I recently had a very disappointing experience at Len Stoler Ford when I went to have a new key made for my 2002 Mustang.
After several visits to have a key made it was suggested that I just come first thing in the morning to have the key made.
I took my car there bright and early and was told that the key would cost close to $175 as it had to be programmed and it has a transponder imbedded.
Although I felt the estimate was on the high side I still needed a second key so I gave them the ok to make me a new key.
About 20 minutes later the service writer came out to tell me that the tech performed a service inspection and that I needed to have my brake system flushed as it was extremely dirty. They also informed me that my battery was only putting out 240 cranking amps and not the 540 it should be cranking.
I told the service writer that I did have the brake fluid flushed when I bought the car in May. He insisted that the tech was adamant that the brake fluid still needed to be changed.
I declined the suggested repairs and took the car back to my regular shop, Hometown Auto Repair in Finksburg, where Darrin opened up the brake fluid resevoir and stuck his finger into the fluid which was perfectly clear! Boy was PO'ed! As an honest repair shop he took offense that a dealer would try to insinuate that they did not perform the work already done.
They then retested my battery and performed a computer readout which indicated that my battery was putting out 495 cranking amps!
I then returned to Len Stoler Ford to confront the service writer with the facts. He deferred to the tech and his supervisor who admitted that they did not physically check the brake fluid but merely "looked" into the resevoir which he felt looked dark.
I then removed the cap and stuck my finger into the brake fluid and wiped it off on a white paper towel and they must have turned two shades of red.
They retested the battery after I showed them my computer print out and their tester merely said that the battery was indicating a "good" rating.
No numbers, just a good reading.
Add to this that my engine compartment has been completely detailed for car shows and I have a clean sticker on the radiator indicating that the brakes, power steering, cooling system, auto transmission have all had a BG Service. The sticker also indicated that all of the differential fluids have been changed and the engine has been tuned up with new plugs, wires and the throttle body has been serviced.
This was an obvious attempt to sell me unneeded service work and was not at all appreciated!
The good news is the key "only cost" $129. The bad news is that they charged me $17.10 for shop supplies! When I asked specifically what shop supplies were needed to program a key, I was given the run around.
They eventually said that all repair tickets received this fee to cover their shop supplies and environmental refuse services.
Needless to say I won't be back there anytime soon for any service work!
Midnight Blue
