I took my Black 05 Mustang GT in to the dealer today for some warrenty work. First, and most importantly, they are checking out a grinding noise that is coming from the front end when turning the wheel, and while almost stopped. I think it is the strut mount bearing, but they have not found out yet. They are also ordering me a new Shaker 1000, mine seems to skip or rewind at random every once and awhile. Nothing big, just annoying problems. I will keep everyone posted on what happens. Also, thanks Brad for getting the forums back up!

-Andy

 

Is the front end grinding or popping? Mine pops from time to time, going to take it in on the first oil change.

 

Mine has the same "popping/klunking" front end noise - have been told it's most likely the upper strut mounts......

My Shaker 500 occaisionally skips as well - hope they don't have to replace the entire unit...

 

I had the same "popping" or "clunking" sound on my 05 GT so when I took it in for it's first oil change last week I had them look at it. The Service Manager seemed to already know it was the upper strut mount bushings and replaced them without question. I asked him if it was a factory defect and in a round-about way he said "No" but that Ford had come out with a better part since the initial production. Huh?!?

Been a week and no more "popping" or "clunking" problems to report.

 

The dealer diagnosed it as the upper strut mount bearing. I knew it was. They had to order the part though. They said it will be about 7 days or so. No biggie. They are also ordering a new Shaker 1000 head unit, but that is going to take about a month for them to get. Oh well. The noise it makes is more of a grinding noise, not a popping. It sounds like a bad bearing; metal on metal grinding. I'll keep you all posted. Later.

-Andy

 

Well, today the dealer went to change the strut mount bearing that came in, and they saw that I had Eibach springs, and then decided that it wasn't covered under warrenty anymore. I can maybe understand that, but then they want to go and charge me for the labor that they did to pull the strut out and put it back it; something that they did not have to do to find out that they were aftermarket springs! That really pisses me off. I am going down there later to pick it up, and I am going to try to not pay for the labor. Basically, if you look at the springs, they are grey powdercoated and say Eibach on them, instead of them being plain black steel. If I shine a flashlight right in there, you can clearly read it. Anyways, just thought you all should know. They even said that it may be due to the springs themselves. I know that I have heard of some bad batches of Eibach springs, but I don't know. Later yall!

-Andy

 

Dealers have every right to charge labour if they need to remove an aftermarket part to fix an oem part. If they were factory springs then you would not have been charged. You have to remember, you changed the springs, which changes the characteristics of the suspension. FORD could easily say they won't warranty the strut bearings because of the springs you installed.

You may have the bad batch of springs. Everytime I change something to my car I write down the day and time. That way anything that starts making noise after can normally be related back to something I modded.

 

Some service dept's work that way, others don't. You can remind them that it's against Federal Law to deny warranty work based on aftermarket parts. But other than a peeing contest I don't know how far that'll get you.

 

I could understand them charging me for the labor if they had to remove the spring in or der to find out that they were aftermarket springs, but they didn't. If I look at the springs while the car is sitting on the ground, I can see that they say "Eibach" right on them. I did not have to take out the strut and then put it back in. I simply had to take a look at them. It just seems to me that a trained certified Ford service technician couldn't tell this. Oh well I guess. You live, you learn.

-Andy

 

What dealer do you go to 66? We are both in the Phoenix area. Have you had a good experience with them so far? Well anyways, later.

-Andy

 

How are they going to replace the strut bearing without removing the springs ??????

 

Dude listen, I understand what you are saying, but they decided not to replace the bearing. Before they took out the strut, they could see the springs, and tell that they were aftermarket. Then they should have stopped, and not have taken out the strut. If they would have done that, it would have been 10 minutes wasted, instead of an hour. That is the retarded part.

-Andy

 

My thoughts EXACTLY!! Ford has a bad batch of Upper Strut bearings (mine too) and how in the world would you replace these bad OEM part w/o removing the spring/strut assembly??? If that's the case then why did they remove it to begin with? Your dealer already admitted the early builds were a bad design and Ford has revised parts......how can he deny you if yours is truly one of the early build units?

That's BS - don't put up with it - call Ford regional service immediately and have them speak with your dealer - then find another dealer!!

Sorry to rant - but we have a local Ford dealer like this and I have to drive 25 miles to have my car serviced!

 

I think the point the guy is trying to get accross is, they could clearly see he had aftermarket springs, without removing them, they could have stopped and told him he may be charged for service because he had put aftermarket parts which could have been the cause of the problem. Which would have given him the option to say never mind then, I'll take it else where if I'm going to have to pay anyways.

Thats pretty cruddy that they are not going to do the work under warrenty when it is a pretty commonly know problem with the 05's. Springs or not, his car most likely had the problem already from the factory, mine does too along with almost as many people as have problems with the radio skip/rewind/eject problems.

Maybe you should call a ford cs number and see if they can do anything to help you. I hope I don't get this kind of service when I take mine in.

I dented the trunk on my Honda because the trunk latch was misalinged, not only did they fix it the latch, they offered to pull the ding out and fix the paint that had chipped trying to close the darn thing. Not their fault I got mad and pushed it down hard enough to dent it and chip the paint but they did what was right by me. Hate to think a car that costs almost twice as much will not get that kind of service. Oh! forgot to mention, the car had already been in a pretty severe accident, still no problem with Honda to get it fixed at no charge.

 

Anyone noticing a pattern developing with the dealerships?

I hope they get on the ball soon.

 

Sanderson, so far I like them alot. I have not experienced the service dept yet, but word on the street is they're the place to take it to if your car is modified. I'll find out in a couple of weeks for sure. I'll ask them point blank what their policies are.

 

Sounds good to me 66. Tell me what you find out about their policies when you find out. Thanks.

-Andy

 

dealers will do anything to get more money

 

It's all about the Benjamins!!! A L W A Y S !!!