- Last seen
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2019
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
I've repeatedly heard from a 2 different regional dealers that Ford Mo Co actually had special training sessions for repair technicians working at Ford franchise dealerships which had repair shops.
Does anybody know if this is true or just a myth pushed by dealership repair shops?
Our local dealership repair shop is claiming that they are now down to just one repair tech trained to repair the 2002-2005 Thunderbirds, that competent repair technicians who can fix these Thunderbirds are scarce and to rely in a regular mechanic to repair the car is folly.
Is any of this true?
I can't wait for 4 months for the local dealership repair shop which has a huge waiting list. The fees charged are absolutely outrageous, too.
When calling to a reputable local independent repair shop, the manager mentioned that he had never heard of such a situation for any type of vehicle.
Is this yet an additional falsity pushed by this dealership?
Any suggestions on how to find good mechanic?
Any tips on how to ensure that all goes well?
The previous dealership that I actually purchased the car from, they held onto car while waiting for replacement screws for convertible top which were supposedly on order from day I purchased in May until nearly August and when I went to pick car up, the used car salesman I purchased it from at this Ford dealership had actually been using it to run errands in, had put nearly 400 miles on it and it was wrecked. The rear end bumper bracket (internal) was broken by backing into something going at least 5-7 mph leaving mark on bumper which was buffed out. He actually had to make 3 trips to remove his old, dirty coffee mugs and half empty to go coffee paper cups, the front seat and trunk were packed with boxes of parts he picked up from local shops for other car repairs at the dealership. He also programmed all channels, both rows A and B, with his favorite hard rock stations which previously only had one channel set, by me, at time of second test drive and offer made to purchase. All other channels were actually blank, nothing pre set when I left car after purchase which was part of deal for agreeing to adjust the convertible roof brackets with new screws which weren't stripped - a repair that would supposedly take no more than a few weeks allowing for partmorer (screws supposedly cost $125) and brackets needed specially trained mechanic to adjust once screws arrived. When salesman turned car on to drive it up to building for me to collect it, the stereo was cranked to nearly top volume and speakers were crackling. The keys had been locked in the used car salesmans desk while waiting for screws to arrive which were supposedly on back order than nearly 1.5 months to install by 'specially trained Thunderbird mechanic.
Of course, this was different dealership in different state back in 2019, but after my experience with another bad actor used car financing/sales manager at a different Ford dealership last week as I was test driving cars because of a major repair needed on the Thunderbird (thinking that it might just be quicker to purchase a used car), with this nearly $10,000 dealership repair estimate looming.
The electric harness, right front rim, and right/passenger side front quarter panel were damaged, along with right, front orange reflecter lense.
Of course I filed complaint with the state AG (my balked at filing theft charges) while I did follow through on the AG complaint and they agreed to repair it.
I'm concerned about the continued high costs of repair for anything because of this supposed special training needed to repair.
Is this training a myth?
Any suggestions on how to select a good mechanic fluent on repairing a Thunderbird 2002?
Any suggestions on a good place to find these parts?
Frankly, all of the problems with these 2 repairs, the theft, the nonsense actually leave me concerned. Is it worth it to deal with this craziness because others love Thunderbirds so much? Or that they are so unusual that waiting for months for a backorder on a simple part leaves me without it for an entire summer until November by time body repair from accident is fixed!
Any suggestions on parts and mechanics- greatly appreciated
TY
Does anybody know if this is true or just a myth pushed by dealership repair shops?
Our local dealership repair shop is claiming that they are now down to just one repair tech trained to repair the 2002-2005 Thunderbirds, that competent repair technicians who can fix these Thunderbirds are scarce and to rely in a regular mechanic to repair the car is folly.
Is any of this true?
I can't wait for 4 months for the local dealership repair shop which has a huge waiting list. The fees charged are absolutely outrageous, too.
When calling to a reputable local independent repair shop, the manager mentioned that he had never heard of such a situation for any type of vehicle.
Is this yet an additional falsity pushed by this dealership?
Any suggestions on how to find good mechanic?
Any tips on how to ensure that all goes well?
The previous dealership that I actually purchased the car from, they held onto car while waiting for replacement screws for convertible top which were supposedly on order from day I purchased in May until nearly August and when I went to pick car up, the used car salesman I purchased it from at this Ford dealership had actually been using it to run errands in, had put nearly 400 miles on it and it was wrecked. The rear end bumper bracket (internal) was broken by backing into something going at least 5-7 mph leaving mark on bumper which was buffed out. He actually had to make 3 trips to remove his old, dirty coffee mugs and half empty to go coffee paper cups, the front seat and trunk were packed with boxes of parts he picked up from local shops for other car repairs at the dealership. He also programmed all channels, both rows A and B, with his favorite hard rock stations which previously only had one channel set, by me, at time of second test drive and offer made to purchase. All other channels were actually blank, nothing pre set when I left car after purchase which was part of deal for agreeing to adjust the convertible roof brackets with new screws which weren't stripped - a repair that would supposedly take no more than a few weeks allowing for partmorer (screws supposedly cost $125) and brackets needed specially trained mechanic to adjust once screws arrived. When salesman turned car on to drive it up to building for me to collect it, the stereo was cranked to nearly top volume and speakers were crackling. The keys had been locked in the used car salesmans desk while waiting for screws to arrive which were supposedly on back order than nearly 1.5 months to install by 'specially trained Thunderbird mechanic.
Of course, this was different dealership in different state back in 2019, but after my experience with another bad actor used car financing/sales manager at a different Ford dealership last week as I was test driving cars because of a major repair needed on the Thunderbird (thinking that it might just be quicker to purchase a used car), with this nearly $10,000 dealership repair estimate looming.
The electric harness, right front rim, and right/passenger side front quarter panel were damaged, along with right, front orange reflecter lense.
Of course I filed complaint with the state AG (my balked at filing theft charges) while I did follow through on the AG complaint and they agreed to repair it.
I'm concerned about the continued high costs of repair for anything because of this supposed special training needed to repair.
Is this training a myth?
Any suggestions on how to select a good mechanic fluent on repairing a Thunderbird 2002?
Any suggestions on a good place to find these parts?
Frankly, all of the problems with these 2 repairs, the theft, the nonsense actually leave me concerned. Is it worth it to deal with this craziness because others love Thunderbirds so much? Or that they are so unusual that waiting for months for a backorder on a simple part leaves me without it for an entire summer until November by time body repair from accident is fixed!
Any suggestions on parts and mechanics- greatly appreciated
TY
