Jacobus V

Incompetency of Paarl Novel Ford

“I am 74 years old, have been driving Ford for the last 30 plus years. All my Ford’s has been serviced by Novel. Most of them I also bought at Novel Ford Stellenbosch or Paarl. Please bear with me while I explain my problem. For the first time something happened that I never experienced before. I took my bakkie in for a service at Paarl Novel Ford, mileage 106 000 km. Two days later when I switched on the radio for the first time after the service nothing happens. I took my vehicle back to Paarl Novel Ford and was told that if I take off the neutral pole from the battery and leave it off for a hour, then put back the battery connection, it usually rectify itself. If not, I need to bring in the vehicle and a software update will be done. The first step did not work. I then booked my vehicle for a software update and took it in on 18 September. At the end of the day, I was told that I must replace the whole unit for an amount of R 64 578. I was later told that I only need to replace the central Proce unit (APIM) for R26 974 plus some. My problem is as follows: I brought my vehicle in for a service, photos were taken of the vehicle all around to make sure that Novel Paarl is not liable for existing damage to the vehicle, but nothing inside was checked that I know off. When I got my vehicle back the radio was “broken” and did not work. Although I was given the assurance that the radio was not touched during the service, I do not think that I should be liable for replacing the radio that was working before I took the vehicle in for a service at Novel Ford, and is now not working after the service. My problem is: I took my vehicle in for a service with a radio that was in perfect working condition. Some sort of electronic diagnostic device might have been connected to the vehicle - I do not know. According to the garage the fact that my radio just stop working is a Ford problem and not their problem.