I met with the dealership today. I came in about ten minutes early and waited in the service advisor area. I told the advisor there that I had an appointment concerning a specific problem and I discussed it via email and phone with a specific person.

He insisted on retaking all the information, as he was 'going to help Mr. X out.' I provided again while I waited for the service advisor I worked with before to become available. After he typed it up, it was wrong and the service advisor I was meeting with typed it again, asking me the same questions again.

There is no possible way they could get it wrong now. Right?

I had a 'road test' with yet another service advisor who drove while I sat as the passenger. We drove around and the rattle was very evident (thank god) and he declared that he did hear it! I explained how applying pressure to the dash makes it stop. Unfortunately, he couldn't reproduce the reverse squeak. He was strangely quiet and unfriendly...I was ready for my 'road test' to end.

I got back to the dealership and walked home. Around five hours later I received a call from the s.a. who I drove with. He told me that the tech drove the car and heard the noise but not as loudly as we did. He said that the tech thought he knew what it was, but wanted to drive the car again. Apparently the tech left the car parked for a while and worked on another car and when he went to drive again there was no noise! The s.a. then drove the car and didn't hear it either.

I responded that just because it went away doesn't mean it's fixed as it has been an intermittent problem. The s.a. agreed and asked if they could keep the car overnight and try again in the morning. He wants to figure out if it is a 'cold/hot issue.'

I told him it was fine and asked if he would be calling tomorrow to provide an update. He said yes but then said 'well maybe not me, the other service advisor might call.'


Now how to do I analyze this set of events. The tech thinks he knows what the problem is but then he left the car (to work on another) and came back and it went away. So now he doesn't know what to do.

Sigh.

 

I have been told and have read that the techs hate these types of jobs because of the way they are paid flat rate. They prefer to do the jobs that they know they can finish in under what the book says. Don't know if that is the case here but if it is, it is wrong.

I brought my '04 Escape in a year or so ago b/c it was pulling to the left. Got the usual song and dance - driving on the road crown, uneven tire inflation, etc. They said it was in spec. When I picked it up it pulled left still. Had the service manager drive it - we went 50' and he parked it because it was pulling so bad. Had to leave it another day. The next day the did an alignment, swapped the tires around and never had another problem with it....

Can't understand why they won't just do it right the first time.

 

Still stuck at home. Yesterday they offered a rental, but I don't really have any mission critical things to do right now...and it just seemed like a waste to me.

Now, they are keeping the car for <b>another</b> day. They can't figure out how to fix the problems apparently. Although just an hour before on the phone they said they fixed the one problem (squeak around a-pillar) and were awaiting a response back from the technical team at Ford about the back wheel squeak. He said it likely had to with temperature changes.

He called again saying that they needed another day to figure out what was causing the problems. He also then asked if the service manager called, which he has not.

I suppose I should just be happy they are actually working on the car and making an attempt to resolve the problems.

 

my last escape (ICE) had an engine problem that was definitely cold related, but only ONCE in 3.5 years, was it recreated at a dealership. basically, if it was less than 30F and the car had been sitting dormant for 8+ hours, the car wouldn't start properly...the colder the temp, the harder it was to start.

i kept a notebook in the car and wrote down the start-up behavior *every* time i started it every day. i eventually found a pattern that was fairly predictable, and after several attempts it finally acted up in front of a service advisor. of course this required me starting the car with 3 dealership witnesses at 7am in 3F

in the end, the problem was unfortunately never accurately diagnosed or repaired, but just recreating it in front of others was helpful in maintaining my sanity. and i highly recommend keeping a notebook for random squeaks and squeals

 

It is now Wednesday at 4:00. I called at 1 o'clock asking for an update. The person on the phone had a discussion with someone nearby then told me a service advisor would call around 2 PM. with an update. I said okay I will expect the call around 2.

It is now 4:01 and no one has called. I'm trying desperately to be civil, but they are not being professional or helpful. It doesn't help that I'm quite tired of sitting in the house.

I now know I'm going to dread any service that is beyond a basic oil change. I suppose in thirty minutes or so I'll call again. At this point I guess I do need to become 'annoying consumer tom.'

 

I have found that the dealer I go to jerks me around a lot less when I show up at their door at 4;00 whenever I have a vehicle in their shop and ask for an update. They really can't lie about whether it is being worked on or not with me standing there looking out at the shop. The dealer is on my commute to and from work and I will always stop by when I have a car in there - it is mine after all.

If I see it parked in the lot I know that either they haven't looked at it yet or it is done or they are waiting for parts. No matter, I think I get bette information knowing exactly what is going on with it at the time.

Good luck with it.

Ray

 

I have the car back now and it makes the same noises more than ever (and another new one).

I'm frustrated but friends are telling me 'since it isn't an operational issue I should be so ****-retentive about it.' Of course, I disagree. The '03 Explorer traded in for this '06 Escape didn't have any rattle or squeak problems.

I do know why they are dragging their feet with the dashboard rattle now. I didn't really think about it before but the dashboard is one really big piece. I know since they are not making money off of the repair, they are very reluctant to lift the dashboard to get to the rattle.

(the rattle stops when you press with moderate pressure on the dashboard area on the drivers side by the a-pillar)

When I got the car back, I discovered a new exciting squeak from somewhere in the back of the truck. I'm not sure if its the drivers side passenger door or seat area.



Someone please tell me I'm not crazy for wanting to have my '06 Escape meet the same design standards as the '03 Explorer. I suppose I should schedule a new appointment at the dealership, provide exacting directions again (maybe I'll type them and provide photos).

Tom

 

We've had the squeak in the left rear several times.


First they removed the body panels inside, and managed to damage them - but the squeak went away for a day or 2.

The next time they replaced the rear struts - and the problem went away. They also replaced SOME of the panels they damaged.

The third time the squak came back with a vengeance. I found you could stand next to the rear of it and push/pull the car side to side and really demonstrate the sqeak. This time they claimed that they "oiled" the shock - and it went away for a few months.

Well - it's back again. A squeak when driving that appears to be associated with the left rear suspension. And just to keep it interesting - the left rear wheel seems to be squeaking as it turns.


Anyone got a real fix for these? Is it the same squeak?

 

I downloaded a coupon from the Ford web site for a $39 (The Works Fuel Saver Package) service. The service actually cost $60 because of the more expensive hybrid parts. Is this normal?

 

What is included in the package? If it involves filters, then yes it would cost more as they rob you on the filters. The oil filter alone runs about $20 at the dealer.

What exactly does one get for the $39 works?