I dropped my 2006 XR6T off to City Ford Sydney for its 15,000 km service this morning. The car is stock, with all the options. I supplied my own oil – Edge 0W40.

The service consultant tried to deny warranty on the rattling sunroof as he said it was aftermarket. When I argued he asked me to prove it – which I did by sending through the original contract.

He then went on to argue with nearly every item that I raised.

All in all one of the worst customer service experiences I have had. I will not be returning to this nest of jabbering turkeys.

Is there a Ford Mechanic in the Inner West of Sydney who offers decent service and is able to treat their customers with some degree of respect?

Jonno

who did you deal with dimtri has always been nice to me on the down side their Mechanics are f***n useless and need to repair the same thing 3 or 4 times befor its really fixed

hey dude,

sorry to hear about your bad experience with them. It seems it is becoming a more regular occurance. i'm sure there is excellent service from some dealers, but they are few and far between.

Probably best only use them for warranty work and get a reputable mechanic to service your car.

I'm sure others on the forum would tell you the same too.

good luck.

i'm more than happy to get our guys to look after you, PM me if you need anything, we are in liverpool

Hi Trevs, I thought he was a D*ckhead personally, the way he talk to some "Customers" was very unprefessional. The only way to get something done there is to speak to the Engine Driver, Ravi is ok.

When I was in for some warranty issues a few months ago they forgot to do up my Air Box

I thought the BOV sounded a bit too loud.

I hear sinclair at Penrith is ok, I've never been. DON'T GOT TO PARRA whatever you do.

Ozzie

their called fraud service for a reason ive had rubbish left in the car ,tools under the bonnet and last time my car was their some dickhead left Multi-grip pliers still Attached to my hand brake under the car could hear banging for a few days so i had a look at work one night and found some more tools left on the car dick heads

I got some warranty work done at Power Ford last month, they were very understanding and helpful, sadly the same couldn't be said for either City Ford City or Rockdale, have had very bad experiences. Rockdale City ford are a bunch of jokers - I believe they don't even know what a turbo ford is let alone fixing one.

For servicing I use Tunehouse as I work in Alexandria so its close by, John and the boys do a good job in pointing out any minor or major details that need fixing.

Alot of guy's have recommended Peter Warren Ford in Smithfield to me, so I'm gonna give them a shot now.
I also wasn't overly impressed with City Ford...

I've heard the same and if needed anything would try Peter Warren.

I took the Phoon into City Ford for it's first service and told them that I didn't want the car driven by anyone and if needed that I was up the road and would come in to be present, get a call thinking yeah come pick up the car instead the service manger breathing heavily tells me the head mechanic took the car for drive and hit the front bumper on a gutter so took some paint off a small section.
He sh8t himself when we turned up anyway got it sorted and have never been back.

I can't recomend Power Ford.

About 10 years ago I took my modified TX3 to them to give it a service and sort out a dash rattle.

When I picked it up they tried to charge me for new spark plugs. I told them that I was running NGK Irridiums and that the Motocraft crap they had on the invioce should not have been put in. Their response was that they didn't actually replace the plugs, but it is their policy to charge a portion for spark plug replacement with every used car service so that when the plugs do get replaced, they are already paid for????????? Seeing that the car was purchased new was even stranger. Then when I went to get into the car, I noticed that the wheels had been whiped over, but the rest of the car was still dirty. I then noticed that the car had 60 extra ks on the clock and nearly half a tank of fuel gone.

Long story short, Power Ford admitted to taking the car out for a thrash and the service manager said, "So What." Ford Australia didn't want to get involved and palmed it off as being a dealer issue.

Ten years later, I took my T to them (because they are right near my office). This time they fried my CD player while sorting out the heater, now 3 weeks later I'm still waiting for the new ICC.

I've have nearly 20 cars of varying brands. I have yet to find a dealer who provides decent servicing. They all suck.

I now only go to dealers for warranty work. All of my servicing is done by someone I can trust to do the job properly.

i know its a bit of a drive to penrith but sinclair ford are the best ford dealership iv ever been to.

i purchased my car from thompson ford parra and got screwed for my trouble. i would never reccomend going there for service or anything.


sinclair ford penrith are open untill midnight every weekday and open for service sat and i have found them to be easy to deal with and so far have had no problems with them.

I had a call from City Ford a little while ago telling me that they wouldn’t recommend the Castrol Edge 0W40 I supplied. They said that Magnatec is a much better choice.

The thing that gets me about these people is – they appear to know nothing about cars, and seem to have no interest in them. They don’t even understand what 0W40 means.

I dream of a Ford mechanic that knows something about cars, and is capable of working with me to maintain my car.

I bring in a fully specified XR6T and they treat me like sh1t. No enthusiasm for the car. Nothing but a bad attitude and an empty head.

Please do not call them mechanics, they are "Factory Trainied Technicians" and nobody knows your Ford like a Ford dealer.

Pity there is not truth in advertising in Australia.

I use Power Ford ... so far no real dramas

I had a very bad experience with City Ford service several years ago. I wont go into details but i will say that their extended warranty is'nt worth a pinch of s&@#. But i can recomend Dominelli Dord at Kirrawee. They've never given me any grief.

I know the old Service Manager at Thompson Ford Parra. He retiered a few years back. I wonder if things have changed since he left.

I've used Titan Ford at Brookvale and had no problems. The car is going there tomorrow as the diff is starting to make noises. Hoping it wont cost me a small fortune.

Or Dominelli ford. I still hanvt forgotten about the scratch in my bonnet from the 3000k inspection.

What a joke City Ford Rockdale is! I bought my car from there, second hand,with only 9000km on the clock. When it finally arrived in NQ it had no car jack, no tools, no lock nut key, no spair key, and my personal favourite no air cleaner!
How exactly does this happen in the first place or pass a roadworthy inspection? When i rang them and asked about it they said they swap stuff from car to car all the time, and there was nothing they could do................. Absolutley useless

Geez im so glad i can do all the work on my car myself.......!!

Technicians Pfffft .... pie fetchers at best




Should have seen the pie fetchers eyes light up when I pulled in for a couple of
warranty items to get sorted at Power Ford. That said they fixed everything first time, probably because I waited for the car.

I have no doubt had I taken the courtesy car option the phoon would have had it's bell rung or worse

If it aint warranty it never ever goes to Ford

Waiting for the car seem's to be the only option nowaday's to make sure the car doesn't get belted, and that the work get's done.
How convenient is that for the rare group of people that actually have a full time job to go to...

When I'm forced to go for warranty work now, I tell them the car doesn't need to be driven outside of their lot.

Another thing that Power Ford seems to be specalist at is giving the car back with the radio on a different station, the seat and mirrors all adjusted for them and the dirver's window left open all day. Why the f*ck do they have to stuff around with all of my settings just to move the car in and out of the service bays???? Last time the driver's seat was laid back Lebo boy racer style, WHAT THE????

The service manager rang me at 4:30 to go through what had been done to the car.

When I got to City Ford to collect the car he was waiting for me. I asked to get a print out of what had been done to the car (so I have the service records as I have no intention of going back). He said – “what do you mean”. It turns out they don’t keep computer records of what they do to the car. He did give me the hand written note from the mechanic – which did make amusing reading.

So how can they hope to maintain a car if there are no computer records kept? The answer is that obviously they can’t.

I have to say that the whole experience has left me bemused. It was like the Faulty Towers of car servicing.

what does it say on your invoice work done $xxxx??

that is pretty dodgy, but in saying that i never got any paperwork when my car was in for warranty work only.

All dealers keep records of R/O's or "repair orders" as you say, without the records they can't keep track of anything, didn't they give you an invoice for the servicing? did you have to sign anything? Sounds a bit stupid to me!

while we are airing dirty laundery.

thompson ford seems to think the only way to fix a leaking timing cover seal is to smear a big finger wad of gasket goo on the oily dirty engine block.


i went out of my way to get the car to them for 2 days <because i know its sump off big job> and he calls me the next day saying its ready only for me to find it was still leaking and the forementioned gasket goo smeared everywhere, like a 5 year old kid did it.

i swore never again and voided my warrenty with mods............fraud service......

The invoice was a list of the problems as reported at check in, with parts and consumables attached.

No descriptions of the work done.

So what have we learned here? Don't take your car back there! I think you've worked that one out already tho! If you need anything donewith a service dept let me know, as i said early, i'm more than happy to make sure you are looked after

I also have had sh*tty service from City Ford (City) and will never ever take a car there or buy one from them. I last took my XR6T to them about 6 weeks ago to have the iPod thingy fitted at the agreed quoted rate on the Ford web site, have a wheel alignment and for them to fix the BA recall on rear breaks.

When I booked in (3 weeks in advance) for the recall work to be done (prior to driving to Adelaide) I asked them to check that they had all required parts in stock and they assured me they had everything and would hold it for me til the car came in. (Conversation along the lines of "Hi, I have an 04 XR6 Turbo Ute and I want the recall on the breaks done. Can you do it on X date. " "Yes, no problem. We have all the parts for it.")

I drop the car off, explain again the work I want done. They assure me it will be done by lunchtime which I ok, saying I'll be back around 5pm after work. I call at 3pm to ask how work is progressing and am told that they can't fix the recall because they dont have the parts. I explain that I had specifically booked in for the recall and was assured that the parts were available and on hold for me. Then I'm told that all 4 tyres need replacing and there is no point in doing the alignment if the rubber isn't replaced. I ask how much and they quote me $270 a corner for the stock tyre. I laugh and tell them I'll be there at 5pm for my car and they can forget replacing the tyres and the alighnment. I'll pay for what work has been completed that I asked for and I'll find another Ford dealer for the recall.

When I get there I'm told my car doesn't actually require the recall because its a ute and I obviously didn't tell them that when I booked it in or they would have told me it didnt need the recall. I explained calmly at this point that I had been explicit in describing my vehicle down to the colour and VIN. I told them politely where to put their quoted price for tyres and then they offered me the bill for installing the iPod aux sound thingy, at no less than $50 above the quoted price on the Ford web site and earlier confirmed by their guy at the door who takes the keys when you drop it off. I look at the guy (and yes, I think it was Dimitri) placed my credit card in front of him and said, "this is the last time you will ever see me or my cash. Your service is aboloutely appauling, your staff have no idea what is going on, and I'm not going to argue with paying an extra $50 if it means I dont have to have anything to do with sh*ty Ford again".

In contrast the customer service level from Alto Ford which as been improving over the last few years. Before I sold my old EF (which mysteriously appeard in my street on the weekend looking as wonderful as it did when I sold it) I took it to Alto for a rego inspection. Not only was in done within a few hours, they called me twice to say it had been done and sent electroncially to the RTA for me, but I received a follow up customer service quality call a week later wanting to know if I'd had any problems and if there was any way their service could be improved. Laughing I said, "well I did get two call to tell me the work was completed, which while not really a complaint was more a way of recommending they could save money by making less telephone calls." The girl on the phone laughed and thanked me for taking the call.

I'll be going to Alto Ford in the future unless someone else can recommend another dealer (or quality service person) in the inner west.

Last week I Posted:

Today I took my 06 BFII XR6T to the Muppets at the local Ford dealer for its 30K service. Apart from the regular bumbling, half truths, lies, and lack of knowledge, rudeness and disrespect that I have come to expect from this Ford Dealer, something stood out.

At each service I have complained about the fuel consumption. Today, the new service manager explained that as well as flashing the ECU with the latest Ford tune, they had reset my octane rating from 91 to 95. Is this possible? How was it set incorrectly to 91 in the first place?

Today I took my car back to City Ford Sydney for a follow up to the 30K service. They were meant to replace a pipe to the heater which was out of stock last week, and repair some seat trim which they had not refitted properly.

Before leaving for the dealer this morning, I compared service invoice with the service information in the log book.

It turns out that City Ford had failed to replace the brake fluid (due after two years), re-torque the inlet and exhaust manifolds (due at every service), or check the pollen filter. The service manager tried to tell me that the brake fluid replacement was optional, and that the manifolds didn’t need re-torquing. When I said this was BS he admitted they had made a mistake, but didn’t apologise for the BS.

They also said that I could wait for the car today - so I took my two year old to the dealership with me.

Now remember I am dealing with the Service Manager – and he should have some ideas of service times. After an hour he says that it will be another hour and a half. I took my son and myself off to lunch. After the allotted time we returned to be told that the heater pipe is a brand new improved item, and they were having trouble fitting it. He said they had dismantled a significant part of the car and it would be several more hours.

I left - caught a cab home.

I am as mad a hell. I will not be taking the car back to them. I really feel like I cannot rely on them to carry out even the most basic service items reliably.

The XR6T is a great car – nearly as good as the best I big cars I have driven. But the service – well that just pain sucks.

There a great car to drive but the ongoing unreliability and Ford service (what service), is just not worth the trouble.

I saw a great FG T at the servo today and its the first real interest ive had in them, but posts like yours and my own recent dramas means my current Ford will be my last Ford. Though im happy to keep for a few more years yet.

I.B.

UN reliable. Yes and no. I think it is mainly because ppl are so particluar with their cars.

Its funny you know that since my car is out of warranty there has not been a single problem with it. I look at as if all the little bugs have been ironed out.

You've been through 3 diffs and thats not being particular or petty, thats outright unreliable.

I.B.

lol

None of the diffs actually sh*t them selves. Its just poor quality from the supplier not ford

can see both sides to the comments shared!

I know for a fact that there are some dealers out there that have sh*thouse service when i comes to caring for your car!

Prices are dear as poison which means when something aint right then the sh*t hits the fan 10 times worse cause because of money been spent top service is expected!

As for saying all ford dealership workshops are filled with monkeys i don't find that the case! Some have crap guys who don't give 2 sh*ts but also some have
brilliant guys who know their fords inside and out and do a fanstastic job when it comes to knowledge and repairs on ya cars!

End of the day i can see how some advisors can come across as rude and abrupt! Think some of the f*ckin knobs they gotta talk to during the day that have no idea and shoot their gobs off. People drop off their cars thinking their ferrari's! End of the day they just glorified taxi's! I know it aint no excuse for some of the comments people get back off advisors but there two sides to every story! Comes back to good advisor and some bad ones! I have seen some brillaint advisors with mechanical back ground and i have also seen some who are jsut people there to look good and talk to the customers

I can see how we all want the best for our ride! Some people with their cars just go to far!! Like not wanting a mechanic to test driving a car for a service! People forget it's part of the service and how it is done! Meant to warm the car up to change oil and drive once all changed cause if the service is done right the wheels come off so on and so forth! I can see some of the guys have had bad experiences with people driving their cars! I know that techs shouldn't change your settings around in your car so on so fourth but end of the day they have to see to go for a test drive!

End of the day in what im saying in this post is that there both side to all story's. Not all places are bad and not all are good! We all got to be weary of where our rides go and who does what to them! If ya find someone good then stick to them!

Looks as though many here have a sour taste in their mouth by ford service! Which is understandable! As my psot above reads im on the fence cause there is good and bad in all!

My 2 cents!

!

that is an exclamation!

I found them to be terrible in my first 2 experiences.

1) Pick up new black T there: there were numerous small scratches and scuffs on it, which they had painted over with a plain black permament texta. You could see the telltale purple tinge from it in the right light. Not a paint pen or proper method - black marker. Nice one guys - my first new Ford and thats what I found.

2) Took it for a service there. They got about 1/4 of the things done they should have, claiming they ran out of time - meaning subsequent visits were needed to get what they should easily have got done in a day. They also told a mistruth (I am being nice...) on one thing which was annoying.

A couple of things I think I worked out:

a) they, like very few ford service centres, are actually owned by Ford. I get the feeling they have big incentives to keep warrantee claims low (hence they deny things frequently) and get massive throughput. Anyone able to confirm that Ford own them?
b) Ask them about the volume of cars they service in a day, and it will become obvious why they quickly and poorly service some cars - its all about turnover and throughput. The volumes are incredible. Its a mass production line. Rough attempt to work on each car, then go park it and hear comes another. No pro-active things or decent time looking into issues. Easier to report "no problem found".

Unlike normal dealers, it appears they dont need to worry about reputation as much. A captive audience with people working in the city, and company owned as well. As a result from my 2 experiences I personally found they cut corners, treat your car like a number, and just dont cut it compared to other service centres.

I have had great luck with Strapp Ford in Kew (moved somewhere else now I believe, or only have their other dealership). Fantastic people, awesome customer service, few mistakes, and in general take the time to get it right.

A question for anyone in the Ford service industry:
I had a full inspection done on an '05 xr6t I bought a couple of weeks ago. Two of the points that came up were a) The rear diff had been replaced (mostr likely by Ford) but the balancing weights hadn't been put back on meaning the tailshaft is spinning unevenly and b) the front suspension was very noisy.
The inspector said Ford should cover both of these issues under warranty (expires Nov this year)

What arguments am i likely to get from Ford and which is the best service centre to go to? The cars an ex-chaser so will this come up? Any tips on how to get this done quickly and smoothly?

cheers.

I would recommend you call your local service dept first, and explain that you bought the car through an auction. Don't specifically tell them that it is an ex-chaser because they could try and fob you off. Tell them that you had an inspection before you bought it and tell them about the issues that it has. Ask them if you could book it in for an inspection and to get the problems fixed under warranty.

If you have any issues let me know, dpending on where you live i might be able to help you out

Wont Ford computer and service records show its an ex-police car and i know your not suggesting it, but why would they fob him off???

I.B.

Some service advisors are lazy and will try and get out of Warranty work because they get paid a lower labour rate by Ford compared to retail labour rates. Unfortunately this is a fact, so by calling them first you can save time.

In regards to looking up the history of the vehicle, it really doesn't matter because the car should still be covered under warranty, but by asking if "a car" will be covered under warranty you can get the car booked in without the situation mentioned above.

Thanks guys, all good info.
Are they likely to argue that the problems are caused by abuse of the car rather than factory defects?

tough to say mate, the noisey front end will probably just need a re-torque unless they find something else wrong. In regards to the tailshaft they may charge you for the replacement of the counter weights

Ford service has broken down.

The front of shop operation is quite slick, with coffee machines and fast bookings etc, however the technical ability and or drive to realize a technical solution is gone.

It is a shame. The car is amazing. However, the Dealerships' lack the will and or the ability to keep these cars running in reasonable order. There is something seriously wrong when the Dealerships simply cannot repair a major problem the first, second... tenth or eleventh time...

It is obviously a problem that affects multiple dealers.

I cannot justify the purchase of another Ford, and that bugs me, a lot.


Alas,


Regards,
aa

So i take it that little issue you old me about still hasn't been sorted aa?

I really feel for you guys, but struggle to comprehend.

Maybe I’m in the minority but other than the usual argey bargey I have never had any significant problems and do not let them rip me with exorbitant service prices. Most recent one was only last Friday, 45k service incl air filter and excl oil for $175

Fixed a few minor warranty issues at the same time without any drama. Dropped me off and picked me up from work....who can argue with that?

Granted there are crap dealers, but since pissing off the previous dealer after they messed me around (which in hindsight wasn’t really their fault, there was major supply issues with diffs) I have not had anything significant to moan about.

Putting it in to the context of all the other f*ckwit incompetent fools and tradesmen that I have to deal with on a daily basis my dealer farkin rocks!

Well she's booked in for next Thurs (21st) - I'll let you know what happens

i havent had any major problems with ford dealers for a while either tab, never step foot in them any more. problem solved.

aa's post sums it up for me too.

having to go back time and time again, rediculous prices, shoddy work, whining about obvious warranty problems. i havent been to a dealer who hasn't ticked AT LEAST one of those boxes..