
"You don't want to go in there sounding bull-headed - you won't get good service," Chirico said. In short, someone in the service department has to be able to duplicate the problem, and the TSB number and a brief description of the problem won't always do it.


Instead, bring the vehicle into the dealer the evening before and let it sit overnight. Don't drive the vehicle into the dealer before work in the morning and expect technicians to be able to duplicate the problem - the vehicle will be warm. He offered this example: Suppose you have a cold-running concern with your vehicle. Rather than going into the dealer with the TSB number in hand, it is more effective, according to Chirico, to come to the dealer with a complete description of your vehicle's particular problem - what are the exact symptoms, and when and where did/do they occur. The manufacturer wants to know that the car is legitimately broken." The service writer can't write up an invoice with just the TSB number and expect the manufacturer to pay for the procedure. The manufacturer pays for the repair, not the dealership, and the dealership has to treat the manufacturer like a customer. Even if your vehicle is within the warranty period, "the dealership is not going to do anything about it, if cannot verify the concern. The second mandate is not to be taken lightly, Chirico warned. Your service advisor and/or technicians are able to confirm that the problem exists.
#FORD TSB LICENSE#
And some TSBs merely outline updated service procedures and troubleshooting strategies, or offer hints for installing something as simple as a front license plate holder.Īnd, of course, the best thing about finding a TSB that seems to cover a persistent problem in your vehicle is that dealerships will make the repair for free, provided that Service bulletin content varies in severity - you'll find TSBs that cover hard-to-start engines and clunking transmissions alongside those that offer remedies for inoperable cigarette lighters and slight paint imperfections. Owner notifications have mileage and time restrictions - these may extend beyond the warranty period.
#FORD TSB FREE#
We were instructed to make an appointment at a Honda dealership and to allow half a day for the free repairs. The letter listed two potential problems: (1) difficulty starting the Insight in very cold weather (0° F) due to a faulty engine control module and (2) AM radio static due to an improperly grounded rear wiper motor. For example, our staff received such a letter in regard to our long-term Honda Insight. If a problem addressed in a TSB is particularly widespread, the manufacturer may decide to send out "Owner Notification" letters - in this case, the manufacturer has a good idea of which vehicles (by VIN) will experience the problem. TSBs frequently (but not always) address a recurring problem and include illustrated instructions for repair, a list of the parts needed, the warranty status and the labor charge. These bulletins differ from recalls in that they are not considered safety or emissions issues and they usually apply only when your vehicle is in its warranty period (whereas a recall is "open" until the work has been performed). "Most TSBs are released during the first year that a vehicle is offered or the year following a redesign," our road test editor, Neil Chirico (a former service advisor for Ford, Lincoln-Mercury and Volvo), observed - in order to address areas that might have been overlooked when designing the car. Though an apparent nugget of good hope for consumers, a technical service bulletin is actually an advisory issued by a manufacturer for use by dealership service departments. (no more of the 'we can't create it, so you must be imagining it' crap)." - frank12, CarSpace TSB Forum Does anybody here have access to the actual write-ups on these TSBs? I would like to be able to go to the dealership with the TSB write-ups in hand so they can see exactly what the problem is and fix it. How can you be certain that you've matched a TSB correctly to your vehicle's symptoms? And how will this confusing bit of information ever be good enough to convince your service advisor to make a repair?


But your irritation returns when you see that your search has yielded only titles, numbers and a barely intelligible description of the problem.
