GregH Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 So we got our first 6.7 yesterday. I've already been to class, and we got to test drive the classroom trainer, so the vehicle was no surprise to me. Of course, we had our fair share of gawkers, and several test drives were performed prior to the PDI. I finally got the vehicle late in the day yesterday. I didn't finish the inspections before the end of the day yesterday, so I left it in my bay with the hood up overnight. Guess what - the vehicle was gone this morning when I got to work. It was in the washrack being cleaned up - already sold. So, lets overlook the absolute lack of respect for me, the technician, by closing the hood and removing a vehicle from the bay... After I got the vehicle back from cleanup, I finished my inspections. The transmission fluid was 5 quarts low. Yah, that wasn't a typo. 5 quarts. I made sure the service manager was aware that this vehicle went through 50 miles of test drives by various gawkers berfore an actual technician completed the inspection process. Too bad the tranny didn't burn up - that would have been a hoot. Production date was 2/25. Anyone else seeing lack of fluid fill on these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I thought they removed fluid checks (other than washer fluid and coolant) from PDI procedures due to better quality control at the plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Ours had ~50mi on it when I got in it to do the PDI. When I got in it when it arrived, it had less than 10mi on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clint80 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 i did my first 6.7 pdi today and the trans fluid was full. we have had quite a few car pdi's with trans fluid level a quart or 2 low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 We check fluid levels on everything we PDI... cheap insurance when we regard the "human factor"... If Gregs unit had gotten to a customer and then had a failure or the customer had found out that he got a truck that had a low fluid level, it would be the dealer and the tech in the direct line of fire from the customer. The customer, with his confidence in his new truck shattered, could likely make somebodies life a living hell as he showed up on the service departments doorstep over every last little squeek or hiccup.... perceived or real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Excellent point as usual Jim. Regardless of whether Ford cut the labor times and dropped the fluid checks from the PDI list it only takes a few short minutes to check everything. There is too much at stake here. Fixing it right the first time includes DOING it right the very first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 We would also do PDIs (Post Delivery Inspection) on our customer's new trucks after delivery. It's a shame how much stuff is pencil whipped at our local dealers. On MDs it was common to see the diff a couple of gallons low due to being shipped with the axles out, and the axle flanges were rarely torqued properly, too. I think the delivery driver put the axles back in with a crescent wrench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Ooooooh, I hate it when the memory fails... Recently there was a special service message regarding yet another version of "shipping mode". As I recall (Danger , Will Robinson, danger!! Sorry if some of you young guys don't remember that...) it is in the instrument cluster, I can't remember the specifics but it is a strategy designed to alleviate some of the new car storage problems we've encountered. It will turn off on it's own but until it turns off, it will display some sort of message (ain't the memory a wonderful thing?). They recommend turning it off 'manually' just before delivery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 We have done a few 2011 PDI's now. I just finished up a delivery going out this morning where the Transportation Mode Deactivation Process did not immediately deactivate. The procedure actually starts the TPMS learn process. This particular truck is a diesel with every electrical do-dad possible. This may have contributed to the delay. I contacted the Hot-Line and by the time I got my response the message disappeared from the cluster. Keep that in mind. April 21, 2010 To: All Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers Subject: 2011 Super Duty Transportation Mode Deactivation Process During the inventory and transport phase, vehicles are not driven for long periods of time, resulting in weakened or dead batteries. The Transport Mode is designed to deactivate or modify certain vehicle functions in order to reduce battery discharge before a vehicle is delivered to the customer. 2011 SUPERDUTY TRANSPORT MODE BEHAVIORS Instrument cluster message center will display TRANSPORT MODE – CONTACT DEALER Battery Saver and Delayed Accessory timers are reduced to 1min (from 10 min in Normal Mode) Remote Start will not function TRANSPORT MODE DEACTIVATION PROCEDURE The Transport Mode will automatically deactivate when the vehicle's odometer reaches 50 miles (80 km) or when the following steps are performed: Turn ignition to Run – Engine Off PRESS BRAKE PEDAL 5 TIMES AND PRESS HAZARD SWITCH 4 TIMES (ON, OFF, ON, OFF) WITHIN 10 SECONDS Note: Transport Mode should be deactivated just prior to the customer taking delivery. The above procedure is step number 7 of the PDI Service Record. The PDI Service Record is attached, or can be found on FMCDealer.com/Sales/Customer Satisfaction/Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) or from the PTS site/SLTS tab/Pre-Delivery Labor Time from the SLTS menu page. QUESTIONS Contact Jerimy Moreau at jmoreau@ford.com or 313-248-8865 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregH Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Found out this morning - transmission fluid is not reimbursable if found low during PDI because, as Alex said, those fluid level checks are no longer required. I think if it's got a dipstick, it should be checked on every vehicle - regardless. What is reimbursable? Washer fluid. Oh, it takes 16 gallons of washer fluid to offset 5 quarts of Mercon LV. Amazing how many of our new vehicles will be requiring a whole gallon of washer fluid in the future... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 RRIIGGHHTT...... Whats a PDI?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 PDI = Pre-Delivery Inspection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 There was a broadcast message recently regarding add blue (DEF - I like the term add blue because it reminds me of soylent green) and how it shouldn't be topped off at PDI. My own take? Fuck Ford.... I want my customer to have a painless introduction to his new (and vastly expensive) vehicle. If it costs my store a few bucks... well, what can I say? We need to place OURSELVES in the customers shoes.... Let's say you own a restauraunt..... Would you feed shit to your customers that you wouldn't eat? The idea is to make the customer have an experience he will remember as being "good". The idea is to have the customer coming back to you because he WANTS to.... not because he has to.... has to until he has the opportunity to become someone elses customer. On another venue, someone asked why customers seem to be "being chased" from dealer shops..... hmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I read that message. It stated that the tanks were filled to specification at the factory. Naturally I assumed that meant full but I am still questioning what that really means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 21304 2011 F-SUPER DUTY - 6.7L - DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) TANK FILL 6.7L DIESEL EQUIPPED VEHICLES USE A SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION (SCR) SYSTEM DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE VEHICLES EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) TANK IS FILLED TO SPECIFICATION AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. DEALERS ARE NOT INSTRUCTED TO CHECK THE DEF FLUID ON THE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION (PDI) SERVICE RECORD (CHECK SHEET) AND ARE THEREFORE NOT AUTHORIZED TO TOP-OFF THE TANKS DURING PDI. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGE CENTER IS DESIGNED TO INDICATE WHEN THE DEF IS LOW. IF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGE CENTER INDICATES THAT THE DEF IS LOW AT PDI THIS MAY INDICATE AN ISSUE WITH THE SCR SYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR REPAIR. EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/23/2010 So I had a PDI this morning as well. I decided to contact the Hot-Line to clarify exactly what "filled to specification" meant. I didn't want to assume that this means a full DEF tank. Apparently it means "nearly full." I sincerely hope that they didn't think I am joking with them. I am letting this one rest. The tanks are full. Originally Posted By: Ford Technical Service Hot-Line Tech's question: Concerning SSM #21304 which states that the DEF tank is filled to specification. Experience has proven that this type of dialog does not always represent what we find in the field. This begs the question as to whether or not the tanks are actually FILLED TO CAPACITY at the factory. We want to ensure that the DEF tanks are filled for the customer at delivery. If a customer has to return to the dealer for DEF before the estimated service interval he will not be happy with Ford Motor Company and the dealership. Customer satisfaction is our goal. Also, can the DEF be claimed on a PDI repair order if additional fluid is required? Hotline response: Keith, As stated in the SSM you have referenced, the DEF tanks are filled to specification; this does not indicate that the tank is completely full. Each vehicle's DEF tank comes nearly full from the factory. As a result, top-off is not authorized during PDI. The DEF level on arrival should be sufficient to provide the customer with normal vehicle operation within the estimated DEF service interval. Please note that DEF consumption will vary depending on customer driving habits and vehicle usage. Also there apparently is a coupon or something to that effect that provides one free DEF fill up provided before 10,000 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 I was told at training that the DEF was 3/4 full. Which leads me to believe if the owner uses the IOLM, the truck may display the "DEF LOW" message, or run out completely before the first LOF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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