20,000-Mile Service

[Ventorum94]

[local dealer] Ford Service Advisor:“What’s your truck here for today?”

Me: 20,000mi service.

“It needs an oil change, too.”

Me: Nope.

“At 20,000mi we’re supposed to change oil.”

Me: I’ll bet you $100 it doesn’t need an oil change.

“Have you ever changed it?”

Me: Nope. Never.

(worst part is, I had made an appointment, and the Lightning was in their system)

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[Zprime29]

I hope you have other options.

 

[Athrun88]

Should have bet the balance of the truck loan/lease!

 

[TaxmanHog]

Back to EV boot camp for this SA

 

[Ventorum94]

I hope you have other options.

Well, from a Ford dealer’s Service Department’s perspective, we’re kind of a nuisance. At this small dealership, only a couple of technicians are EV-certified; and those are the best two they have, which means they’re in high demand on ICE vehicle repairs that produce more revenue. And the “Model E” Dealer fiasco has left a lot of them wishing Ford had never thought of building EVs. The politics surrounding EV mandates gets projected onto our vehicles, and even the Service Advisors give the impression that they wish you’d take your EV and- well, you know. I doubt many Lightning customers bought their trucks to save the planet. I certainly did not.
Fortunately, I’ve had 20k relatively trouble-free miles; biggest complaint for the first year was lack of OTA software updates (the prized but elusive numeric SOC in the instrument cluster, for example), but finally, beginning with the Tesla SC access update, they‘ve been regular and even beneficial (sometimes).
Despite early-adopter first-world problems, my Lightning is a keeper, the best truck I’ve ever owned, and the most comfortable vehicle of any kind that I’ve ever owned.

 

[jamelski]

Should have told him to make sure blinker fluid was replaced per service manual.

also, not sure why anyone takes their EV in for service till 100k plus.

if you can’t change a cabin filter shame on you. That all you need for 100k miles, I know a lot of you all rotate tires. I haven’t done it in 30 years of driving and my tires last 40-50k. Unless you need an alignment and I see any type of uneven where I don’t go to the dealer unless I have to.
Best thing that has happened with EV is not going to the dealer for “services” at set stupid intervals.

 

[HaroldCal]

Service intervals at this point are more about catching up on CSPs/recalls.

 

[Zprime29]

Should have told him to make sure blinker fluid was replaced per service manual.

also, not sure why anyone takes their EV in for service till 100k plus.

if you can’t change a cabin filter shame on you. That all you need for 100k miles, I know a lot of you all rotate tires. I haven’t done it in 30 years of driving and my tires last 40-50k. Unless you need an alignment and I see any type of uneven where I don’t go to the dealer unless I have to.
Best thing that has happened with EV is not going to the dealer for “services” at set stupid intervals.

Lol, I like the idea of asking about the blinker fluid.

Fair point on the rest, but I don't throwing them a bone. My dealer tries to schedule a loaner when needed and has been pretty good about hooking me up when a problem arises. I've taken in for driver lumbar, passenger side window (twice), bed camera, brake squeal (turned out to be a magic rock), all CSP module updates, taillight recall, front lightbar alignment, and they even pushed a single non-required update for me to try and get my OTA's going again (which they have!). So giving them $15 to do a quick inspection and rotate tires once a year ain't that bad to keep the positive vibes going.

 

[Ventorum94]

Should have told him to make sure blinker fluid was replaced per service manual.

also, not sure why anyone takes their EV in for service till 100k plus.

if you can’t change a cabin filter shame on you. That all you need for 100k miles, I know a lot of you all rotate tires. I haven’t done it in 30 years of driving and my tires last 40-50k. Unless you need an alignment and I see any type of uneven where I don’t go to the dealer unless I have to.
Best thing that has happened with EV is not going to the dealer for “services” at set stupid intervals.

I’m right there with you, but I’m paranoid about skipping a recommended service by a Ford dealer, and then having some warranty dispute over a problem their inspection “would have found.” Better to have documented service at a Ford dealer on this revolutionary new vehicle, even if it means paying $165 for a cabin air filter and wiper blades (oh, and tire rotation!).

 

[jamelski]

Lol, I like the idea of asking about the blinker fluid.

Fair point on the rest, but I don't throwing them a bone. My dealer tries to schedule a loaner when needed and has been pretty good about hooking me up when a problem arises. I've taken in for driver lumbar, passenger side window (twice), bed camera, brake squeal (turned out to be a magic rock), all CSP module updates, taillight recall, front lightbar alignment, and they even pushed a single non-required update for me to try and get my OTA's going again (which they have!). So giving them $15 to do a quick inspection and rotate tires once a year ain't that bad to keep the positive vibes going.

I so need to get bed camera looked at. I just don’t want to go to dealer. I’m gonna try for a remote fix. I have the dreaded circle in my bed camera so dumb .

 

[RocketGhost]

I’m right there with you, but I’m paranoid about skipping a recommended service by a Ford dealer, and then having some warranty dispute over a problem their inspection “would have found.”

That is not a thing. Warranty doesn't care if they found the problem or you found the problem. Their "inspection" is looking under the truck with a flashlight at best.

And dealers will always recommend more service than you need or that Ford recommends so they can make more money.

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