HELP!!! Ford Customer Service problem with manual transmission

[stangg01]

I'm hoping that this Forum community can help me.

I have a 2001 Mustang GT that makes a clashing/grinding noise when shifting into 3rd gear. Ford has a TSB (technical Service Bulletin) for the 5 speed manual transmission TR3650. This problem is covered in the TSB. There is a kit available to fix this problem for ONLY $2,800 installed. I only have 55,500 miles on this car. The dealer, as well as the 1-800 Customer Service Representative, refuses to fix the problem free of charge. In fact, Customer Service will provide "no assistance at this time". While I have no extended waranty, I believe that this is a manufacturer defect due to the fact that there is a TSB, and a repair available. This transmission replaced the T45 transmission mid-year 2001. My car was built in July. This is a brand new product and as with most, if not all, new products, there are bugs to be worked out.

I want to fight this.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike97gt]

good luck. but a TSB means NOTHING when it comes to liability. I hate to tell you but unless your regional rep wants to help you then you are SOL.

the regional rep has final say and can sign off on a repair so the dealer will get paid for it.

here is a hint to help you out.

customers that spend money get help. people that are warranty only customers and have no intention of buying another ford don't have a prayer.

this is why i recommend people get a 15k or 30k done at a decent dealer you like. it helps BIG time when you look for help if you are a customer that spends money at the dealer. then the dealer might go to bat for you.

so if you can try to appeal to the reg. office and make sure you bring up that you are really interested in a NEW f-series pickup or explorer for your regular driver. And this leaves a sour taste in your mouth and that you don't know how you feel about spending close to 35k on a new explorer if ford will not stand by a known problem. try to do that and sound genuine and not like you are trying to blackmail them.

you might ask why I am tell you to basically kiss butt, well the reason is you don't have a leg to stand on legally, and the only help you might get is if the ford rep. thinks this help could sway you into buying a NEW ford in the future.


this is a example of how not to go about getting help.

A few years back we had a lady run her 1994 escort with 98k miles on it out of coolant and cracked the block. she made so much noise about it that the reg. rep. covered about 70 percent of the repair.

well she agreed and then went into a fit of how much better Japanese cars are and how as soon as she can she will trade in for a Toyota.

well that was it the ford rep. told us right there with her in the office that now ford will not cover anything, since there is no point wasting money on a customer that is going to go to another make anyways.

 

[SRMobile]

Wow... Im so glad I have a great relationship with my dealer.

As soon as I read about the TSB here on stangnet, I went in and had them do it. They had no idea what I was talking about, so I printed off the TSB and they immediatly ordered the parts. The only down side was I didnt have my baby for a week


A relationship with the dealer is key, yelling won't get you anywhere.


Go to another dealer, have a few oil changes done, talk with the rep, establish a relationship then try again. Don't say its just 3rd gear, when I read that I knew you beat your car

Its all gears when its cold

 

[bdcardinal]

ya, all TSBs are are bullitens for techs on how to fix common problems. they are NOT a recall. with that mileage, they are not required to cover it under warrenty. is the extended warrenty through ford or through an aftermarket company?

 

[Twisted]

You might be SOL since you are past the warranty.

 

[SRMobile]

You might be SOL since you are past the warranty.

True, however there is still some hope.


Dealers can do a "Good Will" repair. They will either make you pay 25% - 75% or do it completly for free. I had a tranny done on another car while I was out of warranty and only paid 25% of the cost.

But again, I have a good relationship with my dealer.

 

[ToplessStang]

good luck. but a TSB means NOTHING when it comes to liability. I hate to tell you but unless your regional rep wants to help you then you are SOL.

the regional rep has final say and can sign off on a repair so the dealer will get paid for it.

here is a hint to help you out.

customers that spend money get help. people that are warranty only customers and have no intention of buying another ford don't have a prayer.

this is why i recommend people get a 15k or 30k done at a decent dealer you like. it helps BIG time when you look for help if you are a customer that spends money at the dealer. then the dealer might go to bat for you.

so if you can try to appeal to the reg. office and make sure you bring up that you are really interested in a NEW f-series pickup or explorer for your regular driver. And this leaves a sour taste in your mouth and that you don't know how you feel about spending close to 35k on a new explorer if ford will not stand by a known problem. try to do that and sound genuine and not like you are trying to blackmail them.

you might ask why I am tell you to basically kiss butt, well the reason is you don't have a leg to stand on legally, and the only help you might get is if the ford rep. thinks this help could sway you into buying a NEW ford in the future.


this is a example of how not to go about getting help.

A few years back we had a lady run her 1994 escort with 98k miles on it out of coolant and cracked the block. she made so much noise about it that the reg. rep. covered about 70 percent of the repair.

well she agreed and then went into a fit of how much better Japanese cars are and how as soon as she can she will trade in for a Toyota.

well that was it the ford rep. told us right there with her in the office that now ford will not cover anything, since there is no point wasting money on a customer that is going to go to another make anyways.

Yup, that's exactly how it works. Warranty only customers get warranty ONLY, nothing more after that.

 

[stangg01]

Thank for the advice everyone.

When I talk with the 1-800 Customer Service Rep, I'll find out about the Area Rep.

When talking with the Dealer, the one I bought the car from, I informed them that I bought the car there and that I buy all the maintenence supplies there. Meaning all the oil, oil filter, air cleaner, and power steering fluid. Except for the car, these are not big expense items, but I would think it would matter some.

BTW I actually was planning on buying a 2007 Mustang GT convertible. No joke. But if I tell them, I will not be believed. LOL

 

[jefferz]

Please let us know how this goes. I am looking into doing something about mine before it goes.

 

[stangg01]

Update:

I made it sound that I only have trouble in 3rd gear. That is my biggest problem now. I have other symptoms of a bad transmission. The transmission feels notchy when shifting. I have trouble with shifting in cold weather as well. It doesn't get that cold very often where I live. I thought it was normal.

The rebuild price is high partly because the repair kit costs a little over $1,300. The kit replaces a lot of stuff, including shaft gears,synchronizers, shift forks, rail assemblies, and block rings.

 

[bdcardinal]

they dont care if you buy the parts from them, they want to see that youve had the car serviced by ford.

 

[Mike97gt]

Thank for the advice everyone.

When I talk with the 1-800 Customer Service Rep, I'll find out about the Area Rep.

When talking with the Dealer, the one I bought the car from, I informed them that I bought the car there and that I buy all the maintenence supplies there. Meaning all the oil, oil filter, air cleaner, and power steering fluid. Except for the car, these are not big expense items, but I would think it would matter some.

BTW I actually was planning on buying a 2007 Mustang GT convertible. No joke. But if I tell them, I will not be believed. LOL

the dealer makes some money selling that stuff. but they like to help customers that go in for cash service work.

but you never know, the service manager might be in a good mood and help you out, since you had no luck there your last stop is the rep.

True, however there is still some hope.


Dealers can do a "Good Will" repair. They will either make you pay 25% - 75% or do it completly for free. I had a tranny done on another car while I was out of warranty and only paid 25% of the cost.

But again, I have a good relationship with my dealer.

That is up to the dealer, he already tryed that and they did not offer help, if I was him I would not buy another thing there.

 

[SigmaPride]

This is probably a mute point in your case, but the best way to get something fixed after warranty is to raise some complaint about it while under warranty...even if the dealer says its nothing as they often do. Then a little ways down the road you have a leg to stand on. Without any complaints under warranty you have to hope the service manager and dealer are cool and want your future business. Ford has always been good to me and I have had two TSBs fixed outside of warranty by Honda because they were known issues(and as previous posts mention I get the honda serviced there outside of oil changes). I just did the research and raised it with them. I wouldn't go in being a pure hardass either...that doesn't usually work. Good luck as yours is a high price item. I personally think they should fix it in your case. Or get them to share the cost at least.

 

[stangg01]

Update:

Customer Service Supervisor said I was SOL. Ford is unable to help me. He played stupid too, which I found extremely insulting.

 

[mity2]

I say time for TKO. God is my witness, next time I have any issue with my trans, TKO is going in!!!

 

[dsg_gt2004]

I say time for TKO. God is my witness, next time I have any issue with my trans, TKO is going in!!!

same here

 

[blackfang]

good luck. but a TSB means NOTHING when it comes to liability. I hate to tell you but unless your regional rep wants to help you then you are SOL.

the regional rep has final say and can sign off on a repair so the dealer will get paid for it.

here is a hint to help you out.

customers that spend money get help. people that are warranty only customers and have no intention of buying another ford don't have a prayer.

this is why i recommend people get a 15k or 30k done at a decent dealer you like. it helps BIG time when you look for help if you are a customer that spends money at the dealer. then the dealer might go to bat for you.

so if you can try to appeal to the reg. office and make sure you bring up that you are really interested in a NEW f-series pickup or explorer for your regular driver. And this leaves a sour taste in your mouth and that you don't know how you feel about spending close to 35k on a new explorer if ford will not stand by a known problem. try to do that and sound genuine and not like you are trying to blackmail them.

you might ask why I am tell you to basically kiss butt, well the reason is you don't have a leg to stand on legally, and the only help you might get is if the ford rep. thinks this help could sway you into buying a NEW ford in the future.


this is a example of how not to go about getting help.

A few years back we had a lady run her 1994 escort with 98k miles on it out of coolant and cracked the block. she made so much noise about it that the reg. rep. covered about 70 percent of the repair.

well she agreed and then went into a fit of how much better Japanese cars are and how as soon as she can she will trade in for a Toyota.

well that was it the ford rep. told us right there with her in the office that now ford will not cover anything, since there is no point wasting money on a customer that is going to go to another make anyways.

So True. I have gone out of my way to help my customers. I see they always come back and always buying our cars, I will cover somethings that should be covered that arent. As a writer each month we have a certain expense account that we can offer our customers to take care of them if warranties do not(I.E rentals, parts, etc).

Fact is with most dealerships, you buy from them and return and become a normal customers with service, parts and sales, they will go above and beyond to help. If you just buy and suck up warranty and go elsewhere, you are pretty much put out.

 

[blackfang]

I say time for TKO. God is my witness, next time I have any issue with my trans, TKO is going in!!!

Ok I have noted that

 

[bigcat]

I say time for TKO. God is my witness, next time I have any issue with my trans, TKO is going in!!!

sounds like you need a new CT to constantly remind us.

 

[JOHNS01GT]

$2800 to fix the problem??!!! Your much better off getting a new transmission like a TKO or T56. Sorry to hear about the tranny, mine grinds occasionally going into 2nd and 3rd. 2001 here with T45. Good luck.