Sinclair Ford Stuff-Ups!

[Ben73]

At least they finally, sort of fix it.

My local dealership had a stuff up when I took it in for it's 3000kms check up. They put 2 large scratches in my 2 month old car.
Lucky they offered to fix it free of charge, but still a major inconvenience on a brand new car.

[Ben73]

double

[Silver Ghia]

I keep my receipts which has details of work done, kms and dates when done, in the same folder as the owners and service books. So there is no question if a stamp happens to be missing, or the kms entered incorrectly in the service book.

When my car is up for sale, all these documents are put into chronological order to make it easy to follow when I go through them and explaining each with the potential buyer. Going through these documents beforehand also refreshes my mind on the service history so if there are any questions asked, I can quickly answer them, and able to back up my story with the relevant document there to show.

Preparation is important when selling a car. Its not just cleaning and polishing.

[GREGL]

The whole point of going to a dealer is for service history ( at least during warranty period ) . It makes the process of selling / trading easier for the owner . Now some of them can't even do that properly . WTF are they for then ?

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

When you say they're not returning does that mean you can't use them ebxr8240

They don't return on intermittent setting or when you turn them off! ..

[Mechan1k]

I really miss Winford ... they shut up shop ... and moved in with Sinclair.

Have had dealings with Power Ford .... never again ... just after i bought my previous work ute there ... it got serviced there ... they put 10L of engine oil in ... and wondered why smoke poured out the exhaust when i left up their driveway out the service department ... I came back they said it's gotta be a dud head gasket cos it was white smoke. I pulled the dipstick and the oil was WAAAAAAAY past the full mark.

Told them to dump the oil and try again ... then they wanted to charge me for the extra oil needed for the oil change to be at the correct level.

As for Sinclair .... they have been good to me so far ... and sorted out a niggly A/C issue on my FG ... I have no complaints so far with them.

[Wise]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

I really miss Winford ... they shut up shop ... and moved in with Sinclair.

Have had dealings with Power Ford .... never again ... just after i bought my previous work ute there ... it got serviced there ... they put 10L of engine oil in ... and wondered why smoke poured out the exhaust when i left up their driveway out the service department ... I came back they said it's gotta be a dud head gasket cos it was white smoke. I pulled the dipstick and the oil was WAAAAAAAY past the full mark.

Told them to dump the oil and try again ... then they wanted to charge me for the extra oil needed for the oil change to be at the correct level.

As for Sinclair .... they have been good to me so far ... and sorted out a niggly A/C issue on my FG ... I have no complaints so far with them.

This isn't my first encounter with their service department. When I bought my first F6 I took it to them to have it checked over and a service done.

Someone took a chunk out of one of my tyres somehow, and another person used the pressure cleaner to wash the car for my (I appreciated that they washed the car and all, it was a really nice gesture) but took paint off the mirror when they were washing it, then the bloke that handed me the keys back said that it was my issue because I had a stone chip that had loosened the paint. The next day I called the service department and complained, they took the mirror scalp and had it repainted for me. Point being it shouldn't have happened and I shouldn't have had it lumped back on me as being my issue in the first place.

Originally Posted by GREGL

The whole point of going to a dealer is for service history ( at least during warranty period ) . It makes the process of selling / trading easier for the owner . Now some of them can't even do that properly . WTF are they for then ?

Exactly why I made this post. I could understand if one person forgot to fill out the book, or made one error one time on a job card...but that wasn't the case lol

[kaniSS]

Ford Australia take note of this thread. Some prime examples why new customers are not buying your products anymore.

[Flat Top]

thats a shame we get our NSW vehicle serviced at Sinclairs and do business with them and they are very good!!!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by SPArKy_Dave

The fellow at Etheridge Ford, said that Strapp Ford don't have a parts department anymore.
Why would that be?
I know the parts department is now shut on Saturday mornings, at my local dealer.

It just seems like many Ford dealers are scaling back some, in both Service AND Parts.

Ford are closing dealers down, to try and make the left overs more profitable. You will see alot more changes over the next 12 - 18 months with Ford once they become an importer only.

[AndyXR6T]

Sinclairs (in my opinion) are alright but i find if there's an issue you need to push to have it resolved. In saying that I'm always pleased after getting the capped servicing, car always feels solid.

The free tyres for life is crap though. Probably alright on a focus or fiesta but not good on an XR6T

[Wise]

theyd lose money on an xr6t :P

[turboclown]

only thing i do at a dealer is buy the car and warranty work ive diagnosed myself before i go there, why anyone would pay a premium to have a car serviced by apprentices and parts fitters is beyond me

[tut0r]

I had this argument with a friend and people wonder why the service standards are so different with some mechanics, there are those shops like bluepower for example that you generally feel like your car is in good hands, because one they love cars and two they treat each car like theirs.

Go to most fords and you're just a number that their sales rep or clerical staff have given the mechanic, they don't know anything and I had this very argument with a clerical staff about an issue, demanded to talk to the mechanic. Suffice to say the mechanic knew what I Was talking about in regards to my problem and it was sorted....Middle management at its finest sometimes.

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Ford are closing dealers down, to try and make the left overs more profitable. You will see alot more changes over the next 12 - 18 months with Ford once they become an importer only.

this is true. Last time ford got involved in restructuring their dealer network, it worked well (RJV). I am sure they will be just as successful this time around.

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by Gadgetman

this is true. Last time ford got involved in restructuring their dealer network, it worked well (RJV). I am sure they will be just as successful this time around.

Great bait.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Gadgetman

this is true. Last time ford got involved in restructuring their dealer network, it worked well (RJV). I am sure they will be just as successful this time around.

Im not sure if your being sarcastic or not?

Back in the day we had alot more choice in Brisbane as far as dealers. Now we only have 2 on the southside and 3 on the northside of the CBD.

The worse part is 2 of the southside ones trade under 2 different names. So people not in the know who try and cross shop get told (sorry our sister dealer has quoted therefore we can't help you), even though those dealerships have separate dealer principles etc.

The old days of running between 4 different dealerships to get the best deal is gone, the silly part is they still guts each other on carsales to try and win the business.

[snowcone]

Allright if a Mod didn't like me using the term stupid, I will try again.
It would appear to me that a person would not be thinking clearly when they would continue to use Ford or any other dealers for their vehicle servicing.
You can expect to pay double for the labour and triple for the parts costs from dealers with no guarantee that their work will be any better than anyone elses.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by snowcone

Allright if a Mod didn't like me using the term stupid, I will try again.
It would appear to me that a person would not be thinking clearly when they would continue to use Ford or any other dealers for their vehicle servicing.
You can expect to pay double for the labour and triple for the parts costs from dealers with no guarantee that their work will be any better than anyone elses.

Wrong. Fixed price servicing fixed this.

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by snowcone

Allright if a Mod didn't like me using the term stupid, I will try again.
It would appear to me that a person would not be thinking clearly when they would continue to use Ford or any other dealers for their vehicle servicing.
You can expect to pay double for the labour and triple for the parts costs from dealers with no guarantee that their work will be any better than anyone elses.

Yup. Do you have any idea what it would cost to rent an IDS? Ohh that's right you don't. Ford dealers are the best to service the vehicle as their systems know the car best. With the advent of capped price servicing, the gap to the lies of ultratune etc has narrowed. It would appear to me that you do think clearly albeit with half the facts.

[Gadgetman]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Im not sure if your being sarcastic or not?

Back in the day we had alot more choice in Brisbane as far as dealers. Now we only have 2 on the southside and 3 on the northside of the CBD.

The worse part is 2 of the southside ones trade under 2 different names. So people not in the know who try and cross shop get told (sorry our sister dealer has quoted therefore we can't help you), even though those dealerships have separate dealer principles etc.

The old days of running between 4 different dealerships to get the best deal is gone, the silly part is they still guts each other on carsales to try and win the business.

Come on now DASH. You know I'm full of sarcasm!
They will bollocks this as well. That's for certain!

[ratter]

Although the time required to do it would make it almost impossible for every type of car out there, we have just done an analysis of capped servicing on a popular model car (not a ford) for a term of 8 years and based on the manufacturers list of what the car requires at each service schedule vs what is included in the dealers advertised fixed/capped price service for the period and with a service required every 6 months.

When all the procedures are added that are required by the manufacturer and not included as part of price but with the fixed/capped price servicing list them as extra's, even using genuine parts and quality lubricants we are considerably cheaper at approx. $1500, this could be reduced a little more by using aftermarket parts.

I'm sure most workshops could help an owner out to work out the fine print and what the car actually requires.

A non dealer can not update an ecu but this is not as common as many will have you believe

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

I think it is reasonable for the dealer to not stamp the book unless it is presented to them. Next thing someone will complain if the dealer is rummaging around the glove box/console/under the seat or where ever trying to locate the book and see it as a breach of privacy and personal space.

Personally in this day and age I would not feel comfortable to look through someone glove box. I remember a mate of mine who is a mechanic open the boot of a luxury car he we servicing to place something in the boot only to find a stash of illegal stuff.

When I get my car serviced I present the book to the dealer and ask them to stamp it, thats what should be done I believe if you want it stamped. Apart from that I also get a copy and receipt of all work done and file it with the cars paperwork.

I have used Sinclair Ford for years up until about 2 years ago and found them to be great for vehicle servicing.

[a-total-tool]

In regards to Sinclair Ford - Haven't dealt with their service department to comment. The only dealings I had had with them are their sales team. I seemed to have this magical ability of invisibility on their lot. I can be on their new car lot for over half an hour without being noticed. Done it more than once. Was looking at the Focus... went down the road and bought a Mazda 3 instead.

In regards to the log book stamping - I think that if you are presenting a car for a service, you should not need to make a special request to get the log book stamped. It should be a part of the standard process. I have never asked for the logbook to be stamped, never had to hand it to the the service advisor. I don't even think about it. It stays in the glovebox. I have no issues with them getting the book out of the glovebox and stamping it (and it has been stamped for every service too).

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by ratter

Although the time required to do it would make it almost impossible for every type of car out there, we have just done an analysis of capped servicing on a popular model car (not a ford) for a term of 8 years and based on the manufacturers list of what the car requires at each service schedule vs what is included in the dealers advertised fixed/capped price service for the period and with a service required every 6 months.

When all the procedures are added that are required by the manufacturer and not included as part of price but with the fixed/capped price servicing list them as extra's, even using genuine parts and quality lubricants we are considerably cheaper at approx. $1500, this could be reduced a little more by using aftermarket parts.

I'm sure most workshops could help an owner out to work out the fine print and what the car actually requires.

A non dealer can not update an ecu but this is not as common as many will have you believe

I can easily believe that.

With regard to 6 month servicing, I was puzzled every time my dealer sent a service reminder notice 6 months after the previous service, which I automatically filed in the round bin since the scheduled servicing is 12 moths/15,000kms for the Falcon. Never got a reminder at 12 months.

The last service ('A' service) of my XR50 was performed by my trusted mechanic using synthetic oils I supplied, and he also replaced the diff oil, brake and clutch fluids (not included in capped servicing prices). The service came to $170 for the lot (plus oils that I supplied). Considerably cheaper than the dealer for the work done. And he stamped the book.

Talking about brake and clutch fluids, over the 3 year period I had my car serviced by the dealer there was no mention by them that these fluids required replacing, despite the schedule specifying this at 2 year intervals. As well as the coolant, but that's another story.

How many dealers stamp the brake fluids and coolant boxes at the back of the service book? I bet not many. Then there's the transmission and diff oils that don't even get serviced at all as they are "sealed for life". So what's the real value of service book stamps for services done by the dealer, when these items are never done?