Originally Posted by
garjoe05
Here's why I replaced my front wheel. After I bought it, I found this funny crack on the rim while washing it. I couldn't understand why air wasn't leaking out.
I had bought the car from a Ford dealership, and part of the work they did when they got the car, was to replace the TPMS sensor in that exact wheel. That wheel also had the plastic wheel center cap that was gouged like someone used a can opener to remove it, and it also wasn't seated on the wheel properly (the only wheel of the four to be in that condition).
Somehow they managed to replace the TPMS sensor, and not notice the JB Weld right next to the valve stem area inside the rim. Giving them benefit of the doubt, maybe they only popped the tire part-way off the wheel, and replaced the TPMS, and never saw the patch on the inside of the rim.
Of course, the reason they were replacing the TPMS, apparently was because it was "missing"; which my tire guy found the old one rolling around inside the tire, since the plastic body was broken ! One would think if a Ford mechanic is replacing a bad sensor and it's just missing, they might think of looking inside the tire for it.
They messed up almost every single thing they did on that car to condition it for resale. I don't think I would ever take my Ford there for service, after seeing what they did on all the other work also.
Many years ago I got a coupon for a 'FREE' oil change at a local Ford stealership. I took my 01 Ranger Edge there for that oil change. Watching them through the garage door window (it was cold and they had the door closed but there were oval glass portholes in the door) I saw the tech with a spray can spraying the underside front end including both sides at the wheels. After this 'free' oil change, I was presented with an estimate to 'replace' the lower front ball joints. Declining the 'work', I took the truck and pulled it to the curb away from the dealership parking lot traffic. Both lower ball joints were wet and the rubber was decomposing. Thanks for the 'free' oil change BUT I had to replace the lower ball joints. I decided (since the age and the miles on them) to replace both lowers and uppers with RA parts. Very low cost of the parts and my labor, was a good lesson to learn about THAT stealership. Sucks that shady workers and managers have to resort to generating their revenue by trashing a customers vehicle.
It happens, watch them like a hawk. You may not be able to prove it BUT you'll know where the damage came from. Be proactive, and watch your property. There are a few posts (one recently about many miles put on a members XF) about stealership employees taking customers cars out for joyrides (in the Takata airbag recall fiasco posts)!
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