Just an update for anyone who cares...
So my focus has been at the dealership for over a week. I wouldn't
know a thing unless I called them everyday. They NEVER call me first.
I called everyday last week to check in on what was going on.. nothing
until Friday. Each day I called I was promised they would let me know
as soon as something came in (the PCM) for installation. I called
Friday afternoon and they had already installed the PCM and then went
ahead and ordered a diode because apparently I needed one too. So
fumed and pissed I waited all weekend to hear back today about when
they would finish with the diode and I could finally fork over fort
knox to them to get my car back (approx $1100 and counting). Lo and
behold, NO PHONE CALLS. I call the service manager to ask what is
going on, and get his voicemail. The service tech who has been
"dealing" with my case calls me back about an hour later and says that
guess what, I need a new alternator too. Might as well! Luckily (?) I
had the alternator replaced in Oct of 2004 so it was under warranty
(the part) but not the labor. They are thinking now (don't hold your
breath) that the alternator is the devil of it all and caused the
problem with the PCM and diode.. etc etc.
I am so annoyed with this dealership, I will get my car back which they
refuse to budge any price on (past warranty) and sell the thing as soon
as possible.
The 2000 Ford Focus is the devil.
Thibaud Taudin Chabot wrote:
> Are you a member of some Automobile Association? They might help their
> members with an advice on subjects like this. At least they do in The
> netherlands.
> Thibaud
>
> megan.hines@gmail.com schreef:
> > The car is currently at a dealership in my town, however I don't really
> > trust them much. If the computer was not working, wouldn't they know
> > it right away, instead of taking 4 hours to diagnose? How do I know
> > that just the chip doesn't need replacement or something smaller than
> > the entire computer? I just have a feeling Ithat 'm being ripped off.
> > I keep searching Technical service bulletins that are out on the web,
> > but I don't see anything that pertains to the entire PCM going awry.
> > It just seems like a big repair for a 5 year old car..
> >
> > Even if they have good diagnostic abilities, they aren't good at
> > communicating that with me. I asked them for detail repair quotes and
> > when I stopped by to pick it up, the service rep had written the price
> > on the back of his business card. He couldn't tell me why the computer
> > would break or why there wouldn't be any indication of problems..
> > wouldn't you guess there would be some kind of "log" on the computer
> > they could access?? I'm just mystified and annoyed that there isn't
> > more information available...
> >
> > Sorry to be so whiney,
> > Megan
> > Dave Gower wrote:
> >> <megan.hines@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1139257674.136496.133960@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >>> Well it appears as though my car needs its PCM replaced. This is just
> >>> the start. With absolutely no warning at all, the computer dies??
> >>> They are quoting me $754 at a minimum, because they are not sure if
> >>> something else will be reported once they can actually get it hooked up
> >>> to the computer.
> >> Computers these days seldom fail unless they are damaged by an improper
> >> boost or charge. Who is "they"? This kind of problem is best left to a good
> >> dealer or highly qualified shop with extensive diagnostic capability, for
> >> sure no one on a newsgroup is going to be able to diagnose it. A lot of
> >> money is wasted replacing perfectly good computers when the problem is
> >> really in the wiring.
> >
