Our vehicle displayed a "Transmission Fault Service Now" alert. We immediately brought the car to Bethlehem Ford that evening and spoke with Bill in service.
Thursday morning, we called Ford for an update. Bill made it seem really bad. He said their technician found a crack in the transmission case requiring FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. He claimed the technician had diagnostic codes for a TCM (Transmission Control Module) and promised to provide both an estimate and a photograph of the crack. Then charged over $200 for the inspection.
Little did we know, we'd find out it was all a hoax...
We went to Ford to pick up our vehicle to consider a second opinion. We also asked Bill for a video of the crack. All of a sudden, he starts telling us how the crack is internal and we won't be able to see it. Which made me question how he was able to see it. He also said there was oil leaking, which indicates a crack on the inside. Later, Bill admitted (or back tracked) this fluid may be something other than transmission fluid.
Feeling very skeptical and suspicious of Bill and Ford by now, we took our vehicle to LG Transmission, down the road, who offers to everyone FREE transmission inspections. The LG technician immediately pointed out that Ford COULD NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION CRACK WITHOUT COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLING THE TRANSMISSION--something Ford had not done.
LG Transmission diagnosed the actual problem: a P0606 code indicating a PCM (Powertrain Control Module) issue. IN NO WAY was this a transmission problem. It may have seemed that way from the dashboard message, but there was absolutely no evidence of a transmission issues. LG Transmission actually printed out a list of possible things to fix. It was a report that gave even the amount of times each suggested fix solved the issue and the error code would resolve. Not one of them listed was related to the transmission. Furthermore, if anything was wrong with the transmission, there would have been a code SPECIFICALLY indicating transmission issues.
LG Transmission fixed a corroded negative battery cable, which resolved the code, and it never came back. (I'm writing this a month later and the car is still running fine). It cost $175 for parts and labor. Less than the inspection charge at Ford Bethlehem.
This made me feel uneasy, as it was becoming apparently that Ford Bethlehem was clearly lying. But I still gave them the benefit of the doubt. So I called up and asked them for the codes that made them come up with this diagnostic. Bill was reluctant to give them. Forgetting to multiple times over the phone until I went back to Ford Bethlehem in person and demanded them. Still then did he tell me to wait a moment and he'd get the technician to tell him. Something he neglected multiple times.
Finally Bill gave us the code. It was the same one LG Transmission had found. Nothing to do with transmission.
I could not believe how black and white the two shops were. LG Transmission took the time to speak with me one on one. The mechanic himself explained the situation and what he thought would be the best steps.
Meanwhile, Ford Bethlehem and Bill, literally LIED to us. However, they play this game where everyone there can blame someone else. Bill kept saying it was the mechanics. So they can easily avoid anything being called a flat out lie. I decided not to fight it. I only wanted my money back from the scam transmission inspection. He said yes he'd refund me, said he'd have to do it tomorrow when his manager is back, then looked me in the eyes and shook my hand. The following day, he never called me back. By the evening, I called Bill. He told me a list of excuses and said he can't give me a refund. I told him I'm coming down there and hung up. A man who doesn't have his word, has nothing in life. I got there, Bill ran to his manager and avoided even looking me in the eyes again. Complete cowardness.
I explained the issue to Joshua, the service manager. Who finally accepted giving me a refund. Yet it still took weeks more of calling to finally receive it. read more