Bit of a rant... not sure where else to put this!

[fugu_me]

I've been reading the forums for a while now, but is my first post, I think.

I have a beautiful little 1999 Festiva Trio, lovely metallic blue colour, which had done 87,000 when I bought it, and despite it looking it's age, and the fact that I bought it second hand, it's my pride and joy, because it's the best thing I've done by myself.

I have taken it for all it's 10,000km services since I bought it in November 2007, and every time I've taken it in, the dealership I bought it from (who will remain nameless!) has found some drama every time. To be honest, maybe I'm not as observant as I could be, but I've never noticed any major handling/driving issues with it.

When I bought it, the clip on the fuel door was broken, so the door could be opened by just flicking it open with your finger. They assured me the day I paid the deposit that it would be fixed when I picked it up, even if it meant getting the part from another Festiva on the lot. Lo and behold, I pick it up - not fixed.

It took until the first service in May (they did the 90,000 before I bought it, and then I wasn't driving nearly as much as I do now, took a loooooooong time to drive 10,000km!) that the clip was fixed. Then they decided there was something wrong with the cable that runs from the lever to the fuel door, which needed replacing, and I'd have to bring it back again. So six months to fix something that was supposed to be done when I picked it up.

Second service, I turned up at the appointed time to pick it up, only to be told the mechanic was still out test-driving it, because the fuel line was damaged and could have broken at any moment. Fine, the fuel line is kind of important, but it would have been nice to be told that such an important thing was broken!

Third service. They decide the rack is damaged and needs to be replaced. I'd just taken the car on a 4000km round trip, so, I guess it wasn't surprising that it needed a bit of TLC. They ordered the part, because they didn't have it in stock, and I had to take it back two weeks later. Half an hour after I dropped it off, they called me back and said that when they had a look, it needed the entire rack end replaced. They had called all their suppliers, and no-one had one, so I'd have to come back and get it, because they couldn't do anything with it until they had the right parts. Fine. I picked it up, and they said they'd call me when they had everything.

Two weeks goes by, and nothing. So I called them yesterday to find out what's going on. Apparently they cannot locate a rack end for a 1999 Ford Festiva Trio anywhere. No-one has anything, nor is there any prospect of having one soon. So they're going to rebuild the existing one. They're going to need it for two days.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Festiva. But it hasn't even cracked 120,000 yet. Is it normal to have this much drama??? I think a lot of the drama is also the dealership, but despite having a mechanical safety check by a reputable third party company, there seems to be a lot of issues since I bought it. Apparently I should have noticed vibration (needs a wheel alignment? I had just driven 4000km in three weeks) and loose steering (well, it's always had that!), but I'm not a mechanic. (I'm sure you can also tell I'm a not-very-mechanically-minded female!)

[milehighbear]

Where do you live?

[Smedley]

Guess I should say welcome because this is your first post, but you've been around about as long as I have.

I've had drama with two different dealerships for two different cars that I've owned in the past, so I know what you are talking about. I know there are good techs at the dealerships, and there are a lot of not so good ones too. Seems like they try to find things wrong when they serivce your car. There are some (not naming names) speedy lube shops that seem to do the same thing.

I finally found an independent repair shop that I trust and always take vehicles there anymore. You don't know this, but the regulars do, my husband does a lot of the work on our Festivas. But, he usually doesn't mess with my Saturn.

I do know it takes some time to rebuild a rack, but if you didn't think you had issues with driving the car, you could always take it somewhere else and get a second opinion before you have it done.

Unless you have warranty issues where you have to take the car to the dealer, you could also talk to your friends/coworkers and see if they have a shop they like.

Where are you located? Add your location to your profile, someone on the site might be close by and could give you better advise.

Barb

[gdawgs]

I'm not sure if it's the case here, but some garages look for any little thing that is wrong and will tell you it needs replacing immediatly. That's how they make money. Many places will lure people in with cheap oil changes then find $500 worth of repairs every time. Of course not every place is like this but I have seen it several times.

Example -- A guy I used to work with used to have a Festiva. He took it into this place for an oil change. They call him up and tell him his front end is very loose and needs to be repaired right away. They told him it was dangerous to drive it the way it was. I questioned this right away because I had driven it recently and it drove fine. I told him to decline the repairs(which was a lot because they wanted to replace all the tie rod ends, inners and outers and ball joints) and I'd take a look at it. When we jacked it up, everything was tight except for one of the outer tie rod ends. And that had a very small amount of play in it. It could have went a long time yet the way it was.

The next time he took it in for an oil change, they called him back and told him that his power steering was leaking and the rack needed to be replaced. His Festiva DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. I laughed when he told me. I told him to call them back, ask them how that's possible when it doesn't have power steering, then inform them that he will not be coming back to them ever again. He never did go back to them.

Again, there are very good mechanics and garages out there, but I am always suspicious.

[fugu_me]

milehighbear - I live on the Sunshine Coast, in Qld, Australia.

Smedley - Unfortunately I do have warranty issues. Because I got a dealership warranty, they'll do repairs up to the value of $2000, but if I take it elsewhere, it immediately voids the warranty. They even go so far in the warranty paperwork as to say that if I sell the vehicle, the warranty goes with it, of course, but to retain the warranty, the person must return it to this dealership for servicing, even if the new owner lives 1000km away! I can't even have central locking fitted to the car, which would improve the safety and therefore make my insurance company very happy (and stop me locking the keys in it and having to call roadside assistance!), but it would void the warranty.

gdawgs - Thanks! That made me laugh! I'd love to know how they got themselves out of it when he called them out on that one.

[JPT]

Things like the above is why I do my own maintenance and repairs. The only decent garage that I know of is so busy that you need at least a week before they can see your car.

The other garages? They could find $500.00 worth of "repairs" if you bring them a rock.

[batstiva]

Ha ha, Right after I did Batstiva's struts/cvs/lcas/tie rods/bushings/ you name it, I took it in just to have the alignment verified. Before the guy even pulled the car into the shop, he told me it needed struts, and probably ball joints as well. "Really", I say," that bad eh?" "Yep", says he without even looking, "they're shot." "Damn," says I to him, "I would have thought the ones I installed yesterday would still be good." Then I promptly took back my keys and went elsewhere.

To the OP, that's crazy about the warrantee. Can't even take it to another dealer?? Man, I see why you needed to rant.

[sam.1956]

Ha ha, Right after I did Batstiva's struts/cvs/lcas/tie rods/bushings/ you name it, I took it in just to have the alignment verified. Before the guy even pulled the car into the shop, he told me it needed struts, and probably ball joints as well. "Really", I say," that bad eh?" "Yep", says he without even looking, "they're shot." "Damn," says I to him, "I would have thought the ones I installed yesterday would still be good." Then I promptly took back my keys and went elsewhere.

To the OP, that's crazy about the warrantee. Can't even take it to another dealer?? Man, I see why you needed to rant.

Dude, that's a killer comeback! ROFL!

[batstiva]

Dude, that's a killer comeback! ROFL!

It was kind of funny watching him stand there all slack jawed while I was taking my keys out of his hand.

[Smedley]

I've heard of those restrictions with those after market warranties.
What's the warranty period?

[IdealSociety]

i was once told id be well overcharged to have someone do an alt belt for me on my first pontiac fiero because the power steering belt was a pita to get past.

much like our festiva though, a fiero doesnt have power steering... i promptly laughed and left.

[Glow_Mouse]

I feel you there girl i really do, If you're ever in DD area, say toowoomba lemme know. Brg your stiva past my place and i'll check it out for you, i do all my own repairs and replacements on my 97 Trio'S and i'd gladly check yours out for you.

~Mouse

[fugu_me]

Thanks, everyone... I really appreciate your comments. Making me feel that I haven't abused my poor Festiva as much as the dealership is making out!