2016 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT. Captain Slow's Pony car adventure

[DamnKraut]

Good luck sorting this one out, OP. I feel for you as a fellow expat in NL. I have had it with Dutch car workshops and take my daily all the way to Germany just for its annual service. Prices in NL, especially for spare parts, are pure wallet rape and service is hilariously st. I’ve had cases where I showed up at the agreed time to pick up my car only to be told they hadn’t even started working on it and just forgot to inform me.

[rdodger]

What an odd situation. My experience with UK dealers when a car is under warranty has been really quite good. After all it's not them paying for the work, they get it back from the manufacturer. My experience is they seem to find things to do towards the end of the warranty period. In fact so much so a Civic Type R I had ended up with a new gearbox due to a binding brake caliper! Don't ask!

Are things different in NL?

Can you nip over the border and try another dealer? Would they be better in Germany? Probably not France :-)

[The test driver]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Onwards to the next debacle.

Its such a shame this st keeps happening, but it seems Ford just cant help themselves.

If you remember, last summer the aircon went on strike (a common problem with early cars). Ford replaced a minor component in the airco system and regassed it (which I thought was a suspect repair, as I was expecting it to be something major like a condenser or compressor).

Anyway, it worked OK until about 2 months ago when the engine fans started to run constantly, the system didnt cool very well and the compressor started to make extra noise.

It went to the dealer about a month ago. They kept it for 2 days and declared the system OK & healthy, which I knew to be BS, but theres not much I can do about it.

Skip forward to now. The noise got so bad from the compressor that I had to take it back. Took 3 weeks to get an appt. Theyve had the car 2 days and gave it back to me today with NO repair and the declaration:

"Its got the wrong gas in it, we cant do anything, bye".

So, it seems that the other Ford store refilled it last year with the wrong gas. Which has caused (I presume) all sorts of damage to they system (Its now vastly, vastly overpressurised apparently, leading to the evil noises from the compressor). The even better thing is they are doing the usual shoulder shrugging and telling me to jog on.

I have to stay polite and reasonable, as ultimately if I ps off the chap behind the desk he isnt going to help me. But what a ridiculous situation to be in.

Ive persuaded them to talk to the other dealer and I am promised an update tomorrow. We will see what happens, but im predicting fireworks.

They also looked at the sat nav for (I think) the 8th or 9th time. Same problem as a year ago. Same response of shrugging the shoulders. Warranty is up in July. Ive told them this has to stop.

Im loathed to instruct a lawyer, but I think its heading that way.

Did they say the wrong gas or the wrong quantity of gas?

Wrong quantity can be done but generally under gassed rather than over gassing, its possible but takes quite an effort by the operator.

Wrong gas is without going to extreme lengths virtually impossible, different hose connections being the first hurdle they'd have to jump.

The vastly overpressurised bit would make me believe over filled which could be fixed quite easily.

qualified twice over by 2 industry bodies in automotive refrigerant so you'll have to take my word for it

[The test driver]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

After extensive googling I had come to the same conclusion as that.... Next to impossible to put the wrong gas in due to different connections.

Any ideas on why the machine would be 'rejecting' the car as having contaminated gas?

I'm going down Ford tomorrow. No updates since last Wednesday despite their promises.

The wrong gas lol

Joking aside maybe wrong PAG oil but unlikely again.

[The test driver]

Any update?

Can't wait to hear the dealers prognosis this time.

[The test driver]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

So where am I... not much further to be honest. Im trying to stay relaxed about it, because getting stressed wont help.

I spent over an hour at the dealer about a week ago, with the eventual conclusion that the Chief Tech has officially refused to work on the car as he doesnt want to risk his A/C machine. He is also not willing to suggest any alternative solutions.

Workplace reception says they have referred to it to the dealership in Eindhoven and have then shrugged their shoulders.

I called national Ford Customer Service 10 days ago and got a file opened. Ive since called them 3 times. No update, no progress, no solutions. I cant get past the receptionist when I call.

Im in the UK with the car now and back in NL next Tuesday. If nothing heard by then, its time to start with the lawyers I think. Absolutely mental, but I dont see any other way forward.

In other news, im going to the Fast Show at Santa Pod on Sunday. SHould be good (if a loooong day). Ive got a ZL1 Add-ons Roush specific Wickerbill on its way in the post (Its basically a rear spoiler extension). Also dropped all the under bonnet plastics off today at Hydro-Dipping UK in York. (thats the rad shroud, engine cover, valve covers and a pair of MMD extra plastic side shrouds).... going for a funky design, will pick up in a month when I am back in the UK.

I can see the guys point with the AC machine as their not cheap but poor show from Ford for not resolving this, have you tried having it regassed elsewhere and see if the machine picks up wrong gas?

There was a Mustang meet at Jacks hill cafe in Towcester at the weekend normally some nice metal there just down the road from santa pod, I'll have to give you a shout next time I'm in Maastricht I stay there when I'm over visiting VDL in Born

[ChocolateFrog]

Just get it regassed somewhere else, for the sake of 50€ it's not worth the hassle.

Could even evacuate the system yourself so it's empty when you take it in. I've even had success with the £20 halfords DIY refil kits.

[ChocolateFrog]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Just get it regassed somewhere else, for the sake of 50€ it's not worth the hassle.

Could even evacuate the system yourself so it's empty when you take it in. I've even had success with the £20 halfords DIY refil kits.

The problem is I'm 99% certain the evap core (in the cabin) is broken. It's a very common problem in the US. The leaking gas is a symptom of this. I'm also not convinced that the compressor isn't toast (another common side effect of a failing core).

It's not a question of paying for a €50 regas. It's a question of Ford finally (correctly) diagnosing the problem and rectifying it before the warranty is up. The evap core replacement is a $3000 job in the US.... So God knows here. Replacing a broken compressor will be a €1k job at least.

So maybe it's a potential €5k job if out of warranty.... No one else but Ford is touching the AC system unless they authorise it. I'm not giving them such an easy way out of the situation.

Fair enough. Can't see why that should be so difficult to diagnose, a.c. systems have basically been the same since they were invented.

[Blanchimont]

Wibble. This looks incredible. I think the wheels work really well with the stripes and the paint!

[uremaw]

Agreed. The new mustang is a fine-looking car but the modifications you've made have taken it to another level. Looks incredible.

Good luck getting the warranty nonsense sorted. If all else fails, move up here to Scotland. There's not much call for aircon up here.

[Mr Scruff]

Beautiful car but the customer service from Ford is beyond useless. Goodness knows how many people have read this thread, I’m amazed that their PR people don’t get involved!

Anyway, well done for sticking with (and continuing to improve) the car, and thank you for sharing.

[RC1807]

Customer Servcie aside, I'm kind of surprised you're now talking about more expensive mods, as I'd have thought this would have meant, "I don't want to pay for the A/C myself, so time to move it on!" ?
Do you have to keep the car for a while under your VAT free rules?

Just thinking this as we had an A/C failure on our Alhambra in 2007, so I p/ex'd it ASAP.

[RC1807]

Tax! Oof!
Yeah, that'd do it!

Good luck with you next steps vs Ford.
Although I've not had significant issues with my car, I won't be buying another Ford for a while.

[alec.e]

Was not expecting that!

Looks like they have done a good job of it and getting the graphics to line up

[ZX10R NIN]

Wow amazing.

[W00DY]

Engine covers look fantastic, a great job. The slam panel plastics are perhaps a bit much for my taste though.

[EJH]

The garage looks super; what sort of paint did you use?

(I ask as painting my garage is next on my to-do list and there are varying views between emulsion and masonry paint)

[Spinakerr]

Bah! I flinched at that final ding, but at least the car is out and you're enjoying the miles.

Great variety of vehicles at the last event - I can't remember the last time I saw a Plymouth Prowler, and what was the vintage red car with Duesenberg external pipes?

[croyde]

Phew jonger. You are a busy fella. Put me to shame

I had a great 2 years with my GT. A couple of eyes rolling back in head moments with the dealer but enjoyable non the less. I still miss it.

Although reading yours and other's threads about problems makes me relieved I sold and at such a tiny loss it hardly cost me anything to own such a great car from new.

Good luck mate and those NL car taxes are atrocious. We don't realise how easy we have it in the UK.

[MJK 24]

I’m surprised by all the troubles with this car. I thought that all American cars are bullet proof in terms of reliability if a little shonky in fit and finish.

I didn’t think they tolerated troubles like this over there.