Dealership Help

[Angrymongoose]

Alright everyone I had my car at the dealership to fix a bump/squeak sound under warranty. The front left strut was going out so they replaced that, but only the one side kinda poor work if you ask me.

The point though is that they put the non PP strut on the let (part number ends in U).

They refuse to believe there is a difference between the two, because the parts system only says non painted caliper or painted caliper.

Is there anyway I can prove the difference and get this fixed or what can I do?

 

[mybigsho]

Usually look ups are vin specific to the car or truck.. Whats your last 8?

 

[Angrymongoose]

It is HG114695, and yes they told me they looked it up by vin and a few options came up. Thats when they said the only difference between the 2 is painted calipers.

 

[mybigsho]

as per ford hvbomb your car came with dgiz18124w/u.. it should be correct..

 

[Angrymongoose]

I find it hard to believe thats correct as I have every other PP option. Ptu cooler/drain plug, can turn off advancetrac, heavier steering, 3.16 gears. Id be curious to see what that system said about other shos with the PP.

 

[mybigsho]

Mine is w/o pp and takes dgiz18124x/y.. Why do you think there non pp strut they put in your ride?

 

[Irish Pride]

There isnt a PP vs non PP option. It's either painted caliper or non painted caliper. As stated already, you received the exact part you were supposed to based on your particular VIN.

In regards to your comment about them only replacing one side, why would they replace the other side if it's not defective?

 

[Angrymongoose]

I have a list of references here, it's a lot of links I apologize.

First is this thread on here. https://shoforum.com/index.php?threads/strut-upgrade.139467/

Second we have the parts listing on Tasca. https://www.tascaparts.com/auto-par...ont-suspension-cat/struts-and-components-scat

Next up are the listings for Advance, and Oreillys. Now these do not list a strut specifically for the PP, but they do list ones that are specifically NOT for the PP https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/...62e0ee1b/2017/ford/taurus?fitAttr_10039=Front

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/c4/front-shock-strut/-49998060

Rock auto's listings only show the painted caliper vs non painted as the only distinction. I for the life of me cannot figure out why there would be a different strut based on the color of the caliper.

Perhaps I am crazy and there really is no difference in the struts, seems very odd to have this many part numbers though in that case. I know the springs are different in pp vs non pp, or I should say the marketing material said it was. I would think that, plus the different part numbers, would have meant different struts for each as well.

As for replacing only one, I was always taught that struts/shocks should always be replaced in pairs. Even if one is still mostly ok replacing only one will create an uneven car. It could affect all sorts of things, be it tire wear, brake wear, alignment, handling, wear of associated components etc. Maybe that is not a thing anymore and it is acceptable to replace only 1, but that still seems like cheap workmanship to me.

I am in no way trying to come off as angry or snappy at anyone who replies here. I just want to make that clear.

I was a bit angry with my original post, but dealing with dealerships and warranty work on this car has been nothing but a pain in the ass (this part issue is only one of many dealings with dealerships I have had). The service at 2 Ford and 1 Lincoln dealerships has been so bad that even though I love this car I highly doubt I will be buying another Ford after this one.

 

[Irish Pride]

When it comes down to it, you received exactly what was already on your car. Nothing was downgraded, nothing was upgraded. The exact part that came on the car when new is exactly what it was replaced with. You can't be upset with not receiving something you never had.

 

[Angrymongoose]

No I understand that, though I am likely to double check the part number on the one they didn't replace. I still do not see a reason for the separate part numbers if they are not different parts.

This is far from the only reason I've had it with Ford dealerships. I won't go into all that as that is not the point of this thread.

 

[fordfanstan]

I don't know in this specific case, but sometimes if a part is discontinued it is superseded with a like part.

 

[Lostneye]

I replaced the shocks and struts when I did the H&Rs. The labeling can be misleading, I have a PP car and online looked to be one way but speaking to Tasca and providing my VIN indicated W/U for the struts.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Ford"s warranty is to repair factory/manufacturing or workmanship defects. It doesnt replace maintainance parts under warranty unless you pay for that maintainance plan.

Only one shock was defective, one shock was replaced.

If it was normal 100 mile maintenance, you bet the dealership is going to sell you 4.

Ford is out to make money. They dont pay to replace non faulted parts. The dealership can and will get charged back for replacing unnecessary parts.

I dont understand the painted caliper stuff.
One thing I did learn about the parts catalog. If it lists a part and says x inch rotor, the rotor size is the inside diameter of the wheel, not the actual rotor.

 

[SHOdded]

As I have understood it, "painted calipers" is a reference to PP parts or PI parts. Although I have never seen factory painted calipers on either type of vehicle.

 

[Angrymongoose]

I understand what you're saying about the faulty part and Ford having to pay. The thing is they are still two sides of one coin and as such should be replaced as a unit. They will not perform the same now, or wear at even slightly similar rates. I totally get the bean counting corporate reasoning behind it, but in my opinion it is poor customer service.
As far as which strut belongs on there, I do not believe I am any closer to an answer. I do believe there is no way I am going to get a dealer to change it, but when I go to replace them myself someday I still don't know which part is truly the right part.
I know what the vin number says came on on the car and thus should go on the car. That is opposite of all the information on this forum and other parts websites though.

 

[mybigsho]

Have the dealer show you the old part take a pic of the engineering # and we can cross it over to the ford part #..

 

[Angrymongoose]

I would, but its been a week now. I doubt they have the part still. I could do that with the drivers side one though.

 

[mybigsho]

Yep..