New Car Issue

[Willie]

Hi, I am new here and was wondering if anyone had any problem like this.
Bought a new 2016 GT Premium, would search all the local dealers websites until I found the car I was looking for with options I wanted.
Bingo, found the car I wanted and pulled the trigger on 1/2/16.
Drove the car home with no issues and it sat in garage for about a week. The dealer owed me a key fob so on the first nice day I jumped in the car a decided to drive to dealer. Uneventful ride until I reached dealers exit on freeway. Car would not shift out of first (Automatic) was able to go into standard and use the paddles to get into third and get to dealer check engine light was on. Car had 77 miles on it (Yikes). Being in the business I'm in I get it, things happen. Dealer keeps car for 2 Days and calls me that's its ready. Explains that they have not seen this and they were on the phone with hotline, car threw a cam position sensor code, all codes were cleared and car was checked and running to spec. They wanted to have car taken on an extended test drive (wanted manager to take it home about 50 miles each way and let it sit over night and bring it back) I said no. Took car home with no events, about twenty miles. Car sat for a week while it got an extreme detail. Nice day yesterday and decided to take it for a quick ride, no pushing the car or any extreme driving. Made it to my destination no problems. Get back in to proceed home and get on the highway, as I am entering to get up to speed the car lunges (like a miss) and happens a second time, look down check engine light is on again. So I proceed directly to the dealer, same issues when I get off the freeway (can only get into third manually). Left the car and was very patient with all involved, again I get it things happen. So here is the car at the dealer with 133 miles on it. Will be interesting to hear what they tell me this time.
A little about me, I have worked for a company for thirty years and have a strong engineering and quality background. Bought this car as a weekend toy. Currently I don't trust this car, they are going to have to have some good explanations. Normally I would not post my problems, and as you can see I have not bashed the dealer nor the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Sorry for the long post.

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[Beetlespin]

"They wanted to have car taken on an extended test drive (wanted manager to take it home about 50 miles each way and let it sit over night and bring it back) I said no."

They tried to make sure it was fixed but you refused....

 

[Willie]

Not sure I agree, I offered to take them on an extended test drive. They told me it needed to stay overnight. Surely this time we will go on an extended test drive and vehicle will remain at dealer overnight.
Again, not bashing any party involved, just wondering if anyone has had this issue with their vehicle.
Thanks for your opinion.

 

[paul123]

Uneventful ride until I reached dealers exit on freeway. Car would not shift out of first (Automatic) was able to go into standard and use the paddles to get into third and get to dealer check engine light was on. Car had 77 miles on it (Yikes). Being in the business I'm in I get it, things happen. Dealer keeps car for 2 Days and calls me that's its ready. Explains that they have not seen this and they were on the phone with hotline, car threw a cam position sensor code, all codes were cleared and car was checked and running to spec.

:faint:

... get on the highway, as I am entering to get up to speed the car lunges (like a miss) and happens a second time, look down check engine light is on again.

:rant:

Service attempt a fix the first time? Or are they saying code cleared and they cannot reproduce the problem? They shouldn't need to drive your car 100 miles round trip to test. At most, just a cold start and a 5-10 mile loop around a freeway.

A little about me, I have worked for a company for thirty years and have a strong engineering and quality background. Bought this car as a weekend toy. Currently I don't trust this car, they are going to have to have some good explanations. Normally I would not post my problems, and as you can see I have not bashed the dealer nor the manufacturer of the vehicle.

its good to post problems here and its good not to bash anyone.



edit: for future posts, it would be better to have a better title, such as "new car, CEL, cam position sensor code"

 

[jpilone]

I am a service manager at a chevy dealer. Things like this happen all the time. We ask to do an extended drive, customer refuses, and then guess what?

Nowadays, the cars are so complex with all of the modules and wiring, there are many more opportunities for things to go wrong. Just a nature of the beast. I see electrical issues all the time. Sometimes it's like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

 

[jpilone]

Service attempt a fix the first time? Or are they saying code cleared and they cannot reproduce the problem? They shouldn't need to drive your car 100 miles round trip to test. At most, just a cold start and a 5-10 mile loop around a freeway.

According to OP, it went 20+ miles before failure. So it did need the extra drive. At my store, I have a "QC" guy who I can send out on a long road test during the day if he's not busy with his normal tasks. Otherwise, we need to drive a vehicle home. I live 25 miles each way. I drive home cars often.

What no one understands is that the manufacturer does not pay any time for extended road testing. Let's say a flat rate tech drive a car for an hour and finally duplicates the issue, and then fixes it. But that repair pays .5 by the book, and maximum of .3 for diagnostic time, that means the tech will get nothing for his road testing. I've worked with Ford, Nissan, and Chevy dealerships, and they all treat that the same. It sucks, but it is what it is.

 

[paul123]

According to OP, it went 20+ miles before failure. So it did need the extra drive. At my store, I have a "QC" guy who I can send out on a long road test during the day if he's not busy with his normal tasks. Otherwise, we need to drive a vehicle home. I live 25 miles each way. I drive home cars often.

I missed that. Good catch

What no one understands is that the manufacturer does not pay any time for extended road testing. Let's say a flat rate tech drive a car for an hour and finally duplicates the issue, and then fixes it. But that repair pays .5 by the book, and maximum of .3 for diagnostic time, that means the tech will get nothing for his road testing. I've worked with Ford, Nissan, and Chevy dealerships, and they all treat that the same. It sucks, but it is what it is.

I can see the dilemma

Maybe if OP didn't want that 100 miles on his car, he could have asked they keep it a couple of more days and do a couple of 10 mile loops on the freeway, to try to reproduce the error. But if that doesn't work, then its getting to be a tough problem

 

[paul123]

I am a service manager at a chevy dealer. Things like this happen all the time. We ask to do an extended drive, customer refuses, and then guess what?

Nowadays, the cars are so complex with all of the modules and wiring, there are many more opportunities for things to go wrong. Just a nature of the beast. I see electrical issues all the time. Sometimes it's like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

it would be interesting to know how many computer components are in the 2015/16 Mustang.

 

[Falconetti]

it doesn't matter who does the test drive the result is the same, it will either not occur or re-occur, I wouldn't let them drive my car around either. I am a little sad that the first attempt for a lot of issue with these cars is " well we cleared the code, maybe that'll work" It tells me they are still trying to catch up with the advancements put into this car.

 

[paul123]

it doesn't matter who does the test drive the result is the same, it will either not occur or re-occur, I wouldn't let them drive my car around either. I am a little sad that the first attempt for a lot of issue with these cars is " well we cleared the code, maybe that'll work" It tells me they are still trying to catch up with the advancements put into this car.

...They wanted to have car taken on an extended test drive (wanted manager to take it home about 50 miles each way and let it sit over night and bring it back) I said no.

does seem like the work got slopped.

They had the car for two days, and could not reproduce the problem. They should have called the owner and explained the situation and that they want to hold the car another day, and take the car on an extended test drive, up to an hour if necessary, and requested his approval. With an option for the manager take the car to his home, 100 miles round trip. But it sounds like it was either / or. Either let the manager take the car (a very long distance) to his home, or else take your car back.

Extended test drives during business hours may waste technician time, but they are wasting even more time and customer satisfaction with their approach.

 

[Willie]

Hi and thanks for the input. Hopefully I have not sent the wrong message here. I am not upset over the problem (yet) probably more disappointed, this is not how we wanted the new car experience to start. My wife and I watched the car market for over a year looking at various manufactures products. We looked at luxury vehicles, European vehicles and sports cars.

This is supposed to be the weekend driver not to be driven in the rain (I know one of those). I still believe we made the right choice for the money spent. We have a 2009 F150 Platinum with over 112,000 miles on it and never had a problem, I maintain the vehicle and have performed all the recommended service (myself).

I get the automotive business, I'm familiar with companies being registered to standards (ISO), supply chain management, counterfeit part concerns, reliability studies as well as risk assessment .

What I was really seeking here was to find out if anyone has heard of this type of scenario or can lend any suggestions. Maybe I am letting the car sit too long, wreaking havoc on the ecm? Should I invest in a battery tender? Could it be substandard fuel, still has more than half the tank the dealer put in on 1/2/16? In my mind these should not have made a difference.

I did receive a call from the dealer yesterday and the service writer asked if I can provide more information into the sequence of events, they wanted to make sure it did not happen in the same location. He suggested they were looking into the possibility of RF Interference, guess he did not think I was funny when I responded you guys better start shielding all wire harnesses and electrical components in that car. They were going to put the car on the freeway and hook up some sort of diagnostic equipment while they drive.

Well my grand daughter is awake, again thanks for any suggestions and I apologize for the long post again. I promise I will keep this post updated. I am hoping for a positive outcome. Again we truly believe we made the right choice.

 

[paul123]

...
What I was really seeking here was to find out if anyone has heard of this type of scenario or can lend any suggestions. Maybe I am letting the car sit too long, wreaking havoc on the ecm? Should I invest in a battery tender? Could it be substandard fuel, still has more than half the tank the dealer put in on 1/2/16? In my mind these should not have made a difference.

I did receive a call from the dealer yesterday and the service writer asked if I can provide more information into the sequence of events...

who knows. Dealership is supposed to figure that out. That's why they get paid the big bucks

Since you had the event happen twice within 133 miles, they should be able to reproduce that with a few cold starts and some extended (e.g half hour) drives.

This could easily be a difficult problem. Whereas a lot of their stuff will be relatively easy problems, so it all averages out. Not everything can be an easy problem or it will be boring (for them) :shrug:

 

[Willie]

Dealer called yesterday and told me they drove the car and wee able to duplicate the problem. They are going to replace the cam position sensor. This should be interesting since they told me both times the cam position sensor checked good. I will keep this post up.

 

[FordService]

Dealer called yesterday and told me they drove the car and wee able to duplicate the problem. They are going to replace the cam position sensor. This should be interesting since they told me both times the cam position sensor checked good. I will keep this post up.

I know I’m a little late to the party, but that is great news, Willie!!

Deysha

 

[Willie]

Hi, Sorry did not post sooner. So received my vehicle back Monday. Paperwork stated they changed the Cam Position Sensor, test drove and still experienced the same fault. Hotline call and instructions to drop Tranny pan, drain fluid and replace the lead frame connector, refill with fluids, clear codes and test drive. Vehicle acts as designed. I took car home with no issues. Car has sat since Monday in garage, rained this week and supposed to be nice today. I will take it out today and post results.
I can tell by the odometer that the car was driven 33 miles so hopefully this issue is behind us. Currently 188 miles on the Car.
I have never bashed the dealer nor the manufacture, but I will step out and throw a big attaboy to the dealer I am working with (place of purchase). Both times I was given a loaner vehicle to drive. And the last time I picked up the car a fifty dollar gift certificate (to four different local restaurants) was stapled to my paperwork. The service writer and service manager thanked me for my patience. Really, this was not necessary but was appreciated. I have said before I still believe we made the right choice. Hopefully this is behind me.

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