Dealership found metal chunks in rear end just before Oregon trip

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Apparently it's Ford policy that the loaner must be another Ford. I guess they think it'd be bad PR or something. I asked Enterprise and they said Ford was only paying for "up to a full size car" which, whatever that means, apparently doesn't include any of the AWD/4WD SUVs. At this point I'm sick of arguing with them and I'll just make do with what I got.

That's funny/ironic considering that Ford no longer makes a "full size car".

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[Sojourner]

Ford should be raking Dana over the coals for all the Bronco axles with metallic debris.

True, but I suspect Ford is too busy ignoring Webasto to also take on Dana.

 

[crenca]

Where did they come from within the differential?
Will they share more photos of the differential and the pieces?
Do I trust this dealerships diagnosis of the problem and do I suspect they are being honest with me?

I was thinking the same thing.

Removing the 12 bolts and inspecting would be a start.

This. I would want to see this done no matter who's doing the work, dealer or not, but especially before agreeing to give up my vehicle for weeks and relying on Fords backed up parts pipeline.

 

[jdoxen]

If the vehicle was off warranty and I was looking at $3-4000 out of pocket for this repair, I'd be a lot more skeptical. But they're doing it for free and say it'll be done in the first half of next week, so I can suffer the inconvenience of the awful automatic transmission in this Mustang for that long.

 

[Bikeric]

He was in fact able to get me a picture and well, I think we can all agree this is more than normal wear. He said this is "one of" the chips they found. Can't tell *what* it is from this angle and at this resolution but... definitely more than the expected amount of glittery powder.

This seems very odd to me.
I've done the oil myself in the rear diff and that is not a "drain plug" from the rear cover because there is not one. You have to remove the entire rear cover to drain the rear diff fluid. Yes, there is a similar bolt to add fluid midway up the cover, but then HOW would it be collecting metal sediment?

That looks more like the drain plug from the FRONT diff.

Oh well, I'm not there and just doing my best internet sleuthing.

 

[Bikeric]

I was thinking the same thing.



This. I would want to see this done no matter who's doing the work, dealer or not, but especially before agreeing to give up my vehicle for weeks and relying on Fords backed up parts pipeline.

The rear diff cover does not have a drain plug. You have to remove all 12-bolts to drain it anyway.

 

[arwhite]

 

[Jazer]

This seems very odd to me.
I've done the oil myself in the rear diff and that is not a "drain plug" from the rear cover because there is not one. You have to remove the entire rear cover to drain the rear diff fluid. Yes, there is a similar bolt to add fluid midway up the cover, but then HOW would it be collecting metal sediment?

That looks more like the drain plug from the FRONT diff.

Oh well, I'm not there and just doing my best internet sleuthing.

Came here to say this... there is no rear drain plug unless you have changed your rear diff cover.
This is also not part of the "normal" 30k service unless you requested it. Something seems fishy here.

 

[crenca]

If the vehicle was off warranty and I was looking at $3-4000 out of pocket for this repair, I'd be a lot more skeptical. But they're doing it for free and say it'll be done in the first half of next week, so I can suffer the inconvenience of the awful automatic transmission in this Mustang for that long.

Yes, but (but but) what about the possible unintended consequences? For example, any major (or even minor) work has the possibility of leaving your vehicle worse than before, as many here have attested. Lot's of reasons, not the least being the quality/knowledge level of the tech's involved, and this is as for dealers as it is for any other service source.

As several of us have pointed out, there might be something wrong with the way they got to their conclusion - or at least how they are communicating it with you. They get $paid$ by Ford even if your vehicle is no better off or worse then before. If it was me, I would follow up and make sure its in your best interest...sometimes "free" ain't very free...

 

[Ducati1098]

Yes, but (but but) what about the possible unintended consequences? For example, any major (or even minor) work has the possibility of leaving your vehicle worse than before, as many here have attested. Lot's of reasons, not the least being the quality/knowledge level of the tech's involved, and this is as for dealers as it is for any other service source.

As several of us have pointed out, there might be something wrong with the way they got to their conclusion - or at least how they are communicating it with you. They get $paid$ by Ford even if your vehicle is no better off or worse then before. If it was me, I would follow up and make sure its in your best interest...sometimes "free" ain't very free...

They’re replacing the WHOLE assembly. It makes no difference why there’s a piece of metal on the magnet or how they came to a conclusion of how it got there lol it has failed (clearly) and it’s all getting replaced

 

[crenca]

...it makes no difference why there’s a piece of metal on the magnet or how they came to a conclusion of how it got there lol it has failed (clearly)...

Respectfully, it does make a difference it is not exactly "clear" what has happened and what needs replacing. Now I agree that it is much more likely that it has failed then not, but that is not an absolute given.

Now I know you work at a dealer and are a positive contributor, but too many of us have been burned by everything from ignorance, incompetency, poor training, laziness, greed, and possibly just plain maliciousness from dealers and other service sources to not follow through and do our due diligence - at least to the extant that our own competency and experience allows.

Speaking for myself, the above pic (and the questions surrounding it) would not be enough for me to allow such extensive work done - I would at least want to see more directly the wear/damage that such a pic I fully grant likely points to..

 

[Ducati1098]

Respectfully, it does make a difference it is not exactly "clear" what has happened and what needs replacing.

Why does it need to be clear though? Whatever caused it is being replaced. You seeing the damage better isn’t going to change the outcome of it being repaired is it?

Speaking for myself, the above pic (and the questions surrounding it) would not be enough for me to allow such extensive work done

So you’d rather not have the work done and just leave it damaged if you don’t see more than the picture they sent? That doesn’t seem to be logical.
They aren’t going to randomly recommend warranty work if it wasn’t necessary.

 

[crenca]

Why does it need to be clear though? Whatever caused it is being replaced. You seeing the damage better isn’t going to change the outcome of it being repaired is it?



So you’d rather not have the work done and just leave it damaged if you don’t see more than the picture they sent? That doesn’t seem to be logical.
They aren’t going to randomly recommend warranty work if it wasn’t necessary.

Well, at the risk of being accused of having watched too many police procedurals, as several have pointed out in this thread there is a question(s) of what exactly what it is we are looking at, how it got there (and what "there" exactly is). Since it is the rear diff why not just pull the cover and confirm (assuming this has not already been done)? I personally would have minimally ask for that.

As far was work being done that is not necessary, I am sure it happens all the time, usually by mistake or lack of thoroughness of course. Heck, think all the manual transmissions that have been replaced under warranty and in vain because of the 'Getrag Rattle'.

My dayjob is managing a medical practice, and in this domain unnecessary work is done all the time, not least because there are all sorts of dysfunctional $incentives$ in the system to encourage it. Now the human body is not a machine, and for it in most cases it defiantly is not better off than it was before this unnecessary work...but I get this a limited analogy.

In any case, I side with those who, at least given the evidence as presented, do not find this situation quite as black and white.

I'm arguing that since the OP took the time to post his story here and presumably wants to learn something, perhaps he ought to have followed up a bit more closely. However I do admit that it is more likely then not that his Bronco will be as good as it was before so he will just be out his time/hassle, so 'all's well that ends well'

 

[jdoxen]

I dunno why we need to make this into a conspiracy theory. Maybe it's a fill plug not a drain plug and someone just misspoke somewhere in the game of telephone. The internet is full of horror stories but I'm going to go with innocent until proven guilty.

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