Grey

Did the dealership have allocation for Dec.? Have them check their DNB for commodity issues. Nav might still be in short supply.

Incentives very by zip code and from day to day. Buying "guides" are often out of date and generic. Go to the real source - a vincent report at your dealership on an existing vehicle to see what is available.

You need to ask the dealership to run a VinCent report on a vehicle in stock to see what incentives are available and what can be combined. Sometimes there is some confusion as to what is out there, even for the dealership personnel. The VinCent system is the final authority. It is rare that they could/would offer a price lower than X-Plan.

mrc71 - glad to have you here. Please visit often and help us with insights we can't get elsewhere. By just following up, I can tell you are my kind of sevice advisor - willing to get the correct information, from the right sources to help your customers. I bet your CSI scores are great. I'm retired but I still know some of folks in the regional office (the old timers). I know they appreciate what you do.

Dealer only website. You can't get in unless authorized.

The only one I saw installed, the tech had the instructions come up on his laptop. Check the Motorcraft.com website or call your supplier for the instruction source.

This sucks soooo bad. Ford's Quality perception is taking the heat as a result of some unsatisfactory dealership practices. 1) Sales personnel didn't do a good job of explaining the MyTouch features and didn't explain the different feel of the transmission on a test drive 2) Service personnel opened up service tickets on the above when owners had questions. They should have explained the systems or sent them back to the sales department. 3) Customers thought there was/is something wrong so they indicated a problem on the independent survey used by CR. All of this could have been avoided. Unfortunately an explanation doesn't make headlines or sell magazines.

As our friend Mr. Kirby states, tell them up front. There is no negotiating on the price of the vehicle. Get a finance rate from your credit union before you go to the dealership and see what FMCC has to offer. They may meet your deal. If the vehicle you want is in stock (there or another dealership) they can run a VinCent report on the vin and tell you all the incentives you may be eligible for. Remember, they are not required to seel a vehicle on any "Plan", but most will. Some dealers have special sales personnel to handle :"Plan" sales so don't waste peoples time if they are not empowered to sell under the x-plan.. Once you get your PIN and invite to the Ford site, read the rules.

X-Plan is better than negotiating 99.9% of the time. All rebates apply including dealer cash. You can trade in your vehicle but do not expect to get more than fair tradein value. If a dealer tells you they will sell you a vehicle at x-plan price and you won't need a PIN, you will pay more because they will not give you all the incentives available under the x-plan. Tell them you are an x-plan buyer up front. They are not obligated to sell you a vehicle just because you have a PIN.

I had the same experience. I feel sure the camera angle moved. Perhaps closing the trunk lid several times causes the camera to seat in it's holder. I really don't need to see 1/3 of the screen filled by license plate!

In Georgia the sales tax (for me it is 7%) is based on the trade difference and that has a bearing on the net deal. You should be able to get close to the NADA, Edmunds, KBB trade in price if you have accurately described your vehicle.

Just a word of caution about receipts, etc. if you do your own oil/filter changes. They won't mean much if you have a lubrication related failure. Good intentions don't maintain your warranty. If you, or the corner luber, double gasket the filter, short fill the crankcase, use improper products (that don't meet the Ford specs), etc. and you have a lubrication caused problem. - receipts won't convenience the Ford rep to buy you an $8,000 engine. The corner lube shop wil have a lot of reasons they should not stand behind an engine failure, even if they don't use products that meet the Ford specifications. Odds are you won't have any problems, but it will be expensive if you do. Most of the Ford/Lincoln dealerships in the Atlanta area have Quick Lube lanes and I usually pay less than $20 for an oil change and less than $30 with a tire rotation ($10 coupons online much of the year).. I know they use correct products and are more likely to stand behind their work than an independent lube shop. Usually in and out in 30 minutes or so which gives me time to see what is new on the showroom floor.

I am guessing the poster wanted to know what to expect when he approached the service advisor with the issue. Ask them when they can schedule your vehicle for paint repair. Ask them if their body shop will be able to determine if there are other areas on the bumper where the paint does not have good adherence, so they can be fixed also. Expect that it will be covered under the warranty. Ask if they will provide a service loaner while the vehicle is in the body shop. (they are under no obligation to, but it would be nice.) It is a two day repair so don't let them schedule you for a week, unless they are providing a free loaner for the time it is in the shop. If, on their inspection, they determine you need a new bumper cover, let them get it in and paint it while you drive your vehicle. Then it will only take a few hours to swap out one bumper skin for another.

Any vehicle that leaves the factory with a full synthetic has different cylinder honing and piston ring design than our engines. If you put a full synthetric in our engines before the rings seat, you can malform the rings and glaze the cylinder walls.This can lead to oil consumption issues and fouled spark plugs. The law of unintended consequences at work.

Last I heard, the Nav system was on hold for the Fusion, Escape and Flex until Nov. prodiction. There are at least 2 different Nav. systems so that may explain why some vehicles are affected by the availability issue and not others.

I was excited about the C-Max until Ford decided not to import the 7 passenger model. It will only be available in 5 passenger configuration as a Hybrid or fuill electric. Perhaps they did not want the 7 passenger to canibalize the Explorer, Fles and MKT. I weant 7 Pass but also want great fuel economy. Eco boost Explorer still not available. I'm sure if they price it right, the C-Max will sell, just don't see much it brings to the market if it is priced on the Fusion Hybrid. I would think it has to be in the low $20's.

Most of the emblems are adhesive backed and can be removed by the vehicle owner. I have successfully used dental floss.

Many Ford and Lincoln dealerships have built special order write-up and waiting rooms for Quick Lane customers. The purpose is to get you in and out quickly and still provide you with quality and trained technicians. They will also provide a multi- point inspection and hopefully sell you additional products and services (air filter, 30,000 mile service, etc.) just like the corner lube shops do. The main reason many car buyers didn't go back to the dealership for service was long waits and high prices Quick Lane addresses both those issues. Hard to beat $29.95 AR for quality service and Motorcraft parts.

The factory installed filter has slightly different specs than the Motorcraft filter for service. It is visually different so a service department can tell if it has ever been changed. I have seen engines damaged by lubrication problems at over 20,000 miles that still had the factory filter in place. Not warrantable. Motorcraft filters are sourced through several different manufacturers. Regardless of the source, the Ford application filters must be made to Ford specifications, both factory and Motorcraft service filters, so it really doesn't matter who makes them.

Waldo is absolutely correct. OASIS will ojnly generate a list of TSB's if a concern is coded into the request. But, even though a TSB exists, they will not perform any warrantable work unless the concern can be demonstrated or verified to exist. There is no such thing as presenting a wish list to avoid potential issues. BTW, many TSBs do not cover problems and service fixes. Most have to do with diagnostic procedures, changes in parts servicing (replace components rather than complete assemblies), new service equipment, etc.

Generally the odor is caused by debris getting into the a/c plenum (wherre the evaporator core is). The fresh air intake is usually outside at the base of the windshield. If you park where "Stuff" (seeds, pollen, leaves, etc.) can fall into the intake, the moisture in the plenum can cause it to mold, etc. Make sure your evaporator drain tube is not plugged (where moisture drips out behind the right front tire). If moisture drips out when parked, it should be OK. You can spray disinfectant into the plenum to try to kill the odor. Spray into the interior intake - generally by the passenger front floor area, with the a/c on low fan speed and the a/c set on recirculate (not fresh air). (Lysol, etc.) Occasionally, dry out the plenum by turning on the fan (high speed), turn off the a/c compressor, and letting fresh air blow through the case. If the odor persists, you may need the dealership to do the mold treatment.

The brake noise usually comes from a small amout of surface rust on the rotors. To test this, do an agressive stop from highway speed (engagaing the hydraulic brake system) to knock off the surface rust. That will fix the issue for most drivers for a few days.

ESP doesn't cover brake pads and lining, but the premium maintenance plan does.

2012 Sport - Aug, 1. Don't know on 2013.

The parts supply issues from Japan are caused by most plants, even those not affected by the quake, having to run half time to prevent massive ellectricity outages. I think they are running for two weeks and shut down for two weeks to save power.