i always bring in old part, and compare.
Dealership sold me the wrong part.....
Went to Varsity Ford in Ann Arbor today to get a new water outlet for my Focus. They were the only place in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti that had the part, so I went for it.
I got the part, came home, drained my coolant out, pulled the thermostat housing, removed the water outlet. Then I pulled the new one out of the box, only to see that the holes where the mounting screws go on the new one are in a slightly different pattern than the old one, so I can't use the new one. Turns out, the old one was perfectly fine, so I didn't need the new one. It was the o-ring on the housing itself, which I replaced and used some high-heat RTV to douibly seal it up.
Now, tomorrow, I'm gonna go back up to Varsity in Ann Arbor and return the part they sold me. The invoice says there is a 20% handling charge on returned parts, but I feel they shouldn't charge me that since it was the wrong part, after their computer said it was the right one. (even though I didn't need it, but they don't need to know that)
This is why I hate dealing with dealerships other than Gene Butman over in Ypsilanti for parts, since I know the parts guys at Butman thru school, and they give me the hookup. Even though Varsity is where I bought the car at, I still hate dealing with their service and parts departments.
</RANT>
I got the part, came home, drained my coolant out, pulled the thermostat housing, removed the water outlet. Then I pulled the new one out of the box, only to see that the holes where the mounting screws go on the new one are in a slightly different pattern than the old one, so I can't use the new one. Turns out, the old one was perfectly fine, so I didn't need the new one. It was the o-ring on the housing itself, which I replaced and used some high-heat RTV to douibly seal it up.
Now, tomorrow, I'm gonna go back up to Varsity in Ann Arbor and return the part they sold me. The invoice says there is a 20% handling charge on returned parts, but I feel they shouldn't charge me that since it was the wrong part, after their computer said it was the right one. (even though I didn't need it, but they don't need to know that)
This is why I hate dealing with dealerships other than Gene Butman over in Ypsilanti for parts, since I know the parts guys at Butman thru school, and they give me the hookup. Even though Varsity is where I bought the car at, I still hate dealing with their service and parts departments.
</RANT>
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if you didnt need it..why the hell did you buy it???
i'd give you a store credit for the full amount you paid. the fact they sold you the wrong part doesn't change the fact that you no longer need it.
I'm guessing he wanted the new part before he took his car apart (before he knew he didnt need it) and didnt have a way to the dealership..if you didnt need it..why the hell did you buy it???
It is the right part, a water outlet for a 2001 Ford Focus w/DOHC 2.0L I4. It appears it is an updated version of the part (kinda like the updated DPFE sensors that mount below the air intake tube instead of on the firewall) and the pattern the screw holes are in on the new part don't match the pattern on the old one. The old one wasn't cracked like happens to so many of them on our cars. Turns out I need the actual thermostat housing, it's leaking like a SOB even after using RTV to seal it up, so the water oultet goes back, and I'll be replacing the thermostat housing, o-ring and any other gasket that goes with it tomorrow.
This just sucks, I thought I had the problem solved today.
I also hope the new thermostat housing will accept the old water outlet so I don't end up having to replace both when the water outlet is perfectly fine.
Why can't Ford just make replacement parts that will work and not cause this kind of frustration?
At least I know how to tear it down now, and it won't take me long to do the swap once I get the new part.
This just sucks, I thought I had the problem solved today.
I also hope the new thermostat housing will accept the old water outlet so I don't end up having to replace both when the water outlet is perfectly fine.
Why can't Ford just make replacement parts that will work and not cause this kind of frustration?
At least I know how to tear it down now, and it won't take me long to do the swap once I get the new part.
Just suck it up and git er done. Ford is awful with replacement parts a good portion of the time. Hell they discontinue parts after a car is only 10 years old.
Well, the took back the water outlet no questions, and did not charge me the re-stocking fee. I got the new housing, and after about 45 minutes worth of work, everything is sealed up proper, and my car is good to go.
For sure, even though the coolant line on the backside of the housing is a bitch to get off of there, limited space and big hands isn't a good combination working on cars sometimes.Well, finally some good news.![]()
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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