the truck, and said it isnt to be warrantied becasue of the exhaust. They filled him with some bs about these engines needing the backpressure of the stock exhaust and something about how it affects the air temp of the incoming air, causing it to be higher, which overheated it and cracked the heads. It couldnt really make any more sense. So, it's supposed to be back together tomorrow, and he's getting a 5200 dollar bill. The dealer recommended they not put this on his vin #, so it wouldnt show up on an oasis report. I can't imagine why. It's all very fishy. This dealer is claiming they've done zero head gasket jobs on 05+ trucks, also.

I've read the stuff before about how Ford would have to prove the aftermarket part is what caused the part failure. Not sure how you go about it. I'm thinking he needs to tell the dealer to submit the warranty claim, and to make sure the documnet it all formally, as his lawyer will be wanting copies of any paperwork. If/when it gets denied, I'd think he'd need to hire a lawyer to go after Ford? Anyone really dealt with this?

If he'd known this before they tore it apart, he could of just taken it elsewhere, even with the exhaust on, and had no issues.

thanks
Eric

[PSDPlayer]

Ask for the Ford Rep to speak with the ford rep. Then ask them for a copy of his signature on the repair estimate. The estimate would have a full list of parts needed and gaskets and fluids and labor in full detail. At the bottom his signature would need to be on it and usually the last 4 digits of his social security number. Any dealer would be more than happy to allow you to tow your truck out of the shop with all the bolts in boxes.

[Larsonator]

so should he tell them to submit the claim, and then ask to speak to the rep after it comes back denied?

I think the cab is off right now. Might be hard to get it towed out of there now.

[PSDPlayer]

If he didn't authorize them to pull the cab then why did they pull it?

[Larsonator]

when he took it in, and they started all the work, it was supposed to be under warranty. It wasnt until it was torn apart, and a Ford rep supposedly came through the dealership, noting that the work being done to his truck is not to be warrantied because of the exhaust, that it suddenly was going to cost him out of his pocket.

I guess he could go try and pick the truck up in a million pieces, and argue that he's not paying for the work up to that point because they said it would be warrantied.

[mooring product]

I can't see how the dealership can do this? They told him he was covered under warranty and they started the job. Then latter the rep says no its not covered? I think the dealer should be paying this tab.

I don't see how exhaust can void the warranty as long as the cats in place.

[nummit]

Eric, is Miller Ford doing this?
Do I know the truck owner?

[PSDPlayer]

This is stupid. There is a giant diagnostic procedure to determine whats wrong with something before it gets torn down.

[Larsonator]

pete, no, it's not miller. If I'd known before he took it in, I would of told him to go there. It's Granite Ford.

It is stupid. I got some more info. He was in Northern Maine camping the week before, when it did this. The local dealership there came and got it, and found the coolant bottle cap was defective. The logged it against his VIN that they replaced it, and the truck needed head gaskets. He was with his family, towing a 5th wheel, so he couldnt have the work done there.

He called ford yesterday. They talked to the dealership that is working on the truck right now. Nothing was mentioned about a Ford rep squashing the warranty claim. They simply said they feel the exhaust caused all the problems. Ford told them that if the first dealer would call in to Ford, and go to bat for him claiming that the coolant cap is what caused the problems to the truck, it would get warrantied. He's working on this today.

Of course, the dealer that is in the middle of reassembling the truck now, is probably pissed that he went to ford. Really seems like they're trying to scam him. His bill is 5200 for a hg job with new heads. Is this what Ford would pay them for warranty work? I thought I'd heard that they get less from ford for this job that what it really takes.

Eric

[heinzboy]

My bill was $3400 bucks for headstuds, gaskets, fuel system, egr delete pipe, new oil cooler, new egr cooler, fluidampner, all chemicals changes, trans pan install etc etc.

[PSDPlayer]

The Ford labor rate and the dealer customer pay labor rate is completely different. The Ford time to complete the job is also alot less than what chilton's or Alldata would tell you it takes to complete the job.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Gasket - Cylinder Head (6051) - Replace

</B>Includes check cylinder head and block flatness, adjust valves (if adjustable) and ignition timing. Use 6007A and combinations when engine removal is required.


Do not use with 8005A, 6731A only for 6.0L DIT. Do not use with 6007A, 8501A, 6584A, 9527AT, 6007A21, 6007A23.

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">6.0L DIT...RIGHT

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>6051AR

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>10.5

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">6.0L DIT...LEFT

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>6051AL

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>9.0

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">6.0L DIT...BOTH

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>6051AT

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>14.3

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Supplements

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>http://www.fordtechservice.dealerconnection.com/vdirs/spubs/slts/images/white_space.gif

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100></TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>http://www.fordtechservice.dealerconnection.com/vdirs/spubs/slts/images/white_space.gif

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">
Extra time if equipped with dual alternators. -

</B>

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">6.0L DIT

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=100>6051AZN

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=2 bgColor=#000000>.

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=100>0.4

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

There are other little tests to add on to this so you might get the total time to a little less than 20 hours tops. Ford's labor rate to the dealer used to be somewhere around 65 dollars per hour so you can do the math. Heads list for 1200 each.

[Larsonator]

I think they told him the heads were 1900 each.

I talked to him a little while ago. He had just spoke with the dealer that has the truck. The guy told him that he pretty much f'd himself by calling Ford because now he has to document the work against his VIN and void his entire engine warranty.

[nummit]

That's the biggest load of shit I have ever read and it sounds like they were trying to fuck him from the start.
I would get the zone rep down there asap

[PSDPlayer]

Call a lawyer.

[heinzboy]

Go with whatever will be the cheaper route for you.

[TXHNTR]

get a lawyer...