mondeo cv boots info needed!!

[bevuk]

my mondeo has a mileage of 18000 & was registered in 2001, so its not that old...It has just had new cv joints, boots etc replaced, an expensive job �589.00....looking back through my paper work the cv boots which should last at least 50000 miles were refitted in 2004 @ 11000 miles & again in 2005 @ 13000 miles all at the same 'large known' garage.
I took the car in because of a squeak when turning right, the noise was still there when I collected the car. I took the car to an independant garage who informed me the cv boots were fitted incorrectly as there was grease everywear (which I saw) he also showed me what is making the sqeak....a dry roll bar....(14.50 + labour to fix) My car is now back with Fords to refit the cv boots correctly & sort out the role bar. Finally my question is do I have a claim against the garage for not fitting the boots correctly in 2004 or in 2005 because if they were, the cv joints wouldnt have needed replacing.....Many thanks to anyone who can help me....

[Birt]

Difficult one this. Most dealers will guarantee their work for a year (maybe a mileage limitation too but shouldnt apply to this). After that time they wouldnt honour any warranty claim for workmanship problems. Usually trying to get a dealer to admit they have made a mistake is impossible. The only time you should use a main dealer is for warranty work on a car less than 2 years old (or whatever warranty is given on the new car) any serviceing can be done at an independant garage and is mostly done to a higher standard than dealers. Most parts for Fords can be sourced from Motor Factors at a little less than the dealer charges and these are mostly exactly the same parts!!! Use a good independant garage and not the "cheapest" or "easiest for me" .

[homer75]

Problem is you can't prove the first two sets of boots were wrongly fitted or even if it was necessary work. As Birt says, find a decent garage that you can trust and don't go back to the 'large known' garage ever !

[bevuk]

Thanks for the answers, the independant mechanic I took it to has written a letter to Ford stating in his opinion, had the cv boots been fitted correctly in the 1st place they should have lasted 50,000 miles etc. I'll wait to see if Fords want to do the right thing!! ha ha... An expensive lesson to finally find a decent mechanic!

[jake-the-peg]

One of the problems you may have is that the CV joints are quite exposed and although they are meant to last 50,000 miles or whatever that's probably based on normal expected wear and perishability of the rubber. It's an estimate not a guarantee.

It'd be quite easy for Ford to claim that they split due to damage and for to prove otherwise wouldn't be financially worthwhile.

Main dealers charge way over the odds for their servicing because they rely on people's insecurity about the expertise of independant garages.

I'm sure you won't be going back for services so over a long enough period you'll save the �589 in reduced service charges.

Probably not much of a consolation right now though I'm sure