Sorry for the crosspost...just followed a link.
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Training Man. First of all I'd like to welcome you here amongst the Lightning faithful and fanatical, and say THANKS for building such a kick-*** vehicle. You hit a home run on this one--keep up the great tradition!
That being said, I have a hard time with what you're asking for us to do. My logic may be completely backwards, but I'll throw it out here for all to chew on.
Point 1: Ford Motor Company builds these vehicles and sells them to independently owned and operated subcontractors (eg, the DEALERS). You learn this if/when you call the problem hotline when you can't get your vehicle repaired properly and are told "Our dealers are independent businessmen and we don't control them."
Point 2: Dealers are in business to make money. That's why you see so many "market adjustment $x,000" stickers on the windows of new SVT products in dealer showrooms. This includes repeat business (if possible). If Ford doesn't give them grief about repairing modified vehicles, they won't care, and will replace the part irregardless. That will make the customer happy and hopefully translate into repeat business. They only want to be paid for what they do/replace, and don't want to lose reimbursement because corporate mgrs are on the rampage about warranty costs.
To cut to the chase; all Ford needs to do is to send out an official memorandum (whatever) to dealer service departments stating very simply "Effective immediately aftermarket (insert your favorite(s) here) modifications will not be cause for refusal of warranty work, nor will it result in cancellation of the customers remaining warranty." ...or something to that effect.
THE ONLY REASON THE DEALER IS GOING TO NIT-PICK THE CUSTOMERS RIDE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED FORD WILL DENY THE CLAIM. THIS MEANS THEY EITHER HAVE TO EAT THE COST, OR GO AFTER THE CUSTOMER FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
If they don't have to worry about reimbursement, they won't care what has been done.
In closing please don't take this as a personal attack on you, as it is not. I am simply basing my personal comments on 46 years of adult life that has allowed me to purchase 7 new Fords in the last 10 years (soon to be 8 in 11). I have spent a fair amount of time in (several) dealership service departments over that period of time.
Nuff said...<donning firesuit>
[This message has been edited by roger (edited 08-18-2001).] |