Advice required

[Evo,s 7SE]

On route to our new job mondeo 56 plate overheated towing fully laden car / caravan

Recovered to destination in Wales

Booked car in to local ford dealer for check for combustion gases in coolant etc was also offered to check for fault codes stored in Ecu total cost 70 plus vat

Give them s call to see how they were getting on and was told there was a software update for overheating under load and. They had tried to upload software and car had now immobilised itself

Was told they had tried to get it to run but were struggling

My reply was I had only asked for head gasket check and fault code readings why had they tried to install updates without informing me and now they are saying they are trying to get get a new Ecu and the costings

I replied it only wanted the work doing I asked for the irony is when I dropped the car off they couldn't find the job card so I haven't actually signed any thing to authorise work

How do I stand I'm thinking its up to them to replace Ecu which they say is faulty at the original price quoted

When the car was dropped off it was running perfectly but would overheat when under load with caravan but without caravan was perfect

I am quite prepared to pay for Ecu a d take them to small claims court to recoup my costs I will so be speaking to the service manager to try to sort this before this needs to happen

But I wil be telling him that this will be the course I will follow

Advice please Norman

[Norman Verona]

It's fairly simple. Ask for the car back and refuse to pay anything. If they refuse, call the police and tell them the story. Under the laws of lien they cannot withhold the car if they've carried out repairs, only if they've serviced it.

 

The bobby will probably not understand this but a few quiet words should get him on his radio to check.

 

By the way, is this a Ford dealer, you say it is but wondered if it was a Ford specialist. If so ring Ford's customer departments at:

 

Customer
Relationship Centre: 020 3564 4444 
   

 

 

They may be able to help. I'd do this before removing the car giving them the chance to sort it out.

 

Bon chance (good luck)

[pickmaster Andy Lowe]

From auto locksmithing key programing I've done on Fords

You must have uninterrupted power to ECU or it may crash

Turning ignition on with an unprogrammed key can make the car go into an anti theft mode and refuse to start for an hour after you remove the key

Don't know if this helps

[Evo,s 7SE]

It is a ford main dealer

[Evo,s 7SE]

Also Norman I can't remove car as they can't get it to start anymore since trying to update software

[Michael Whitworth]

Reflashing/Updating software on car control units does carry a slight risk. The calibration file issued by the manufacturer can be corrupt, The battery voltage MUST remain stable throughout the procedure due to low battery volts corrupting/prematrely ending the procdure. And faulty hardware can fail during the procedure. For these reasons and possibly the dealer should have made you aware of the risks and sought your permission to continue. They will know this so if you make them aware I am sure they will bacl down.

 

Offer to pay the initial Hr quoted but tell them for that you want the work that you requested carried out and the vehicle running at least as it was before.

 

I have had instances after a software update where I have then had to go through re alignment of the keys/immobiser on Ford connect vans with Siemens Common rail diesel systems fitted. I believe Mondeos can suffer the same. Ask them if they still have diagnostic comms on IDS with the engine management system. If they do they SHOULD be able to recover the situation.

 

What part of Wales is it in and what dealership is it as I have a couple of friends in wales who have garages and get on with their local dealers? Might help if someone had a word.....  .

 

Mike

[Norman Verona]

Sorry, I did think of that as we sat outside watching shooting stars burn up in the atmosphere.

 

Ring Ford's customer number and explain the situation. 

 

The reason I said not to pay any money was that they haven't done the work requested. 

 

Best thing is to hold them responsible for the damage to the ECU. I wouldn't even attempt to explain what may be wrong, that's there job to find out. You took a car in with a working ECU and they have done something to it (their admission) and now it doesn't work. All you asked was for the error codes to be printed out. 

 

OK, this is what I would do. I would explain that the car was taken to them to test for head gasket failure and to print out the error codes on the ECU. Do this very calmly, quietly and with respect. 

 

Ask them, in the same manner, to do whatever is needed to get the car back to the condition it was brought it. ie running.

 

If they refuse then say you're leaving the car with them, will be hiring a car to continue your journey and you will be holding them responsible for the hire charges, the extra days hotel charge and any other expense you pay out. 

 

You will do this in writing as soon as you get home and and if not paid within 14 days you will refer the matter to the County Court.

 

Do all this quietly and calmly and smile all the way through.

 

I think they will return a working car. It may still overheat but you'll get it out of there and into a dealer that knows which way is up.

[Evo,s 7SE]

I'm living here for next three months so don't need a car but that's what I was going to do anyway was ask them to do what I asked and return the car to me in the condition it went in to them

[Evo,s 7SE]

Been in touch with ford customer care seemed very helpful was particularly interested in the fact that permission wasn't sought to update software

Will now sit back and wait to see what happens

Said expressly that I would not be paying for a new ecu

[Norman Verona]

Do you know if they tested for head gasket leak. Whether or not they tried to get the fault codes printed off, if they cannot give them to you, they have failed to complete that job.

 

So, if head gasket tested you should pay for that, nothing else. They will have to fit a new ECU if that's what it needs, but I suspect Ford technical can tell them how to download new software. If they do you shouldn't pay for it, nor should you pay for a new ECU.

 

This is the sort of practice that gets dealers a bad name. Makes me mad.

[Evo,s 7SE]

Went to collect car chap says we had problems installing software as Ecu seems to be faulty but miraculously they managed to reprogramme the original Ecu but it took them seven hours to load data up but head gasket checked fine and pressure check fine no fault codes in Ecu total cost 70 quid plus the vat

Bonus is that because injectors have be coded etc now doing more miles to gallon and starts when hot far better than before only downside is car may still overheat as software update wasnt able to be done

Have been offered for them to try to upload another software update when ford sends them a new file I think I'll give that a miss can't risk the bill I would get if they tried to do it

Only prob is I won't know if it will overheat when towing caravan until October when it's time to go home

[SteveD]

,hire a trailer £35 ,stick a car on it and tow it around ,simples

[bhouse]

Only prob is I won't know if it will overheat when towing caravan until October when it's time to go home

On the bright side it should be a fair bit cooler by October so you may be OK...

[Evo,s 7SE]

,hire a trailer £35 ,stick a car on it and tow it around ,simples

Have thought of that Steve but the car about 18 months ago did the same and no trouble ever since

So I think I might trade it in and buy something a bit better suited to pulling that sort of weight as I can't rely on the car to tow when I need it unless somebody knows we're i can get a new Ecu at reasonable cost

[Norman Verona]

Evo, for what it's worth, I'd just get something a bit heavier without spending fortunes.

 

I have an Audi A6 1.9 tdi which will pull the side of a house down. It's been remapped to 160 bhp (from 130) and would be great pulling a caravan. Mines sold but there are plenty out there for not a lot of money. (just waiting for the rest of the money)

 

If you start messing with ECUs you may end up trying to fix faults that aren't there now. 

 

So either stick with it until it proves it's doing it again and then change or change cars now.