Is the dealer lieing to me?

Question

Bought an '02 Lincoln LS two months ago. Started overheating. Had my mechanic checked it with a scanner tool. No error codes. Nothing reported wrong with the car. Had dealer tow it to their mechanic. He said he had no idea and wanted me to pick it up. He test drove it one last time and got it to overheat. They thought it was the computer. Then changed their story and said it was a sensor malfunctioning. Dealer said it wasn't covered and that it would cost $500. Ok'd the work. Called again 2 days later and they changed their story. They said it was 2 bad ignition coil packs. Said these also weren't covered under the extended warranty i paid for which supposedly covered all parts except wear and tear stuff. They fix it without my o.k.. I call the dealer to ask why they did this and they said they never said it was a sensor. Their mech. said the same. Different problem but they are charging the same $500 fee. Sensors are covered under the warranty. Coils aren't. Am i being dicked around?

Answer 1

if a coil was bad then you did have an error code come up. I hate to say this but MOST dealers will lie to you and overcharge you for services they may or may not have done.

Answer 2

"There is ONLY ONE coil in the Ignition System" and it has "Nothing!" to do with "Overheating!"

Was the Engine Really Overheating, Did you hear Water/Coolant Boiling or see Steam?

"Something Doesn't Sound Right!" $500 for Sensor or "Coil"? $40 For the Coil, $10 for the Sensor? (Note; Bad Sensor would have shown a code!?)

"Question; Used Car Lot not New Car Dealer's Used Car Section? "New Car Dealer's Used Car Section" Only if you need a Good Use Car!!

NOTE; "They Saw You Coming!" Old saying for Their taking you for everything they think they can get from you! or their ""Mechanics"" (Loosely Put!) have no idea what they are doing! If everything you stated is Factual then I suspect Both of that ""dealer""

OK, Now Questions; are/were you losing Coolant? Easiest fixes are Thermostat & Hoses, Clamps also! With the "Engine Cool" Remove the Radiator Cap, Start the engine, Do you smell Exhuast or see Foam? Exhaust would be Signs of a Bad Head Gasket! Pinkish Foam would be Cracked Transmission Cooler Lines in the Radiator. Radiator/Engine may need a complete Flush/Boil Out, Remove Thermostat before the Flush for better Circulation and to Avoid Damage to the Thermostat!

"Get to a Good Radiator Shop" to get the Cooling System Fixed Correctly and Priced Fairly!"

Answer 3

Overheating has nothing to do with the coil packs...., when it overheats does it smell like antifreeze? Does the heater work? If none of the things are present, then it may be a sensor, or thermostat. As far as the coil packs go, if the car starts, runs and drives without a skip in the engine, then there was nothing wrong. Also, bring it to another mechanic and ask if the coil packs were actually replaced. Some dealers will say they did something and charge you for it, when in fact they didn't do the work at all

Answer 4

A sensor malfunction would have almost certainly have given a code. I've replaced a lot of sensors myself over the years, and I've never run across one that should cost $500 to replace, even with a dealer's absurd hourly labor rate. Usually, they're among the easiest fixes on a car. Unscrew the old one, screw in a new one, done.

Like the others, I can't imagine how coils could cause overheating, or that they wouldn't be covered under any reputable extended warranty.

I hate dealers, and yes, you are being dicked around.

Answer 5

The dealer should get a better mechanic or he really thinks that people can't find out things via forums like Yahoo Answers. From what you wrote you bought this car from an independent dealer and purchased and aftermarket warranty. There is nothing wrong with that, but both the dealer and the party that is doing the work, need to be honest people.

First off the car is overheating. There are some very mundane things like the thermostat, coolant level, and things of this nature that they should be checking. Why are we trying to replace ignition packs on this car? Why are we even suspecting the electronic control system?

Well to answer your question, it may be that they are trying to swindle you out of something that is not covered and hope that you just pay it, they fix your thermostat, and it's fixed and your on your way. So yes, with this blatant off the mark, diagnosis, I'd say yes. They are trying to dupe you.

Answer 6

Sure sounds like it. But the big question is, have they correction your overheating problem ? How far has the car been driven by the shop after doing the correction for the overheat ? Before paying the $500.00 bill (if you do), have the dealer put in writing that they have corrected the problem and that there will not be any additional charges for labor or parts if the overheat continues. What is the next BS they might feed you ?

Answer 7

yes, ignition coils would cause a pretty bad misfire. Which means the car would run like ****. Now the overheating problem it could me mechanical things, such as a bad water pump, the cooling fans not working, the radiator being plugged up, low coolant, but yes demand a refund and take it to another mech.

Answer 8

Your getting screwed over ask them for a repair order and read it over all the ones iv`e seen says that they must call you over a certain amount of repairs. For the coils there is no connection over coils if they meant ignition coils. Look up laws in your city or state or call a police station and see if they know any of the laws over that

Answer 9

i would definately start asking some questions.

if you brought the car in originally for an overheat condition, there is no way that an ignition coil is going to cause it to overheat.

i would definately like to know a bit more about this.

there are alot of things on a vehicle that will cause an overheat condition. i cant possibly see how an ignition coil could.

Answer 10

yes, the dealer is lying. suggest let him know you are considering small claims court. If he doesn't make things right, take your all your paperwork and evidence and do take him to small claims court. It will cost you around
$50.00 to file, but if you win you will get that money back, plus whatever the dealer cheated you out of.