What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[19Walt93]

I don’t have easy access to that, so I use what I can easily get

Amazon has it. Our Carquest also stocks Motorcraft.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Amazon has it. Our Carquest also stocks Motorcraft.

Thankfully my ford dealer nearby has great parts prices. I picked up some of the 80w90 motorcraft gear lube my ranger uses for only $10 a quart, cheaper than Amazon or rockauto. Similar story with MERCON V atf.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Amazon has it. Our Carquest also stocks Motorcraft.

When I need a tube, I’m not getting on Amazon and waiting a couple days. I’m picking up the phone and making a call and usually within an hour it’s there. Also the closest Carquest is 45 minutes away. I have 5 other parts store options 10-15 minutes away, so it makes zero sense to travel. One delivers to me. Time is valuable, so it’s what’s easily accessible.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thankfully my ford dealer nearby has great parts prices. I picked up some of the 80w90 motorcraft gear lube my ranger uses for only $10 a quart, cheaper than Amazon or rockauto. Similar story with MERCON V atf.

The two most local Ford dealers to me are both miserable to deal with. One of the two screwed me over years ago and I won’t willingly do any business with them. They are not nice people and will screw you any way they can. If I have to get stuff from a Ford dealer I’ll travel a little more to my third option. They’re not the brightest bulbs, but if you can give them a part number, they can usually figure out how to get what you’re after. Since it’s not convenient, it’s usually only one of those “I have to get this from Ford” kind of deals.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

The two most local Ford dealers to me are both miserable to deal with. One of the two screwed me over years ago and I won’t willingly do any business with them. They are not nice people and will screw you any way they can. If I have to get stuff from a Ford dealer I’ll travel a little more to my third option. They’re not the brightest bulbs, but if you can give them a part number, they can usually figure out how to get what you’re after. Since it’s not convenient, it’s usually only one of those “I have to get this from Ford” kind of deals.

I’ve learned more and more that this is the norm, and the ford dealer near me is an exception. They are nice, helpful, very very knowledgeable, and always have good prices- even on obscure stuff like the crank bolt for the 4.0l. I am very pleased with them.

Plus they are very close, only about 10 minutes away. So if I can get it from them, and it’s cheaper than elsewhere (which it often is), I do.

What’s also interesting is that the autozone closest to me is kinda how you described your ford dealer- rude, scummy, and kinda dumb. I only go there to drop off used oil and for the odd shop supply or tool I need every so often because they are close.

 

[sgtsandman]

I’ve learned more and more that this is the norm, and the ford dealer near me is an exception. They are nice, helpful, very very knowledgeable, and always have good prices- even on obscure stuff like the crank bolt for the 4.0l. I am very pleased with them.

Plus they are very close, only about 10 minutes away. So if I can get it from them, and it’s cheaper than elsewhere (which it often is), I do.

What’s also interesting is that the autozone closest to me is kinda how you described your ford dealer- rude, scummy, and kinda dumb. I only go there to drop off used oil and for the odd shop supply or tool I need every so often because they are close.

The Ford dealer that used to be near me was very nice to work with. Their service and parts department were great. I was sad to see them close. I don't know how much of the decision to close was the drop in business because of the C-word and how much of it was the rumored requirement by Ford to the dealerships to equip their shops to deal with and work on EVs. It may have been both.

I've yet to deal with the one close to work and I'm not looking forward to how the experience might go. Dealerships have a general reputation for a reason.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve learned more and more that this is the norm, and the ford dealer near me is an exception. They are nice, helpful, very very knowledgeable, and always have good prices- even on obscure stuff like the crank bolt for the 4.0l. I am very pleased with them.

Plus they are very close, only about 10 minutes away. So if I can get it from them, and it’s cheaper than elsewhere (which it often is), I do.

What’s also interesting is that the autozone closest to me is kinda how you described your ford dealer- rude, scummy, and kinda dumb. I only go there to drop off used oil and for the odd shop supply or tool I need every so often because they are close.

There were two good Ford dealers in the area. Both got forced to close for different reasons. The one was forced out by the scummy dealer. Not sure exactly what happened to the other. The not so scummy local dealer used to be good to deal with when I knew a guy who worked parts. Between him being gone and the dealership changing owners, they are less than helpful unless you’re part of the ol boy network around here. I got the same kind of treatment from NAPA up until the last couple years.

Both the local Autozone and Advanced Auto have dumb counter help. I about dragged the one idiot across the counter when they sold me the wrong parts (rear axle bearings and seals, they gave me F-150 parts). When I tried to explain that the computer is wrong (I have an F-150 and have been messing with them and Rangers for 25 years now), he tried to forcefully tell me that I’m an idiot. Not a wise move. After that I got a commercial account so I don’t have to deal with front counter idiots. Plus my parts get delivered. Since I have a business, it works out nicely and they have even delivered parts after hours. I have no real complaints now.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The Ford dealer that used to be near me was very nice to work with. Their service and parts department were great. I was sad to see them close. I don't know how much of the decision to close was the drop in business because of the C-word and how much of it was the rumored requirement by Ford to the dealerships to equip their shops to deal with and work on EVs. It may have been both.

I've yet to deal with the one close to work and I'm not looking forward to how the experience might go. Dealerships have a general reputation for a reason.

Can’t think of which one that would be. I will say to steer well clear of Shultz Ford. I can give you a pile of reasons why.

 

[Rick W]

There were two good Ford dealers in the area. Both got forced to close for different reasons. The one was forced out by the scummy dealer. Not sure exactly what happened to the other. The not so scummy local dealer used to be good to deal with when I knew a guy who worked parts. Between him being gone and the dealership changing owners, they are less than helpful unless you’re part of the ol boy network around here. I got the same kind of treatment from NAPA up until the last couple years.

Both the local Autozone and Advanced Auto have dumb counter help. I about dragged the one idiot across the counter when they sold me the wrong parts (rear axle bearings and seals, they gave me F-150 parts). When I tried to explain that the computer is wrong (I have an F-150 and have been messing with them and Rangers for 25 years now), he tried to forcefully tell me that I’m an idiot. Not a wise move. After that I got a commercial account so I don’t have to deal with front counter idiots. Plus my parts get delivered. Since I have a business, it works out nicely and they have even delivered parts after hours. I have no real complaints now.

Too common of a story today. Too many think they’re entitled, and they’re doing the boss a favor, if he would be gracious enough to employ them. No concept of who the real customer is, nor ethics, nor expertise. It’s actually scary.

On a personal note, I don’t see why anyone would have to get forceful letting you know they think you’re an idiot. Some things are….

Wait a minute, scratch that last part.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Too common of a story today. Too many think they’re entitled, and they’re doing the boss a favor, if he would be gracious enough to employ them. No concept of who the real customer is, nor ethics, nor expertise. It’s actually scary.

Indeed.

On a personal note, I don’t see why anyone would have to get forceful letting you know they think you’re an idiot. Some things are….

Wait a minute, scratch that last part.

Oh, I’ve been guilty of being an idiot before. But some yahoo working behind a counter slinging parts for just above minimum wage trying to tell someone who has tore these trucks down to the frame and put them back together again that I don’t have a clue what I’m working with, well, that’s really, really dumb. I should have spoke up when the part numbers looked familiar to the ones I had used on my F-150. But that would have just sped up the process of arguing with an idiot who’s going to try and tell someone who knows better that the computer is right and they are wrong.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Last week I drug the '90 Ranger to the sand dunes to play for a few days. It went well, the one front U joint I didn't change is worn out, it's grinding pretty good... and the over 100 miles of hard driving didn't do the radius arm bushings any favors since they were worn the heck out well before I loaded it up . There's some rough clunking that sounds like the body bushings but they seem tight? I'll pressure wash the thing and look into it, I'll look into when the next adventure will be and might just make new radius arms and transmission mount bracket like I've been meaning to do for years...

 

[sgtsandman]

Too common of a story today. Too many think they’re entitled, and they’re doing the boss a favor, if he would be gracious enough to employ them. No concept of who the real customer is, nor ethics, nor expertise. It’s actually scary.

On a personal note, I don’t see why anyone would have to get forceful letting you know they think you’re an idiot. Some things are….

Wait a minute, scratch that last part.

I had a counter guy at a junk yard try to tell me I was an idiot when I called him out on getting me an axle with 3.73 gears when I specifically asked for 4.10 gears. Needless to say, I never went back after I got the axle I asked for.

 

[sgtsandman]

Can’t think of which one that would be. I will say to steer well clear of Shultz Ford. I can give you a pile of reasons why.

It's not Shultz, though I do have to deal with them indirectly if I order anything from Ford Parts online.

Whatever the name is of the one in Moon is the one close to work.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Indeed.



Oh, I’ve been guilty of being an idiot before. But some yahoo working behind a counter slinging parts for just above minimum wage trying to tell someone who has tore these trucks down to the frame and put them back together again that I don’t have a clue what I’m working with, well, that’s really, really dumb. I should have spoke up when the part numbers looked familiar to the ones I had used on my F-150. But that would have just sped up the process of arguing with an idiot who’s going to try and tell someone who knows better that the computer is right and they are wrong.

This is why, whenever I go to the chain parts stores, I do my research beforehand and have the part number(s) I need ready. Then I show up, ask for the part number, and if they try to tell me I'm wrong or they need to confirm I just calmly but firmly restate that I want this part with this PN, please get it for me. That generally shuts them up.

If they still tell me that they need to confirm or that it is wrong, I just either say "Hey, I want the part even if you think it is wrong, I accept responsibility if it doesn't fit" or I just leave.

 

[19Walt93]

When I need a tube, I’m not getting on Amazon and waiting a couple days. I’m picking up the phone and making a call and usually within an hour it’s there. Also the closest Carquest is 45 minutes away. I have 5 other parts store options 10-15 minutes away, so it makes zero sense to travel. One delivers to me. Time is valuable, so it’s what’s easily accessible.

I keep some on hand and get a replacement tube when it gets low. So far I've bought it from the dealer but that may change, the dealer I worked for has changed ownership twice since 2017 and their new parts manager has a GM background and can't find his backside with both hands.