To anyone who can offer some advice...I just bought my 2003 Ford Focus the beginnig of Dec. When I was checking out the car, I noticed the A/C did not work. I asked if it indeed had A/C, even though the sticker stated it clearly did. The salesman went to double check and ran the VIN and said yes it did have air. When we bought the car, we insisted that the air had to be fixed and they said they would. They said we could bring it back in a couple of weeks to have the needed repairs done. So I take it in on Monday and they give us a call back saying it DOES NOT have air. AURGH! To make a long story short, they offered us $760 off the loan, or I could trade in my car for another one that was on the lot. I have a ZX3 and that's what I wanted, and of course none of the other cars that I could trade were ZX3's. I asked if I could just return the car, since they did not fulfill their part of the contract and I wasn't happy with what they offered. They said they won't let me return the car, and that they'll just put on the A/C themselves. I have heard this isn't the best idea..things never work right, etc, etc. I need some advice. How much is it to add a new factory A/C to the car? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
It should be fine, I'd assume they'd use all factory parts, and there's not too much difference between a Focus w/ A/C and a Focus w/o A/C except for the A/C equipment, which is not too difficult to remove / install.
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7- RB Intake, RB header. Loud, slow, fun.
I woudl get in wrighting what they are exactly doing. get parts and labor and everything.
PFF - Chelly was getitng the common water on the pass floor. Brought it back to them 3 times. On the third time I did some research and told them what they had to do. They told me that they have a 3rd party vendor come and take care of the HVAC stuff. I hade to bring the car back on a day that the AC guy was going to be there. I wasn't too happy but what could I do. The car was now out of warranty but they started trying to fix it under warranty so I had to stick with them. I think after I told the guy what needed to be done he had one of the techs fix it but I still not sure and will never know.
Waht I am trying to get at is that not all dealers do all the work themselves. Also the dealer will get AC installed the cheapest way so they don't loose verry little or no money. If that means putting a Cavalear AC system or 3rd parts AC system int oa Focus than thats what goes in.
By getting exactly everything in writing you can see which way thay are going. It also won't hurt to ask if Ford is installing it or if Joe from Larry's Auto HVAC Service is installing it.
Not trying to scare anyone but you just need to cover your bases.
And I tihnk you can fight them, especially if its a Ford dealer, for them to take the car back because they technicaly did not sell you what they said they would. They can find a ZX3 with AC for you.
thanks for all the helpful advice! i never thought about getting it all in writing like that...but of course that would be a very good idea...i thought about having them do a specific warranty for the AC work already, but i'll get everything down in writing for sure....thanks for your help and ideas....greatly aprreciated!!!
Also if its all in writing with a "total" on it. Than you have a leagel leg to stand on if they decide to change the price after all the work is done. I think legaly they can change the estimate only like 5% or 10% from the estimate. so if they say $750 and than when its done they say you owe $2000 you can fight it. With no written quote there is nothing you can really do.
This is just a suggestion. If you could break even trade it on a brand new '06 ZX 3S for right at $11K or maybe even less, that's what I paid for my '05 and they had a good choice of color selection. It will or should have air, 4 speaker stereo w/single CD player and probably a jack for your Ipod. It will have a manual tranny. I'm old compared to most of the members here. I put some rims on the Goodyear Eagles and that's it. It's an '05 my payments are $202 p/month, kind of wish I wouldn't financed it for 60 months but I haven't had any,nada zilch problems w/her. Since the last post was in Jan. you should know how well the A/C is or isn't working
JT
Last edited on Sun Jul 8th, 2007 05:25 pm by JTEXX
