THSCC Forums

I have almost exclusively used Capital Ford Parts Dept. (Rick at 790-4670) for procuring FoMoCo parts for my 3L Duratec build. They have been more than helpful and enthusiastic, and when they don't have the parts on the shelf they've been able to get them by lunch the next day.

Also, the Heel and Toe is incorrect (and perhaps it should stay that way) because the price that they've been charging to me as a THSCC member is actually wholesale + tax rather than the advertised 10% off.

Now, let's see how long it takes for me to actually turn the key and drive her off (damn_work).

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Capital Ford is still excellent.

I've needed a couple small items for the new to me 99 F250. Beth, the woman who appears to manage the parts counter, is awesome. One of the two parts was in stock; the other had to be ordered, and was there by lunchtime the next day. In both cases, I paid wholesale plus tax as a business owner.

I've also been to their service department twice, and they're also excellent. The first was for the famous cam position sensor recall. I was in and out of there in less than an hour. Today, I took it in for a coolant flush. I also requested that they check for leaks (I thought I may have seen one), and replace the radiator hoses. Half an hour after I got there, the service adviser, Taylor Casper, called me over, with the technician by his side. He said they had pressure tested the system and found no leaks. The technician then walked me back to the bay and asked me to point out where I thought there was a leak. Sure enough, there was none - it was bone dry, with the pressure test still showing fine. He also recommended that I not bother to have the hoses replaced. "These are pretty new - we can replace them if you'd like, but if it were me, I wouldn't." I've never had a dealer service department talk me *out* of spending money before! Total cost with the leak check, system flush and coolant, and the hazardous waste disposal fees was $158.60, which seemed quite fair to me. I was out the door in two hours.

They also provided (both times) an "Inspection Report Card." They check and fill the basic fluids, the brakes, lights, drive belts, the lot. They actually check the stuff too - under Transmission, the tech wrote "no dipstick," which is true - it's a manual transmission - and the washer fluid was now full. They even measure the tread depth on the tires. The driver's seat and floor were covered to keep them clean.

They don't have a fancy waiting room or an espresso bar, but they do have WiFi. They're also well priced, honest, and fast. Two enthusiastic thumbs up from me.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I've also had awesome customer service from Beth in Parts when I've needed stuff for the rally Focus.

Simon

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< http://usukracing.com >
2011 & 2010 Atlantic Rally Cup 2WD Champion
2010 Rally America Eastern Regional 2WD Champion
2009 Atlantic Rally Cup M2 Champion
2008 New York Rally 2WD Championship 2nd Place
2007 Rally Spec Focus Champion

+1, i had the heavy duty truck dept do a complete fluids change and checkup on the excursion just after i bought it. they not only did a fine job in one day, they also weren't any more expensive than a couple of independent places i called.

Jason, is the heavy truck department the one on Millbrook road, across from Target and Lowe's Foods? That's where I went. Now that you mention it, pretty much everything I saw there was a truck.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

To provide a little balance. . .

I was relatively UNHAPPY with the service that was provided for my truck. I took the Ranger to them complaining of the brakes locking up too easily. They claimed that the master cylinder needed to be replaced and that the brake hardware needed to be replaced, and that it would be approximately $1000. Needless to say, I said "give me my truck back". I took it to a local place here in Sanford and they cleared things up a bit. The master cylinder was the source of the ABS light b/c the float switch in it was broken. This had nothing to do with the early lockup. The hardware was a bit dirty, but was salvageable. The problem was in the brake adjuster (not included in the hardware kit they were going to sell me). They cleaned things up, replaced the adjuster, adjusted the brakes for me, told me how to jumper the switch in the master cylinder (or said I could just live with it, that it wouldn't have any adverse affects, which was true). It totally fixed the problem, and cost me $100 (the same amount Capital Ford charged me as an incorrect "diagnosis").

I recognize that recommending you "ignore" an ABS light on the dash or telling you how to jumper a switch isn't something that a dealership can ever do but the fact is that they recommended $1000 worth of service that wouldn't even have fixed my problem and charged me a diagnostic fee for an incorrect analysis of the problem. Needless to say, I appreciate the honesty that this local place provided me (Gordon Enterprises in Sanford, if you're curious, they are awesome), and they seem to be suited to those who do some maintenance on their own, while relying on the shop for bigger stuff.

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

it's on the corner of millbrook and green, just west of crapital, presumably that's the spot you're talking about as well. i want to say that's their main location but don't quote me on that.

Yep, that's the place I went to. Just making sure I had it right.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Well, as good as Capital Ford has been to me, University Ford in downtown Durham was the opposite. I'm not impressed.

On Monday, the parking brake cable on the F250 broke, and the brake was stuck partially in the on position. I wasn't about to drive it like that, so I had it towed to University Ford, because they're pretty close to work. When I picked up the truck, the guy drove it out for me, and when he parked it, the cable IMMEDIATELY broke again. Awesome. He crawls under the truck and fishes out the cable, then takes it back to a bay to have it re-fixed, I guess. About 40 minutes later my truck was returned, actually fixed this time, or so I hope. The same tech showed me what had broken this morning, and was quick to point out that they "ate the cost of that part." I responded that "I should hope so." No response.

At some point, they also managed to bend the "Capital Ford" front license plate, which I found funny. When I pointed it out to the service adviser, she said, "the tow truck guy must have done that." Well, I watched the tow truck guy. He didn't. I let it go.

Like Capital, University gives you a "report card" of sorts with any work done. Unlike Capital's, which showed evidence to support the notion that they actually checked some stuff, University's didn't. "Transmission (if equipped with dipstick) was checked "OK." It doesn't have a dipstick. Further, the "Check Brakes" section was left completely blank. Including the checkbox that says, "Brake measurements not taken this visit." When I asked the adviser about this, she told me that, "if it's blank, it means he didn't do it."

I kind of hope they'll send me a CSI survey, but I'm guessing they won't.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)