Dealership just called me with a list of problems

[Curtis]

My ABS light has been coming on for months, when it does the cruise doesnt work. With the help of the forum, I diagnosed this as the pressure sensor which is a $25 part. I also noticed my ball joint boots are cracked up and almost gone.

My extended warranty has a $100 deductable, so I figured its now time to get the ball joints done and the ABS sensor.

Well they just called me back after all day.

1 - ABS pressure switch
2 - Drive Shaft needs replacement (I have that double bump stop problem and they finally figured it out after me telling them what the problem was last year!)
3 - left rear power window motor
4 - rear diff is leaking
5 - the radiator is leaking
6 - my brakes are down to 3 mm (they want $320 to replace all 4 corners... yikes!)
7 - power steering fluid is dark - the recommend flush
8 - trans is due for a flush (but this was done last fall)

well items 6-7 I can take care of.
items 1 - 5 will hopefully be covered by my extended warranty, which according to the booklet I have they will cover all 5 issues.

No drive shaft in stock so it has to be ordered pending approval from the warranty company. I will also assume they will want to send in a rep to approve all the repairs first. Hopefully I'll get it back next week.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Tell them to stick their money-making gimmicks for items #7 and 8. They looked at the odometer and probably nothing else when they recommended these "services". Try this sometime...Immediately after having a tranny service done somewhere, pop in somewhere else and have them do a "courtesy inspection" on it. If I was a gambling man, I'd say one of the top things on the list is going to be a tranny flush.

If the radiator isn't covered under your warranty, you can buy an aftermarket radiator with a lifetime warranty for probably a fraction of the cost of what Ford would want. Give 1-800-RADIATOR a call...They're nationwide and calling that number will get you to the closest store near you.

 

[kfkodiak]

6 - my brakes are down to 3 mm (they want $320 to replace all 4 corners... yikes!)

I would gladly pay $320. My dealer quoted me $486 yesterday for the same service, and the first independent shop I checked wanted even more. I did find a chain in town that says they will do all 4 for $99, but I'm sure it's one of those that will "find" other, more expensive problems in the process.

 

[Curtis]

So guess what my extended warranty is covering... $0

1 - ABS pressure switch - they said ford couldn't demonstrate the problem even though they were able to pull a pressure switch code
2 - Drive Shaft needs replacement - They said tolerances were still good
3 - left rear power window motor - ford tapped on the door panel (like the TSB says to determine if its the window or switch) and now it works, so there is nothing broken - until the next time I try to put it down!
4 - rear diff is leaking - there is a damp spot, but no fluid or drip - not to worried about this one.
5 - the radiator is leaking - there is some crust on a seam, no fluid seen leaking and ford wouldn't pressure test it they think the leak is obvious.
6 - ball joints boots are cracked up and gone - the joints are still good, they don't cover boots.

So now I'm out $200 in diagnostic fees for the abs switch, window and drive shaft. ( I didn't ask for the rest to be checked) I like how they charge diagnostic fees, but will look for other problems for free

I should have known my luck with this warranty was gonna run out soon enough....at least it has paid for itself already and I have 3 yrs left.

I guess, I'll monitor the ball joints myself, when the window stops again I'll bring it back, same for the abs light, Ill have to wait for the rear end and the rad to start leaking, and keep wearing away the drive shaft until its loose and shakes more.

the warranty company said the cover failed parts, not failing parts. BS and a lawsuit waiting to happen if you ask me.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

The warranty should cover parts that have exceeded their safe tolerance. For example, if a tie rod end or ball joint is very loose to the point where replacement is required for the sake of safety, it should be covered. Obviously they're not going to say wait for them to break, inevitably leading to a possible crash.
But, if it's a situation where parts are just a little "iffy", they're probably not going to cover them, as you discovered. Especially if those parts aren't causing a safety related problem.

 

[Curtis]

picked it up today...
I didnt have any of the work done.

the abs light still comes on,,, ill pick up a pressure sensor myself for $25
The power window is still working.
there is no play in my ball joints - yet
The rad does have some white crust from dried up coolant on a seam. Ill have to watch it.
The bump stop condition has greatly improved. As a matter of fact its gone. I think they must have removed the driveshaft for a closer look and I guess everything is back in tight... at least for now... so all was not lost.

They told me if the abs or window stop within 30 days, bring it back and they'll contact the warranty company again with no diag fee..

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

As far as the window goes, just use it once in a while. My LR window sticks if I don't exercise it at least once a week, and a simple tap while pressing the switch gets it going again.