Roof Rack and other problems....ADVICE - Diesel Forum

JasonRider · 04-01-2002, 10:20 AM

I got my X back in August...dumb me forgot about the numerous suggestions to remove the roof rack because of the possible scratching that they may do.
I've got 11K on it, 1K under the 'everything's covered' new warranty.
I removed the rack this weekend, and sure enough the front rack had done it's damage leaving a real nice deep gouge in the roof.

I talked to my service guy (Apple Valley Ford, MN) and they said there was nothing they could do.

So...suggestions? Should ford take care of it??

Any help is appreciated.

Also...took it in at 6K and they had to replace the ball joints.
Taking it in tomorrow, 11K Front axle is leaking, another leak of some sort by the turbo..the roof rack issue, the steering is very loose (similar to the 6K issue)

I don't like where this is heading...I love the truck, but seem to be having some issues with it.

keno · 04-01-2002, 01:39 PM

Jason,

I had the same problem, They fixed it by repainting the top. Talk to Jeremy, and remind him of my X. Ford should cover this. If neccasary escale it to the service Mgr and beyond.

Talk to Zach, he was your sales Mgr right??

Let me know if you need any more info

Regards

jderner · 04-01-2002, 02:14 PM

The Ford dealership here in Sioux Falls, SD, repainted my roof due to the rack and a rust spot right above the windshield, in addition to the top of the rear doors where the paint wore off due to the liftgate - all under warranty. And I believe the paint warranty is longer than 36 month/36,000 miles - but you'd have to check the manual. I thought it was 7 years for paint and corrosion resistance.

I still have problems with a clunking sound coming from the front end when I go in and out of driveway approaches - they put all new shocks on thinking that would help, but I still have the problem. I wonder if my problem could be with the ball joints - its going back in hopefully this week.

When it comes to things wrong with my truck under warranty, I don't ask whether they'll fix it - I tell them I expect it fixed, especially considering we all dropped $40K + for this vehicle...

JasonRider · 04-01-2002, 02:20 PM

They told me they couldn't do anything because they don't have a body shop...heh

I've just added another item to the list...my drivers side window makes a LOUD clunk anytime I fully open it. It does it again when I fully close it...but doesn't when I just crack it open.

The passenger side gets really sticky and slowly opens/closes.

Seems weird how this all started happening after 10K.

Yeah, Zach was the manager, he handed me off to, I think, Rich in the sales area because he had a delivery to make...the Rich fella forgot my name a week after the sale, called my house and asked for a Jerod (my name's Jason)...so being the smar ass...I said there's no Jerod here....he was really confused.

How has your luck been with AV Truck center? So far my first experience at 6K was terrible...They called and said it was finished, so I drove the 1/2 hr drive to pick it up...and it wasn't finished...the Service guy 'forgot' to call me to tell me a part they had on hand mysteriously wasn't on hand anymore....and took 3+ weeks for them to get. (Passenger side mirror).

heh.

keno · 04-01-2002, 02:55 PM

Jason,

I just emailed the GM and Zach at AV ford.

I asked them to look into your problems and see if they could do anything.
I feel bad when I recomend a dealer, and the buddy I send there way ends up not 100% happy

Sorry,

Ken O

JasonRider · 04-01-2002, 03:04 PM

Thanks.

I appreciate it. I had great service from that dealer when I had my old Explorer, but that was in their main service area...before they had the Truck center.

I like the truck, just would like it's issues taken care of.

My wife refuses to drive it because of the steering problem.
I've been waiting to do any updates (Steering Stabilizer, Sway bars, shocks) until I got past the 12K mark so they couldn't point fingers at my upgrades....

I gotta start getting it ready...Getting a 26' boat this fall to throw into the Miss., or Mtka.

keno · 04-01-2002, 03:19 PM

Jason,
I just got a phone call from Phil Sura the GM at AV Ford,
I would expect you will be hearing from AV soon, And yes he confirmed they do have a body shop!!!!!

yOUR LAST NAME IS LOREN , Right??

Regards

Ken O
BTW

JasonRider · 04-01-2002, 03:34 PM

hehe. Wish I had the name of the rep I talked to this am that said they didn't!

It's Lohrenz...and again, Thanks for assisting me...It always helps to know someone with 'contacts'!

bikedoc · 04-01-2002, 06:48 PM

Thanks guys! You probably saved me some headaches for sure! Just went out and got the rack off the new X and looks like I was "in time"! Not a scratch yet but just looking at it I could see that it would have been a problem. I really never plan on using the rack anyway so I just took off the hardware and now have it stored in my warehouse. Thanks again for the tip!

Clint

keno · 04-01-2002, 07:57 PM

Jason,

I would hope by now, that youve heard something from AV Ford.

If I can speak freely and openly, I think your mainly frustrated with your service issues (or lack of) and "not" that your salesman forgot your name [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Ive done alot of buisness with AV Ford, and thats only why I know who to talk too, and how to get things resolved NOW!!

I Stepped in here to help you, not because I had contacts, but I felt like Dog doo, if I refer you to someone, and that person isnt happy, that reflects on me.

Also your a FD member here.

In as far as there body shop, they contract with the shop across the street, and they have a ful body shop at there sister store in Shakopee

Let me know how it all turns out, and I totally agree your X shouldnt be falling apart at 10K.

Ive found that Jeremy understands these trucks pretty good, I "think" there front end guys name is Clint, and hes good too

Good Luck

JasonRider · 04-01-2002, 09:13 PM

Heh.

Yeah you're right the name thing was no biggie...just the service has been a bother...
As many have said nothing is more frustrating then when you drop 40K+ on something and get poopy service in return.

I was out part of the afternoon, and got called not once, but twice by Zach. I was impressed with him from the get-go, so that end has always been fine.

I just think that sometimes service peeps get lazy and think that if they don't admit to things that jo-customer won't push things. I think that's where forums like this are the best, because we can feed off of X number of people's experiences and know what ford will and won't do before we go into service.

Thanks again. It's going in either tomorrow, or Thursday. With my grocery list of items, I don't think they'll get it done in a day, so I have to play it by ear since they don't have a loaner.

Thanks again!

dallas13 · 04-02-2002, 10:35 AM

This is a stupid question but please explain why one should remove the roof rack. What parts do you remove and why?

Thanks

JasonRider · 04-02-2002, 12:57 PM

Remove the crossmembers between the two tracks... There are two larger ones, and two smaller ones.
The reason for removal is that they ride close to the metal, and have no padding, or other material to protect against vibration. After 11K on my X the front crossmember had done a nice scratch in the middle of the roof from vibrating.
They're easy to remove, and well worth it.

aquaholic · 04-04-2002, 11:09 PM

I wonder if Home Depot sells a roll of thin adhesive backed foam or something similar that can be applied to the under side of the rack crossmember? Looking at the rack and roof, it apears the roof is convex whereby the middle third of it would be affected by the crossmember riding on it. I do see what you guys mean about it riding right on the metal of the roof.

Raven222 · 04-09-2002, 11:52 PM

Just got cleared by Ford dealership in Corpus Christi to have the scratches taken out of my roof under warranty. Roof rack is now in storage, replaced with Thule rack system when I need to haul campin stuff. Thanks guys...