Union Park Ford and Sheridan Ford Dealerships Both dealerships claimed that everything in my car was leaking but I never saw a drop Wilmington Delaware
My father just gave me his old 1994 Ford Tempo last week. The week before that he brought it to Union park Ford to repair a fuel pump. While it was there they told my dad that it had all sorts of leaks, including the transmission pan gasket and the oil pan gasket. He had it all repaired and it costed over $900.
The following week I needed my harmonic balancer replaced. Someone that I know and trust advised me that this was the problem. I then took it to Sheridan Ford to replace the harmonic balancer because they had it in stock when I called. They then replaced only the serpentine belt, which does tend to shred up when the harmonic balancer goes bad. When I went to pick up my car, it made the same noise that I brought it there for, so they took it back to replace the harmonic balancer. They also advised me that the transmission pan gasket was leaking. This had been replaced only a week ago by Union Park.
Then while they were replacing my harmonic balancer, they broke off my power steering resevior. They needed to keep my car over the weekend so they gave me a rental car free of cost, so I didn't really mind.
When I got my car back, I immediately took it to Union Park in order to address the transmission leak that they failed to fix correctly. They looked at it and told me that it wasn't the transmission pan, but rather the oil pan and that it was still covered under warranty. However, they proceded to give me a list of other problems and leaks that would total more than $1200! All of these things were shown to me and they all involve gaskets, which are about $3 for parts and all the rest is labor. This leads me to believe that they were attempting to rip me off.
Why didn't Sheridan notice these things if they were all leaking? I got my car back from them the day before I brought it back to Union Park. Do dealerships usually say that things are leaking because the parts are so cheap and that you cannot request the old parts for gaskets? I believe so.
I am done with dealerships. They also refused to refund my father's money for the oil pan gasket that was not done properly. I will be getting a second oppinion from somebody I can trust next week regarding the other things that they claimed were wrong.
Christina
Wilmington, Delaware
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Peter K Hillman
Wilmington,Delaware,
U.S.A.
In response to Union Park Ford
#2UPDATE Employee
Mon, October 27, 2003
The customer stated Union Park Ford, claimed that everything was leaking on their vehicle.
On 09-11-00 Catherine ( or someone else, brought her 1994 Ford tempo for 2 concerns 1- An oil and filter change 2- The check engine light was on. While performing the oil and filter service on their vehicle the technician noticed that the oil pan was leaking and this was brought to the customers attention. ( as that would be part of what they are paying for in the service) The check engine light was on due to a faulty DPFE sensor and that was replaced as well was the oil pan re-sealed for the leak that was coming from that. Again this was on 09-11-00 with 35925 miles on the vehicle.
The next time that this vehicle was in our service department, by Catherine, was on 04-03-03 with 38822 miles. At this time the vehicle came in the concern noted by the customer was that the vehicle was hesitating and having trouble running also an oil and filter service was requested as well as a brake inscpection ( requested). The concern for the vehicle hesitating was not able to be diagnosed, the oil and filter service was performed and the brake inspection revealed that the front and rear brake pads were ok however the front rotors were well below specs. (Customer declined to have repairs performed)
The third and last time that Union Park Ford saw this vehicle was on 07-09-03 with 39754 miles, Catherine also dropped vehicle off on this visit. The concerns at that time were 1- As per last visit please repair front brake, 2- Customer states that there is a hole in the muffler 3-Rattle coming from the engine.
Union Park at this time replaced the brake rotors. (as per last diagnosis in 04-03-03 ) Replaced muffler assembly and lastly installed a clamp over the heatshield for the catalytic converter to reduce the noise coming from the converter.
Union Park Automotive Group Inc., adhears to all laws set forth by Federal, State and Local facilities including Title 6, Chapter 49 (1/99) which customer has the rights to all parts removed from vehicle and providing customer with accurate and percise estimates both orally or written.
At no point other than on 09-11-2000 was the customer informed orally or in writing that there were oil leaks coming from their car totalling in excess of $1200.00.
Just wanted to have the public understand both sides as there are two sides to every story.
Sincerly
Service Director
Union Park Ford
(302) 573-4880