Anyone swapped out front belts?

[got3fords]

Sounds like a major safety concern and any reputable shop should help address it. Also, I assume there is a switch in there so the computer knows it's latched? If you never use the passenger side swap them.

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[thewhiteranger]

double check the warranty coverage --- I believe seat belts are covered longer than normal 3/36 esp in ca --- maybe shoot some of the wd40 silicone down there???? its plastic and electronic safe and doesn't smell as bad as the regular wd40

 

[fjwlobo]

Under the factory warranty, your Ford vehicle's airbag Supplemental Restraint System, or SRS, and safety belts are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

[subquark]

Now, looking at it, it looks like there are four bolts holding the seat in. For those of you who've pulled the seat, does that sound right?

peterb

Yes just 4 bolts under plastic covers.
I think it’s a torx T40. I removed the seat to run wires into cab for side step lights. There’s a grommet under the seat so you can run wires into the cab. Besides the firewall.
[/QUOTE]
Yep, four bolts with tiny trim covers (that I marred because I'm that way - I took them all out for seat jacker install).

Now the wiring harness ... I was never able to get the airbag sensor disconnected, I tried and tried (and cussed a lot) but no luck (I wanted to disconnect to make it easier to put on neoprene seat covers). I even went online to see how the clip looks but still no love. Others have done it easily so here's hoping it's easy for you.

Post pics if you pop out your seats! =)

 

[pboggini]

Under the factory warranty, your Ford vehicle's airbag Supplemental Restraint System, or SRS, and safety belts are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

One would think but that appears to not be the case here. As mentioned, I spoke to the folks at Sunnyvale Ford and they wanted to inspect it having me make an appointment and then they'd determine if it's covered. So, I decided to stop by Frontier on the way home (since they never called me back). Pulled up, walked in, 4 service techs, no customers so I brought one out and showed him. He said "that looks like a defect to me." So he brought up my truck, put in the part and the computer told him that this part is not covered for my truck with 59,500 miles on it. He even said, "let me try a water pump since I know that's covered in the power train warranty". Sure enough, that came up as covered.

So, it seems to me that Ford has a mistake here and the buckle part of the belt is not properly ID'd as part of this system therefore these techs can't submit a warranty claim. He gave me Ford Customer Care's number so I called on the way home. The lady on the phone seemed to think it should be covered and suggested the service tech was doing something wrong. So, I turned around and went back and had her speak to the service tech live. He confirmed that he had no way to get this as a warranty claim since the system wouldn't ID the part as covered. We escalated to Financial Assistance and the person there took all the info, the cost of the part, the labor, etc and said "we can give you 40% of the cost." Hmm, that still leaves me with $147. Heck I can buy the part list for $95 and install it myself. The labor charge is only a half hour so it's indeed the 4 bolts holding the seat in (they recommend replacing those on a warranty claim) and the hex bolt.

We escalated that to the supervisor and he was extremely rude talking over me, giving me the excuse that there must be a valid reason Ford is denying this service claim, etc. I had him on speaker phone and you should have seen the looks on the faces of the techs, they were quite shocked at how this guy was treating me and "educating me". So much so that they apologized. The supervisor gave me a PO box to write to.

Got home, ate dinner and then contacted them via chat on the web. The person there created a case number and said "go to the dealer and give them this number." When I asked if that would allow them to override they said "no, there might be good reasons to not honor the warranty." When I pushed harder and told her that I think I had essentially done that she gave the the info for the "Marketing Team" who I'm supposed to call tomorrow.

Will keep you all posted on how this works out. Anyone have any contacts at Ford they think might be able to help?

peterb

 

[Frenchy]

From what I can tell you, regardless of said vehicle and manufacturer it is common practice to have the vehicle inspected to verify if it is under warranty. Why you ask? Simply to look for obvious signs of damage caused by the customer vs a defect in the said item being looked at. This is something I have to deal with quite often even in the Forklift Business.

 

[pboggini]

From what I can tell you, regardless of said vehicle and manufacturer it is common practice to have the vehicle inspected to verify if it is under warranty. Why you ask? Simply to look for obvious signs of damage caused by the customer vs a defect in the said item being looked at. This is something I have to deal with quite often even in the Forklift Business.

I suppose. But I actually did that today when I brought it to Frontier Ford today as he said it was in fact a
defect. What I've objected to in the past is what Capitol Ford and Sunnyvale like to do and that is to charge for the inspection and say if we determine it's a defect then you don't have to pay. That is just a good way to always get money from a customer.

Peterb

 

[Frenchy]

I suppose. But I actually did that today when I brought it to Frontier Ford today as he said it was in fact a
defect. What I've objected to in the past is what Capitol Ford and Sunnyvale like to do and that is to charge for the inspection and say if we determine it's a defect then you don't have to pay. That is just a good way to always get money from a customer.

Peterb

It's no surprise that one would be charged if it were customer damage even just for the inspection. Like it or not that is what it is

 

[pboggini]

It's no surprise that one would be charged if it were customer damage even just for the inspection. Like it or not that is what it is

The service techs at Frontier don't seem to agree with that approach. Sure if it's something they have to pull apart and takes a lot of time. This takes a minute or two including walking to the truck, opening the door and showing the tech.

Peterb

 

[fjwlobo]

One would think but that appears to not be the case here. As mentioned, I spoke to the folks at Sunnyvale Ford and they wanted to inspect it having me make an appointment and then they'd determine if it's covered. So, I decided to stop by Frontier on the way home (since they never called me back). Pulled up, walked in, 4 service techs, no customers so I brought one out and showed him. He said "that looks like a defect to me." So he brought up my truck, put in the part and the computer told him that this part is not covered for my truck with 59,500 miles on it. He even said, "let me try a water pump since I know that's covered in the power train warranty". Sure enough, that came up as covered.

So, it seems to me that Ford has a mistake here and the buckle part of the belt is not properly ID'd as part of this system therefore these techs can't submit a warranty claim. He gave me Ford Customer Care's number so I called on the way home. The lady on the phone seemed to think it should be covered and suggested the service tech was doing something wrong. So, I turned around and went back and had her speak to the service tech live. He confirmed that he had no way to get this as a warranty claim since the system wouldn't ID the part as covered. We escalated to Financial Assistance and the person there took all the info, the cost of the part, the labor, etc and said "we can give you 40% of the cost." Hmm, that still leaves me with $147. Heck I can buy the part list for $95 and install it myself. The labor charge is only a half hour so it's indeed the 4 bolts holding the seat in (they recommend replacing those on a warranty claim) and the hex bolt.

We escalated that to the supervisor and he was extremely rude talking over me, giving me the excuse that there must be a valid reason Ford is denying this service claim, etc. I had him on speaker phone and you should have seen the looks on the faces of the techs, they were quite shocked at how this guy was treating me and "educating me". So much so that they apologized. The supervisor gave me a PO box to write to.

Got home, ate dinner and then contacted them via chat on the web. The person there created a case number and said "go to the dealer and give them this number." When I asked if that would allow them to override they said "no, there might be good reasons to not honor the warranty." When I pushed harder and told her that I think I had essentially done that she gave the the info for the "Marketing Team" who I'm supposed to call tomorrow.

Will keep you all posted on how this works out. Anyone have any contacts at Ford they think might be able to help?

peterb

I guess using a play on words is how they get around not covering something under warranty. They say "SAFETY BELTS" not "SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM" and the seat belt latch isn't part of the "BELT." It's what the belt connects to.

I've said it before and I'll say it again!!!

I'ts just another example of how the manufacturer ? ? ?

??? - driver = S***WS YOU!!!

? ? ? ?

 

[pboggini]

I guess using a play on words is how they get around not covering something under warranty. They say "SAFETY BELTS" not "SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM" and the seat belt latch isn't part of the "BELT." It's what the belt connects to.

I've said it before and I'll say it again!!!

I'ts just another example of how the manufacturer ? ? ?

??? - driver = S***WS YOU!!!

? ? ? ?

It's also possible that it's just this part number. I'm going to see if my parts friend can look up a buckle for an F150 or something and see if it would be covered. I don't think anyone would believe in their mind that a seat belt part wouldn't be covered under a "safety restraint system" and even the Customer Care folks I've been talking to unanimously agree.

To me the frustrating part is that the system is rigid and no one seems to have the ability to override what seems like an obvious mistake.

Meanwhile, my last call to Customer Care got a lot of 1 out of 5 responses in the survey so I hope they call. And, I'm going to write a letter to the PO Box. In the end, I'm betting I'll end up buying the part thru my friend and replacing it myself. But, I'm hoping that if this is a bug and Ford normally does intend to cover the buckle I can get this fixed.

peterb

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

... But I actually did that today when I brought it to Frontier Ford today as he said it was in fact a defect. ...

What is the defect ? The red release button being too far out like in our pics ?

 

[pboggini]

What is the defect ? The red release button being too far out like in our pics ?

Actually no. The defect is that when I just push the belt end into the buckle, it won't latch. I have to just barely push on the rest release button and with the belt end in for it to latch. But, my concern is, it will get worse and to the point where it stops working all together.

Of course you are the only other one to post a pic but I assume that all of them are like that since yours is too and mine is just acting up.

peterb

 

[pboggini]

Decided to post on Instagram and Reddit for giggles and a Ford Service tech responded. Started chatting with him directly and he said the problem seems to be that the part is listed as a trim part so it's only covered under the 3 year 36 mile warranty. He put in a Mustang belt part number and my truck's VIN and it showed covered. Fun eh?

So now I'm updating my Customer Care case in the hopes that someone there will be driven enough to help me figure out how to get this actually fixed in the system, a different part number they can use, or some way to get me fully reimbursed for the work.

 

[pboggini]

Oh, I forgot to include this image from the documentation from my Premium Care extended warranty:

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