Help! Is There Different Maintenance Interval for Northern Climate?

[Chris Congdon]

I just bought a 2013 FFH 3 months ago, and hit 30k miles last week. The Ford Dealer (who sold me the car) service dept states that Ford recommends a transmission and fuel injection service at 30K intervals for northern climate (I live in Minnesota). I can't find anything supporting this in the service literature or online. I drive 20k per year, and did not plan for this extra $300/year expense.

 

The dealer is stating that if I don't follow this recommendation I could have warranty claims denied (I bought a 3rd party extended warranty and now fear I was scammed)

 

I need to know if I should be ticked at Ford (for not publishing this interval), the dealer (for deceiving me) or me (for not doing research). If this is true, it is unacceptable that Ford or their Minnesota dealers aren't up front regarding this requirement. The Owner site, which knows what car I drive, what state I live in, and provides the service interval recommendations, says I don't need my transmission services for 150k miles.

 

Thanks

 

Edited to clarify it was the Ford Dealer service department

Edited January 9, 2016 by Chris Congdon

[jeffo65]

Here is the 30K maintenance from Ford for the 2013 FFH

 

• Rotate and inspect tires; check wheel end play and turning noise
• Inspect engine and motor/electrical cooling systems and hoses
• Replace engine air filter
• Change engine oil and replace oil filter when indicated on vehicle message center or every 12 months, whichever occurs first
• MEMO: Hybrid engine; Up to 5.0 quarts of oil
• Inspect cabin air filter
• Inspect complete exhaust system and heat shields
• Inspect brake pads/shoes/rotors/drums, brake lines and hoses, and parking brake system
• Inspect and lubricate all non-sealed steering linkage,ball joints,suspension joints,half and drive-shafts and u-joints
• Perform multi-point inspection

.

 

I believe coolant change is at 100K and transmission fluid change is at 150K.

 

.

Edited January 7, 2016 by jeffo65

[Chris Congdon]

Thank you for the reply. You provided the standard published requirements for 30k. I am wondering if there is an alternate reqmendation for 30k for northern climates (i.e. Minnesota). Are you (or anyone else) aware of an alternate (published or not) recommendation for cold weather states?

 

Thanks in advance!

[ls97]

If there was a different maintenance service, it would be listed under "Severe Duty". It would include heavy towing, excessive idling such as police or taxi, extreme temperatures, etc. I haven't looked for such differences but I don't know if transmission fluid, coolant fluid, fuel injection services, etc would even be listed. Perhaps the transmission fluid change would be.

 

Fuel injection services is just a dealer "profit" device, unless you are really having trouble with poor fuel milage, rough running or idling, etc. As for voiding any warranty claims if the extra services are not done, I highly doubt that. A genuine Ford ESP has no such provision to void as long as the services required (as listed in the owner's manual) are done. When it comes to an aftermarket or 3rd party warranty, I guess you would have to read the warranty and find out.

[lolder]

Yes, you should be "ticked". He's scamming you on transmission and fuel injection service. They need none and the warranty is not affected. Find another dealer or independent mechanic to work on non-hybrid and non-warranty items. Sorry!

[Texasota]

Following the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual is all you need to do to ensure full warranty coverage. Find a different dealer for service because this one is a scammer.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Texasota

[Hybrider]

My experience has been that lube shops, repair shops, and even dealerships tend to make up the service intervals as they go, and use a one-size-fits-all approach and state the same intervals for every make and model. I have also found this applies to tire pressure values as well.

 

I don't think any of them ever actually even look at the model-specific service intervals, or bother to see if a computer holds that data somewhere, so hence why they just pull it out of their you-know-what.

[mwr]

I just bought a 2013 FFH 3 months ago, and hit 30k miles last week. The service dept states that Ford recommends a transmission and fuel injection service at 30K intervals for northern climate (I live in Minnesota). I can't find anything supporting this in the service literature or online.

 

The dealer is stating that if I don't follow this recommendation I could have warranty claims denied (I bought a 3rd party extended warranty and now fear I was scammed)

I would make the dealer provide documentation for those statements. I too think this dealer is a scammer, but would hold its feet to the fire for a while.

[Waldo]

Not only is this a scam, but it's a straight up lie. In fact if you read the owner's manual it will specifically say that you should never use fuel injectors cleaners and such. Doing so could actually void your warranty.

[lolder]

This type of behavior by dealers has been around for a long time and as their business model based on profits from service is eroded by electric vehicles and such, it's only going to get worse. Most of the manufacturers including Ford put up with it and claim the dealers are independent businesses which is mostly true. That's why Tesla's model is such a threat.

I have an elderly friend in his mid-eighties who always leases a Caddy from the same dealer. A while back a year and a half into a lease, he had a brake malfunction light come on. Of course the dealer fixed it under warranty. Then charged him $250 for a tune up and "throttle body cleaning" with about 20,000 miles on the car. The only reason I didn't go up there and get arrested assaulting the service people is it would have embarrassed my friend !

[ElectricFan69]

I just bought a 2013 FFH 3 months ago, and hit 30k miles last week. The service dept states that Ford recommends a transmission and fuel injection service at 30K intervals for northern climate (I live in Minnesota). I can't find anything supporting this in the service literature or online. I drive 20k per year, and did not plan for this extra $300/year expense.

 

The dealer is stating that if I don't follow this recommendation I could have warranty claims denied (I bought a 3rd party extended warranty and now fear I was scammed)

 

I need to know if I should be ticked at Ford (for not publishing this interval), the dealer (for deceiving me) or me (for not doing research). If this is true, it is unacceptable that Ford or their Minnesota dealers aren't up front regarding this requirement. The Owner site, which knows what car I drive, what state I live in, and provides the service interval recommendations, says I don't need my transmission services for 150k miles.

 

Thanks!

The stealer is trying to revenue you. Call him out for the large pile of bovine excrement he's spewing. And if they're pushing that kind of BS, I'd question their honesty in any dealings you might have to have with them.

[Chris Congdon]

I am going to ask for Ford documentation supporting their claim, and fully intend to never step foot in the dealer again. What really bothers me is I just bought 2 cars from them, and didn't even haggle price. At least the cars are great, and there are a dozen other dealers in the area that can perform the service. If anyone knows of a reputable ford dealer in Minneapolis area please let me know!

[Texasota]

In your original post you stated it was the "service department". Was it the actual dealership's service department or was it a Quick Lane?

[Chris Congdon]

It is the actual ford dealer service department that sold me the car

[ElectricFan69]

It is the actual ford dealer service department that sold me the car

There have been a number of articles about stealers ripping people off for maintenance the cars flat don't need. For the FFH, follow the service monitor for the routine stuff like oil changes and even coolant changes - aside from paying for the dealer's boat (if you are into that sort of thing), most owners will see no benefit to the old-school 3K mile OCI and the 'profit grinder' injector services. There was a story in NY Times where a guy buying a eGolf was given a 'hard sell' for an oil change package - which the eGolf cannot use as there is not a regularly scheduled oil change for the electric powertrain. Whether it was simple ignorance of the product, or outright dishonesty I don't know- but it's likely a bit of both.

[Cobra348]

It is the actual ford dealer service department that sold me the car

As others stated, follow what is in the manual for full coverage in warranty work. That dealer - or the service area - is really trying to get your cash unnecessarily. Do try to get their "version" of Ford data, but if they even waver the slightest bit walk off - and tell them why! There are many good, reputable Ford dealerships out there but this isn't one from the info here.