[wildsdi5530]

@Sheel: If there were 2 vendors, then why doesn't ford recall only the substandard vendor's RTB?
I'm sure that they would have a log of each and every part in every car they manufacture.
I think they are just replacing some of the RTB to show civic responsibility. If the RTB fails after inspection, then too bad for the customer.

[vnabhi]

For those of you who've had their RTB inspected and found to be ok, I suggest you ask the dealer what would happen if the RTB were to fail after the warranty was over.

I had a similar issue with my power steering hose in my petrol Fiesta, when the car was under warranty. It was found to be ok, but gave up around 10 months after the 4- year warranty was over.

When I contacted Ford Inda (wrote to their MD's email id), they got back on the same day and got the dealer to change it free of cost. So I guess you guys need not have apprehensions. Ford India has been very co-operative and customer-friendly, going by my experience.

[Firebird]

Finally RTB got replaced on my Fiesta on 31st Aug long with routine 40K service. The delay due to unavailability of the spares required for RTB replacement. Took appointment but got rescheduled twice and finally after 3 weeks could get it done.

They took 2 whole days for Service plus replacement. At the end of first day the service adviser was about to give me a shocker, when he said car is done, and I asked him about RTB. He said "Ohh thats still pending"

I controlled self and told him please get it done sir asap, hence delay.

My observation after the delivery, suddenly the noise level from rear has gone down. Is it psychological or real. I think its real.Then I never realized that the noisy rear was due to RTB. Upon checking with service adviser, learnt that that the readings were not in the tolerance zone, hence they replaced.

No new issues uncovered or new issues introduced in well functioning car. Touch wood !!!

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

@Sheel: If there were 2 vendors, then why doesn't ford recall only the substandard vendor's RTB?
I'm sure that they would have a log of each and every part in every car they manufacture.
I think they are just replacing some of the RTB to show civic responsibility. If the RTB fails after inspection, then too bad for the customer.

Ford doesn't recall the substandard vendor Cars, yes. But they do recall Cars and not all the Car's RTB got replaced, right?

While you are right that they should be having a log. Dunno anything further mate...

[condor]

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

I'm sure that they would have a log of each and every part in every car they manufacture.

Not for every single part. May be for more critical components like ECU's etc.

[thoma]

Originally Posted by condor

Not for every single part. May be for more critical components like ECU's etc.

I don't think that is true. Accountability is a very important factor in business and especially with purchases. Even the black plastic valve caps on the tires have small identity markings indicating the vendor. I can vouch for this as I personally had to negotiate with vendors for quality issues in my short tenure as a purchase officer. Moreover, it is my personal observation that quality issues recur with specific vendors than with others, which may be due to an issue with their machinery or process or due to a general lax in their attitude. With other vendors, quality issues were found to be more accidental and non-repetitive in nature. So, for a root cause analysis of quality issues, it is important to track batches as well as the vendor.

[condor]

Agreed that accountability is important & parts are marked as for vendor origin.

But have you seen anything that maps every car part in a car with every vendor ? Is there a database for mass produced cars which will keep a track of every single part & hence vendor details for all the cars components ? I dont think so. And that's why it would be easier to recall all cars during the specific period when the problem was diagnosed - and not specific cars during that specific period.

[thoma]

Not too sure on the practice followed by every other manufacturer. But I guess (as I cannot confirm the process flow of another department) this is solved by using only one vendor's products for a batch (or a day?) and I assume that batch production records are kept at the production level using the ERP.

[trave11er]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

For those of you who've had their RTB inspected and found to be ok, I suggest you ask the dealer what would happen if the RTB were to fail after the warranty was over.

I had similar doubt in my mind. I may be wrong, but I feel the condition of the RTB depends on the KMs driven as well as the road conditions.
I checked this with the workshop manager and he assured me that as the tests for my car's RTB show that no replacements needs to be done. In case the RTB is found faulty or is damaged due to the known issue, I can claim the replacement. I tried my best to push for the replacement, but didn't work for me.
Lets hope Ford shows same goodwill gesture as they showed in your case, if something goes wrong in future.

[Diesel lover]

Originally Posted by trave11er

I had similar doubt in my mind. I may be wrong, but I feel the condition of the RTB depends on the KMs driven as well as the road conditions.

Mine has been driven 90 to 95 percent on chardigarh roads. I bought it in mar '10 and in 2.5 years it has done only 12000 kms. It's RTB was changed last month. So driving conditions and kms travelled has nothing to do with RTB change.

[trave11er]

Originally Posted by Diesel lover

Mine has been driven 90 to 95 percent on chardigarh roads. I bought it in mar '10 and in 2.5 years it has done only 12000 kms. It's RTB was changed last month. So driving conditions and kms travelled has nothing to do with RTB change.

Hey it looks like we bought the car at almost same time. My running is bit higher thought, its around 39K.

Yes the service manager told the same to me, that it is the problem with the reinforcement for the RTB. I was sceptical about this though. But had no other option than to take his words.

[nura]

No call from Ganges Ford, Maheshtala. Last spoke to them on 1st Sep. Called them up again today. No RTB in stock at present. As per the lady, they had got a few but they have been fitted on other customers' cars. Couldn't give a satisfactory reply when I asked her why she didn't call when the RTBs had arrived.
She has asked me to take the car next Thu. I have asked her to confirm availability of spare a day earlier.
Keeping fingers crossed.

[mitrajdeep]

Originally Posted by nura

No call from Ganges Ford, Maheshtala. Last spoke to them on 1st Sep. Called them up again today. No RTB in stock at present. As per the lady, they had got a few but they have been fitted on other customers' cars. Couldn't give a satisfactory reply when I asked her why she didn't call when the RTBs had arrived.
She has asked me to take the car next Thu. I have asked her to confirm availability of spare a day earlier.
Keeping fingers crossed.

Hey Nura,

Which model of Ford do you have ?

I called Ganges Ford workshop at Mathpukur ( off E.M. Bypass ) and they said they have no stock. Will have to keep calling them.

Mine is a Fiesta 1.6 Zxi Petrol of December 2009.

It is funny though that they know which cars need to be checked but they are not calling up the customers. I got to know this when I called them and gave them my registration number the lady immediately confirms that yes my car is covered under the FSA.

[nura]

Hi Mitrajdeep!
Mine is a Fiesta 1.6 ZXI too. Bought Oct 2009. When I first called up Ganges Ford, Maheshtala, they goofed up & said my car wasn't on the recall list. You can find more details in my earlier post in this thread. All the best.

[Zodak]

I gave my 2008 Fiesta to Noida Ford for RTB replacement but it was found ok during the inspection. The service advisor said that he has cleaned and tightened the suspension so I shouldn't hear any squeaking sound now. I will test this and see if the sound is really gone.
Slightly OT: I saw a couple having a heated discussion with the Service Manager over the RTB replacement. Their FIgo too was giving creaking sounds but the RTB was found to be ok. Manager was in no mood to do the replacement and said that he has to send the part too for inspection.
I hope I don't hear any sounds now.