Engine detail problems

[jesse]

well, i decided to bring my truck into a detail shop, as the engine was a bit dirty sunday...normally i wash the engine down myself, keep the truck running and i stay away from hitting the sensors or spark plugs and so on...I figured i would let the "pros" do it for me this time around...well, that was a mistake

the shop manager comes out and asks me to take a look at it...i was like "good lord they ****ed something up"

well, there was water all around some of the electrical connectors...start the truck and it will go into limp mode...i had to get an air hose from the shop and disconnect just about every connector and clear it out..

but this came to mind, these connectors are suppose to be water proof, but not knowing what these guys did, there is no telling what exactly went on.

truck was running awesome all until i brought it there....The dealership said the connectors and everything around the engine should be water proof, and the detail shop should have been ok, as they do a ton of trucks and autos all the time and they have been around for quite a while...also the ford detail shop said it should be fine, just keep the engine running, which they did.

Im kinda wondering who will be at fault for this one, im guessing i will have to pay out of pocket if a sensor did in fact go bad, and maybe try and claim it through the auto detail shop? or is this all on me?

does anybody have any suggestions? this has never happened to me before. The auto detail shop was trying to charge me..which i was going to pay it, but then they said at the last minute they cant charge me,,,as they arent sure if they were in fact at fault.

 

[DJ BFG]

THAT'S RIGHT JESSE! You tell those people at the detail shop who are supposed to know what they are doing. IMO they should pay for any and all damages to your truck combined with your dealership/warranty. why is it that the damn customer is always getting the shaft? isn't it supposed to be the customer is always right anyways? You are right when you said: " these connectors are suppose to be water proof, but not knowing what these guys did, there is no telling what exactly went on." Your right there is no telling so with that said. You better stand your ground and make them Fix "THEIR" (te detail shop and FMC) mistake. After all that would be the honest thing to do in the first place right? If i had a business and some of my employees messed something up even by accident. I would go out of my way to make sure that customer was totally taken care of no matter what. At worst, ask the customer: could they pay for the work that my shop did and the shop will pay for any and all damages done to the vehicle. If that wasn't good enough the that customer would not have to pay for anything, my business would.

That's my 2 cents anyway!!!!!!!! Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

I can't imagine what "they did" to cause it unless they used high pressure. Washing the engine down shouldn't have caused this so perhaps there was a connection that was loose or defective or some other cause. Get it into a dealership's service bay asap and let them figure out what's wrong. I wouldn't worry about it as it should be covered under warranty.

I wash my engine down with water while it's running and I haven't had any problems.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

[SOCOMech]

I'm with Dan on this one......I'm wondering if they used too much water pressure. Either way, I say it's their fault.

 

[jesse]

Thanks guys...I will do my best at whatever happens...like I said, I have done it on my own many times...the one time I let somebody else do it, I get screwed lol That's my luck though, so I should have expected it.

So far I haven't paid anything as of yet, but if the dealership says its the detail shops fault, I will pay for it (as it isn't fords fault) and hit up the detail shop. I doubt the detail shop will pay for anything, but I agree...either one should be held liable, not myself. But I will miss my truck too much to bicker about 300 dollars.

I will let you guys know what went on, sucks that this has happened, cause as I was limping to the dealership, had to cross the Toyota dealership and they were waving and laughing...runaway POS's couldn't do half of what this Ford truck can do...so whatev LOL

 

[RV67]

Jesse - Im sure you know this by now but ...If you want it done right Do it yourself !!! I hope it not to serious.Good Luck to you.

 

[Falcon]

I just hope this Motor isn't going to have the water intrusion problems the 5.4 has. They leak around the spark plug boot.

Falcon

 

[jesse]

well my truck is back in my hands...all is well.

I ended up paying 266 dollars, due to the fact that i forgot to take out my K&N air filter..

but im a bit aggrovated...the dealership ended up doing it under warranty, but only after i proved to them it had nothing to do with the air filter..or the MAF sensor.

they tell me that they cleaned the sensor, and they also did a diagnostics test...and the sensor keeps popping.

I told them "are you 100% psotive thats it?" they kept on saying yes...yes it is...thats the problem.

I said ok fine, i declined the maint on them replaing the sensor (since they wanted me to pay for it)

took it home, took out my MAF sensor, broke out some denatured alcohol, Q-tip...went to town on the sensor...looked good as new. truck started up no probs, ...but then it still wanted to go back into limp mode and it keeps on throwing the code.

SO i called them back..and they insisted it was the sensor again...i said fine, i will stop by and pick one up...266 dollars later...i dont install the sensor, parts said they will allow me to return it if i dont use it at all. I said ok...i promise you i wont.

I basically brought the sensor so the dealership can stop thinking thats the problem.

so i take it back and tell them again "hey its not the sensor, can you please look at my truck" They said...ohhh your truck just needs to get reprogrammed...I was like "What?" i guess they figured they can clear the fault. sure nuff, they couldnt...they also explained how they will fix anything else under warranty..

so the next day, they call me back saying my throttle body is sticking...and there is nothing wrong with the sensors...i was like "hu...oh really"

basically my truck is running just fine with the old sensor in the truck. im trying to return the unused part, and they arent letting me.

Not only did the car detail place mess my truck up...the dealership lied to me and charged me money for something that wasnt the problem to begin with.

I doubt even if i would have changed out the K&N for the OEM...they would still try and cast blame on me. I have heard some stories about these guys, but i honestly have no choice at all...the closest ford dealer after them is Denver...


long story short, dont pay somebody to detail your engine...better off doing it on your own...and also never trust the dealership...if there is a will to get you, there is a way lol

im just stoked shes all back to normal. HOWEVER, i do want to bring it in to a reputable dealership...as i want to make sure they didnt knock anything out of wack.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Glad to hear you got it back and it's running like new even if it was after all that.

I'm not sure who to recommend you talk to (I bet others know) but I recommend you find someone at Ford to talk to about this!

So, you coming out to Las Vegas next weekend? Tell Falcon to stop by and "pick you up" :mrgreen:

 

[jesse]

man i wish i could go...i MIGHT be able to go...all depending how many guys i have at the shop. I will talk to my Col and see if this can be practical.

I know, wish i can talk to somebody, the thing is, they havent given me my paper work as of yet. (shady again) so i really dont know what they repaird, or didnt repair. Im also worried about pissing them off...they are the only dealership i have within 40 miles. Im almost willing to eat the 280 dollars just to be in a good relationship...even though they ripped me off, but they got me binded for sure.

I like the truck too much to let them ruin it for me again...lol

this truck is bad ass...and the 5.4 is durable as all hell...as i saw where the detail shop sprayed the engine and all, and this thing still runs smooth. Next time im going to take it to the pressure washer on my own, with a light spray at a distance! those morons at the detail shop dont know what they are doing and i garuntee you they had 2500 psi spraying within inches of the engine and its components. Thing ran flawless before they even touched it...i just need to forget about it before i put somebody in a ranger choke hold LOL