Block heater installation question

[Zebrafive]

I am very surprised the dealer is acting this way. If I were this dealer I would make this right and eat the cost as a cost of doing business. I would even offer you a percent off your next service or parts order.

Then I would have a meeting with my service manager, he should have handled the problem right in the first place.

But unforunately I am not a JD dealer.

 

[radioman]

wow! I hope you havent changed anything on the tractor, and show the frost plug still installed. you need to take as many pictures as you can and make copies of the work receipt. I am sure JD will be embarrassed about that, be sure you point out that you have the work receipt for work done for heater and have pics of plug still installed with burned out element. Explain politely and calmly that you never expected this from a JD dealer since an authorized dealer should be a top notch place to go and get equipment and service. Make sure you stress that you want and expect top notch service since you still like your john deere tractor.

 

[MichKubota]

Radioman - Good advice about taking pictures and approach to be used.

This should all be wrapped up in an email to dealer followed by a phone call. The phone call is just to let them know to look at email.

It is easier to communicate and frame the issue in writing and gives tracking ability to escalate the issue within JD.

 

[RedHawkRidge]

Finally getting somewhere.
Both the dealer and I sent emails to JD asking for clarification of the installation steps. The dealer (who has always been a straight shooter) says he has not received an answer after 10 days. In the meantime I sent an email to JD, which began a cycle of 3 emails sent and 3 emails returned. Finally the last response came from a product specialist at JD corporate, and it contained a description of the procedure for installation.
And yes, unsurprisingly, the first step is to drain the coolant, then remove the plug, THEN install the adaptor and heater element, and finally replace the coolant. According to the email, the plug comes off with little effort.
The dealer is getting in a replacement heater element, and will install it, along with replacing the coolant, all at no cost. I'm satisfied (assuming no other hickups...).
I think the problem may have been partly due to the dealer ordering the 2 parts separately, instead of a kit containing both. I'm going to give JD the benefit of the doubt that the kit would have had instructions in it.l
JimP

 

[Zebrafive]

Glad to see this is going to be favorably resolved.

 

[Mechanos]

Finally getting somewhere.
Both the dealer and I sent emails to JD asking for clarification of the installation steps. The dealer (who has always been a straight shooter) says he has not received an answer after 10 days. In the meantime I sent an email to JD, which began a cycle of 3 emails sent and 3 emails returned. Finally the last response came from a product specialist at JD corporate, and it contained a description of the procedure for installation.
And yes, unsurprisingly, the first step is to drain the coolant, then remove the plug, THEN install the adaptor and heater element, and finally replace the coolant. According to the email, the plug comes off with little effort.
The dealer is getting in a replacement heater element, and will install it, along with replacing the coolant, all at no cost. I'm satisfied (assuming no other hickups...).
I think the problem may have been partly due to the dealer ordering the 2 parts separately, instead of a kit containing both. I'm going to give JD the benefit of the doubt that the kit would have had instructions in it.l
JimP

I think you're being to easy on them. ANY mechanic or tech or whatever you want to call them that's worth even a 1/4 of their salt would know that a block heater element must be in the coolant..... instructions or not. For someone who is supposed to be a qualified servicer to make such a completely bonehead mistake like this tells me that they aren't qualified to check the oil.... let alone install and parts.

 

[Willl]

Gota agree 100% with ya on that one Mechanos.

 

[BeeferMan]

I think you're being to easy on them. ANY mechanic or tech or whatever you want to call them that's worth even a 1/4 of their salt would know that a block heater element must be in the coolant..... instructions or not. For someone who is supposed to be a qualified servicer to make such a completely bonehead mistake like this tells me that they aren't qualified to check the oil.... let alone install and parts.

Yes, agree with that... s**t happens, but I wouldn't want the mechanic who did this working on my brakes. And the dealer (and by "dealer" I mean someone - anyone! in the entire organization) should have more expertise and experience that that - they shouldn't have to contact JD to know that a block heater needs to be immersed...