Advice on Ford warranty issue

[david]

I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.

I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.

When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
(for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
only a bodge.

I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
cost (about $60).

While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.

I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?

Ta
David

[James Whitehead]

Give the Office of Fair Trading a call.

"david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
> I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
> the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>
> When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
> the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
> negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
> amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
> (for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
> the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
> only a bodge.
>
> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
> camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
> tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
> response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
> and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
> cost (about $60).
>
> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
> been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
> I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>
> Ta
> David

[OzOne]

Do yourself a favor, take the car to a suspension specialist, have a
Whiteline Camber/Castor kit fitted.
It'll give you the ability to have the front end fine tuned and vastly
improve the feel of the car.


On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 12:40:35 +1100, david <david@spam-me.com>
scribbled thusly:

>I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
>I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
>the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>
>When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
>the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
>negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
>amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
>(for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
>the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
>only a bodge.
>
>I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
>service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
>camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
>tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
>response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
>and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
>cost (about $60).
>
>While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
>been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
>I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
>I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>
>Ta
>David



Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

[Adam Gibson]

"david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
> I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
> the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>
> When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
> the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
> negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
> amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
> (for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
> the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
> only a bodge.
>
> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
> camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
> tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
> response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
> and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
> cost (about $60).
>
> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
> been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
> I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?

Camber adjustment on late model falcons is by the shimming of the two mounts
for the front upper control arm, ex factory they usually have about a 3mm
shim IIRC this can be removed and/or replaced with thinner shims to adjust
camber. Whilst I congratulate your tyre fitter for informing you of the
problem, I admonish them for either not knowing about or not informing you
of this adjustment. In addition I highly recommend that you have your wheel
alignments performed by a specialist suspension expert (this precludes the
dominate chain as I've seen no evidence of them being specialists or
experts). If you are in Brisbane I recommend Ken Graham from accurate
suspension or failing that fulcrum suspension.

[John_H]

david wrote:

>
>I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
>service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
>camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
>tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
>response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
>and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
>cost (about $60).

Good luck if you ever do manage to find a new car that does have
correct steering geometry. Even better luck if you can find a dealer
who's able to do any better than the factory.

As others have told you, find a reputable wheel aligner / suspension
specialist and pay them to set it up properly.

Or, you could simply join the thousands of satisfied customers who
can't tell the difference. :)

--
John H

[Noddy]

"John_H" <john4271@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fqbks0ddvbbmndp1ip6e8h17n3432ikbfl@4ax.com...

> Or, you could simply join the thousands of satisfied customers who
> can't tell the difference. :)

Good call :)

--
Regards,
Noddy.

[Diesel Dog]

John_H wrote:

> Or, you could simply join the thousands of satisfied customers who
> can't tell the difference. :)

Ouch!
;-)


--
Regards Dan

[TheTaipan]

My dealership did an alignment and rotation on my Territory and my previous
XR6 with the first service - free of charge... although first service is
5000km not 12000km...


"david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
>I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on the
> 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>
> When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
> the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
> negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited amount
> they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit (for around
> $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce the toe-in to
> extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution, only a bodge.
>
> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the camber
> under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left tyre, and
> this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The response was
> that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue, and that they
> would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my cost (about $60).
>
> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not been
> built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but I
> am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>
> Ta
> David

[atec]

If you didn't smack gutters it would still be straight ...

david wrote:
>
> I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
> the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>
> When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
> the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
> negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
> amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
> (for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
> the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
> only a bodge.
>
> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
> camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
> tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
> response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
> and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
> cost (about $60).
>
> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
> been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
> I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>
> Ta
> David

[OMERTA]

"david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
> I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>
> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
> the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.

Mmmm this is tricky, this could be a wear-n-tear issue so warranty would not
apply

In any case as ordinary as Fords are [i still like them :-)] with my Falcon,
Ford bent over backwards for me,and prob. spent $3000 in warranty on it.The
most amazing thing is at no time did i have to fight for any"warranty" issue
[some things where NOT warranty why they fixed a scratch i did for
instance?] they just said "leave your ute here is a loan car seeya in a few
days" good way to get a free wash too !

They also did the very rare blown-head-gasket 20,000km outside of the
warranty period......

I should have pushed them harder, like ask for a complete new Ute, perhaps
next one now that i know how weak they are !

Keep bitching the only way u can get them to fold

$60 is not a fortune, just pay it and keep taking the car back for other
genuine/common "warranty" issue so u tie up the dealers time for things that
dont need to be done and get your $60 "back" :-)

CDIHL





ce
> the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
> only a bodge.
>
> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
> camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
> tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
> response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
> and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
> cost (about $60).
>
> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
> been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>
> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
> I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>
> Ta
> David

[david]

Harsh week rolls on ?
:-P
atec wrote:
> If you didn't smack gutters it would still be straight ...
>
> david wrote:
>
>>I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>>
>>I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
>>the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>>
>>When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
>>the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
>>negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
>>amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
>>(for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
>>the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
>>only a bodge.
>>
>>I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
>>service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
>>camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
>>tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
>>response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
>>and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
>>cost (about $60).
>>
>>While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
>>been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>>
>>I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
>>I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>>
>>Ta
>>David

[david]

Adam Gibson wrote:
> "david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
> news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
>
....snip...
>
>
> Camber adjustment on late model falcons is by the shimming of the two mounts
> for the front upper control arm, ex factory they usually have about a 3mm
> shim IIRC this can be removed and/or replaced with thinner shims to adjust
> camber. Whilst I congratulate your tyre fitter for informing you of the
> problem, I admonish them for either not knowing about or not informing you
> of this adjustment. In addition I highly recommend that you have your wheel
> alignments performed by a specialist suspension expert (this precludes the
> dominate chain as I've seen no evidence of them being specialists or
> experts). If you are in Brisbane I recommend Ken Graham from accurate
> suspension or failing that fulcrum suspension.
>
>
Their offered solution was to fit a camber kit,for around $300. Maybe
more margin in this that fitting shims?

I'm in Sydney.

Since it appears correcting this problem is going to be at my expense, I
will do as you suggest and take it to a suspension specialist.

Thanks Adam.

[david]

James Whitehead wrote:
> Give the Office of Fair Trading a call.
>
> "david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
> news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
>
....snip...

>>Ta
>>David
>

Done. It appears I may have left dealing with this issue too late.

[david]

OzOne wrote:
> Do yourself a favor, take the car to a suspension specialist, have a
> Whiteline Camber/Castor kit fitted.
> It'll give you the ability to have the front end fine tuned and vastly
> improve the feel of the car.
>
>
> On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 12:40:35 +1100, david <david@spam-me.com>
> scribbled thusly:
>
>
....snip..
>
> Oz1...of the 3 twins.
>
> I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

I will visit a suspension specialist after the xmas/new-year break.
Ta

[david]

I had the first service done 3000 kms, as per the book. They didn't
rotate the tyres though.

TheTaipan wrote:
> My dealership did an alignment and rotation on my Territory and my previous
> XR6 with the first service - free of charge... although first service is
> 5000km not 12000km...
>
>
> "david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
> news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
>
....snip..
>

[TheTaipan]

I did specifically ask - ditto the alignment - of course that doesn't
necessarily mean it was done, but I did ask for it...


"david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
news:331194F3sbth5U1@individual.net...
>I had the first service done 3000 kms, as per the book. They didn't rotate
>the tyres though.
>
> TheTaipan wrote:
>> My dealership did an alignment and rotation on my Territory and my
>> previous XR6 with the first service - free of charge... although first
>> service is 5000km not 12000km...
>>
>>
>> "david" <david@spam-me.com> wrote in message
>> news:32um0mF3r3n34U1@individual.net...
>>
> ...snip..
>>

[TheTaipan]

Gutters? I thought they were ripple strips!


"atec" <"atec77(away)"@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41CA53A5.21C38D3D@hotmail.com...
> If you didn't smack gutters it would still be straight ...
>
> david wrote:
>>
>> I have a 6 month old Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo with about 12,000 kms.
>>
>> I noticed recently that the front left tyre was getting badly worn on
>> the 2 cm's closest to the outside edge.
>>
>> When I took it in today to have the tyre replaced, they advised me that
>> the camber on that wheel is about 1/2 deg positive (front right is 1 deg
>> negative), and as there is no camber adjustment, there is a limited
>> amount they can do to fix the camber without installing a camber kit
>> (for around $300 for both sides). Best they could offer was to reduce
>> the toe-in to extend the tyre life, but at best that is not a solution,
>> only a bodge.
>>
>> I rang the Ford dealer (where I bought the car, and have had the first
>> service done) and requested that Ford be responsible for fixing the
>> camber under warranty, as it will continue to chew out the front left
>> tyre, and this is due to the poor build alignment from the factory. The
>> response was that Ford will not deal with alignment as a warranty issue,
>> and that they would "shim" the suspension to fix the alignment, at my
>> cost (about $60).
>>
>> While $60 is not a huge amount, if pisses me off that the car has not
>> been built straight, and that Ford don't reckon it is their problem.
>>
>> I'll probably end up paying the $60 and getting the "shimming" done, but
>> I am interested in any advice of what else I could do ?
>>
>> Ta
>> David