Ford shop can't work on diesel F350, even the u-joint.

[newbury]

So I'm getting some clatter at about 40mph. I'm thinking possible U-joint.
So I call up the local Ford place in Fulton. Several times before they have given me EXCELLENT service at a very fair price.

The service manager tells me he doesn't have any diesel mechanics (two quit) and FORD won't let him work on diesel trucks!! Even for transmission related stuff.

I've other places to take it but that must be a serious blow to his work. Last time I was there half the trucks he had in were diesels.

Is this part of Obamacare?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Crazy. A U joint is a U JOINT. Crazy and ridiculous.

Chris

 

[Raspy]

Some kind of new policy to limit Ford's diesel disaster? I wonder why two diesel mechanics quit?

 

[JD4610]

Ford requires "shop competency" or "tech competency" for certain repairs. What this means is that the shop must employ a Ford-certified technician (for "shop competency") or the tech doing the repairs must be certified (for "tech competency") to do certain repairs under warranty. This ensures that the technician working on your $15,000 diesel engine isn't the fast lube guy filling in because the regular diesel guy is off on vacation. If a dealership does repairs without the tech being certified, Ford will simply deny the claim when submitted and the dealer will have to eat the repairs.

Having said that, just because your truck has a diesel engine doesn't mean all of the work has to be done by a diesel-certified tech. I just looked up the labor operations for u-joints in Ford's system, and there are no restrictions on tech certification, they can be replaced by anyone. If the manager is trying to tell you otherwise, he is simply wrong, unless Ford has placed some kind of severe limitations on them, perhaps from previous violations.

Jay

 

[300UGUY]

I think GM is the same way. When it comes to employees leaving, it is always about money.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think GM is the same way. When it comes to employees leaving, it is always about money.

Yes, especially with diesels. A good diesel mechanic can make 6 figures in my area. They never will come close to that at a dealership.

Chris

 

[handirifle]

Well then if dealerships train them, the dealers need to do like the military. We put you through school, you work for us for xx number of years, period. I can see the techs looking out for themselves, but those schools are not cheap and if they are getting schooled and walking, then Ford is doing something wrong.

 

[Peacock]

I can see the techs looking out for themselves, but those schools are not cheap and if they are getting schooled and walking, then Ford is doing something wrong.

The grass is much greener in other pastures....

 

[Peacock]

Yes, especially with diesels. A good diesel mechanic can make 6 figures in my area. They never will come close to that at a dealership. Chris

Maybe in your area. I know most, if not all, independent techs around here and none of them make anything close to 100k unless they own the bigger shops.

The independent guys work more hours, on more junk and don't make the same money, all while spending more money on tools.

If I ever leave the Honda dealer it will only be to work totally for myself.

 

[Tomtint]

A very good friend of mine has been a Ford diesel mechanic for 20+ years. He is able to diagnose a P.S over the phone by the description of the problem. For 15 years he worked at a dealer and they could not pay him a extra $2.00 per hour so he moved to another dealer....and his customers followed him. Recently he had enough of the dealer treadmill and took a job working as a in house mechanic for a agricultural grower. ..more money,less hours, full benefit package,a company truck. I could not be happier for him, he has busted his azz for a long time. He said the only downfall is that he will not get training on the newer diesels, so any new stuff would have to go to the dealer ( while under warranty) anyway.

 

[texasjohn]

Is this part of Obamacare?

Why, yes, my friends, if there is any problem at all on your horizon, regardless how tiny, it is clearly related to affordable health care :confused3: (.sarcasm off)

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Crazy. A U joint is a U JOINT. Crazy and ridiculous.

Chris

When my 6.0 was leaking oil the local Ford shop told me even if they did find the leak they couldn't fix it because they didn't have a diesel mechanic. I ended up taking it to a larger shop that had a full time diesel crew. In my case I knew the true reason and it was fine with me as I would rather have a properly trained mechanic fix it but in the OP's case it almost sounds like the shop didn't want to do the work for some reason and used it as an excuse.

 

[newbury]

OP here.
I've dealt with the shop foreman several times before. Things like I took it in shortly after I bought it for a front-end alignment. It was so close on he only charged me half. He charged me $65 for an oil and filter change, that's 15 quarts of oil. He seemed very disappointed that he couldn't work on my truck this time. I don't doubt that he was telling the straight truth.

I called some other local garages, one said it was a darned shame he couldn't work on diesels.

/edit - the "he"" above was referring to the Ford place. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[timswi]

OP here.
I've dealt with the shop foreman several times before. Things like I took it in shortly after I bought it for a front-end alignment. It was so close on he only charged me half. He charged me $65 for an oil and filter change, that's 15 quarts of oil. He seemed very disappointed that he couldn't work on my truck this time. I don't doubt that he was telling the straight truth.

I called some other local garages, one said it was a darned shame he couldn't work on diesels.

A privateer can't replace a U-Joint?...I've done probably 50 of them in my home shop. Gas or oil juiced never came into the equation.

 

[newbury]

A privateer can't replace a U-Joint?...I've done probably 50 of them in my home shop. Gas or oil juiced never came into the equation.

Sorry for the confusion - Yes the private shop will handle it. He was expressing sympathy for the Ford service manager.

 

[timswi]

Sorry for the confusion - Yes the private shop will handle it. He was expressing sympathy for the Ford service manager.

Got it...Odd that their techs bailed...When I worked in dealer service the techs made good money, although management has much to do with talent retention when you're working on flat rate..Who knows the circumstances.

 

[Stimw]

Got it...Odd that their techs bailed...When I worked in dealer service the techs made good money, although management has much to do with talent retention when you're working on flat rate..Who knows the circumstances.

Maybe they didn't like removing cabs for engine repairs??

 

[CurlyDave]

Well then if dealerships train them, the dealers need to do like the military. We put you through school, you work for us for xx number of years, period. I can see the techs looking out for themselves, but those schools are not cheap and if they are getting schooled and walking, then Ford is doing something wrong.

What you are proposing was outlawed ~150 years ago. Funny-looking President with a beard and a stove pipe hat. Emancipation proclamation or something like that. Made it into the Constitution too, but that was a few years later.

 

[D7E]

What you are proposing was outlawed ~150 years ago. Funny-looking President with a beard and a stove pipe hat. Emancipation proclamation or something like that. Made it into the Constitution too, but that was a few years later.

That system is still very healthy in many parts ..and rightly so !

 

[Stick895]

What you are proposing was outlawed ~150 years ago. Funny-looking President with a beard and a stove pipe hat. Emancipation proclamation or something like that. Made it into the Constitution too, but that was a few years later.

True. But then they can make you sign a paper that says you have to pay them back for the training if you leave before X number of years, before you get the training. BTDT.