Let dealer do the 15K maint. check? - Diesel Forum

iweb · 03-26-2002, 09:49 PM

Ok I am cooled off now and I am still going to do my own oil changes but do you guys/gals take your truck into the dealer for the 15k mile maint. check? For what I see in the book I don't see $99 worth of anything. Do you do your own checks of what is listed in the book or just change the oil and filter? Is this check a needed thing or just a rip off? Thanks once again.

SCOTTx88 · 03-26-2002, 09:51 PM

I think it's a rip-off.

mcbreth · 03-26-2002, 10:13 PM

There are several different ways to look at this but I will let you know why I recommend it. As we all know Ford is stingy with their warranty money. At our dealership we are very big on Customer Satisfaction and try to do everything possible to make sure our folks are happy. While we have had situations where warranties were voided for various reasons, we try very hard to error on the side of the customer. But that is a very small number, the larger opportunity is to do After Warranty Adjustments, you know those problems that always seem to crop up at 36001 miles. If we can show Corporate that our customer has made a valid attempt to maintain their vehicle according to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide we have been very successful at getting a fairly large percentage of these claims paid in full or in the majority by Ford. The first thing our zone and region reps want to see is a history of maintenance. Because the 15K, 30K, 45K (etc.) intervals have important events scheduled it is much easier to show proper maintenance if we have done the work in house. Anybody can change their oil, but maintaining proper SCA levels, doing fuel filter changes and proper tranny/coolant systems/differential maintenance are the issues that will help us get you help from Ford.

Most reputable dealers will bend over backwards to help you out if at all possible. A few extra bucks spent in his/her place doing the things that need to be done anyway is a good trade off for the money that can be saved if you need his/her help down the road.

sloans4x4 · 03-27-2002, 09:00 PM

Very well said, man!!!!!

I agree totally.

SCOTTx88 · 03-27-2002, 09:38 PM

True.Well put.

iweb · 03-31-2002, 11:19 AM

Ok I bit the bullet and had a dealer do the maint. yesterday which cost me $140. But now my question is this: why do different dealers have different things that they do for the 15K check and they both have different costs. My "old" dealer did tire rotation,oil,filter,change fuel filter,visual check of belts hoses, for $109. My "new" dealer changes the air filter not the fuel filter (would cost $50 more) and balances wheels for they said $164 but my bill was $139. If I had a maint. agreement with them it would be $121. Why the difference in costs and why the difference in programs? I told the gal that my manual said to do it different and she said all manuals are different????

sloans4x4 · 03-31-2002, 01:10 PM

They should perform it to your manual(in your booklet) and check off what they did and sign it. The diff. in price should only be diff. in labor rate. If you go by book time!! Some dealers have a maintnence package. some don't.

iweb · 04-09-2002, 08:15 PM

18,000 miles I have yet to have a dealer sign, look at, or mention my book.

mcbreth · 04-11-2002, 01:08 PM

We (Ford Dealers) keep track of all maintenance and warranty issues OASIS. If you take your truck to any Ford dealer they can pull a complete history on your vehicle. If you take your truck to somebody else to get it maintained make sure to have them note it in your maintenance manual to CYA.