I took my GT into the dealer this morning to have the strut issue fixed as well as the shaker 500 (skipper 500) changed. I just got a call from the dealer telling me that the car was done. They told me that the strut problem was all fixed but they could not take care of the radio due to the fact that they could not find anything wrong with it.

Now as any of you with this problem know it is intermittent and cannot be observed on command. They told me that they could only send it out to be replaced if they observed the problem occuring. Did any of you that have had their units replaced have to have your dealer actually hear the skips or autorewind happen? Or see the unit read bad disk?

 

That's totally understandable Cathy, as to why they would take out the Shaker 500. I listen to FM alot, so I am not going to have my dash torn apart at all if I can help it......... My CD skips once in a great while, and to this point is totally tolerable

 

No that's just it they didn't take it out. They played it and couldn't get it to skip so they won't replace it with the new version even thought this is already a documented TSB. Ford knows that the shaker 500's in the early 05's had this problem that's why they now have a second version of the shaker 500. I guess I thought that since there was already a TSB out on it they would replace it on the customers word that the unit is skipping due to the fact that it is an intermitant problem. The odds of them actually seeing it happening in the 3-4 hours that they had the car is probably slim.

 

I plan on having the CD on when I get there. Going to let her play until she skips cause I know it will happen. Of course, I will be out in the front of the dealership with windows down and the CD cranked UP a bit. If it doesn't skip in 30 minutes I'll stay til she does - or they can take my word for it.

I wondering what I'll play - hmmmm
Maybe Metalica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Rolling Stones ... I've got it! The song goes like this "like a bat out of heck ..."

I'm guessing if it doesn't skip, they'll give in cause I've got her cranked up so much with customers around
"Like a Bat out of heck"

 

Whoops - there goes those darn language filters again

 

They do not need to hear the dam skips.
The customers word is good enough. Especially on an issued TSB.
If you don't get anywhere with the service manager, keep going up until your satisfied.

 

I would have been sure they would change the unit out based on your word.

Ford pays for the labor and the part, so what's the difference to them?

Besides, its not like you would want to have your dash torn apart and you are not receiving anything additional other than a functioning CD player

 

I have had 2 replaced(finally got a good one).They do not have to hear skips,mine was intermittent anyway.Go find another dealer.

 

A dealer refusing warranty work?

It's amazing they are still in business.

 

I had mine replaced yesterday. They didn't need to hear it skip, they took my word.

Ediy: I take that back, the first time I went in with the cd skipping concern, they couldn't reproduce it. SO I just complained again, and I had a different service rep. He didn't even ask twice, he said, we will have it on order and call you when it comes in. It took a week to get the part. My advice, just keep complaining if they don't want to replace it. They know it is a problem.

 

Ok, when I went to pick up the car tonight the "tech" that worked on my car was gone for the day. My hubby came with me to pick up the car. He began to question them about the shaker 500 issue. The gentleman we spoke to said he would talk to the tech that worked on my car in the morning and would give me a call. They looked at me like I was nuts when I tried to explain this was already a documented TSB issue.....almost like they had never heard of a TSB before! I guess I'll have to wait and see what they come up with in the am.

 

Steve, that's exactly what I've been saying.....why on earth would I want them to remove a perfectly good cd player.....give up my car for a day or two (they tell me that they have to take out my unit, send it back to Ford, they'll look at it and determine if it is defective, then send back another unit. Turn around time.....a day or two) it there was nothing wrong with it in the first place?!?!?!?!

 

I think it confuses some of them sometimes when a knowledgeable customer comes in there knowing what a TSB is

 

My 2 cents:

Go to the TSB stickies and copy and print the whole Shaker TSB. Take it to the dealership and ask them to fix that according to the documentation on that TSB.
Might want to try a different dealership too, maybe.

In my experience, I did that for the gas tank tsb and the popping noise tsb: printed both and took them to the dealership (2 different ones.) Neither of them asked to experience the problem before fixing it.

 

You might try mentioning to them that you are unsatisfied with them refusing to do covered warranty work. A gentle hint towards reporting that might get some things solved.

On the other hand, would you want them working on your car after such a "hint"? I don't know that I would.

Scratch that entirely! Try another dealer! Mine replaced the skipper without problem, so they are out there.

 

Yeah true, you never know what those people might be up too...

Sometimes the people who work on it don't see your enthusiasm to get the work done, and then sometimes they are let in the loop...better safe than sorry