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How to handle the dealer service?

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Pure anxiety and fueled by stories of friends' experiences...
I need to go to the dealer for track key and exhaust rattle (known right side clearance issue) on my 2013 grabber blue #1601.

Concern: they will have the car for a day or two and when I get it back the door is dinged, there's 20 more miles on the odometer. (1/8 mile at a time) and 2 mm less tread. Plus...they only had one BOSS allocation for the year so have little experience.

Video car ahead of time, talk to dealer, monitor track apps??

Don't want to sound like a ####, but I Love this Boss and want to keep it straight and stock
 
Depends on your dealer. You can fix the rattle in 5 minutes without lifting the car, if it is the same clearance issue as the 12s, using a 15 mm (iirc) ratcheting socket and just being careful aligning everything when you tighten it up. I went to over the top route and split the spot weld and rotated the sleeve 20 degrees so no issues anymore with trying to align it when I remove the pipes. Another permanent fix would be to just cut off the end of the bolt, it is longer than needs to be, but you have to be careful to not ruin the threads. It is the bolt on the sleeve clamp in the middle of the side pipe.

TK install should take an hour or so of actual work, and it does not require them to do anything but sit in the car with a laptop afaik. Depending on the dealer, they may let you stand there and watch. They probably will want to do a test drive after install, you can probably go with them if you ask. It all depends on how the service department is run and how "nice" they are. I would try to take it to a place that has done TK before to avoid issues, which some people were having with the 12s. My dealer had no issues, the guys were nice, and the service rep has a crush on my sister since I brought her there for some warranty work on her Explorer. The other dealership I dealt with, I wouldn't let them change the oil on my work truck after the PITA they were to deal with for another issue.

What region are you in? Someone may know a good dealership near you.
 
Good stuff. I'm in Boston area. Will take a look at the pipes as I was planning on experimenting with removing restrictors. If anyone knows Carlise Massachusetts, I'm in for trouble. Cops on every corner. Been pulled over 3 times in 2 years for courtesy and safety checks and that was in a Prius. God help me in a Grabber Blue BOSS without restrictors.
 
It is loud with them out, but it isn't stupid loud since it still has cats and the side pipes are pretty restrictive so a lot of the noise still comes out the rear mufflers. You can play with different sized holes, 3/4 - 7/8 seem to be what most people like. I actually cut a set out of sheet metal and slotted the bolt holes so you don't have to remove the pipes, just crack the bolts and slide the plates in or out. But I never put them in anymore, LE is pretty friendly here.

There is a guide on here somewhere about fixing the rattle, but basically you just loosen the bolt at the tip and the two at the flange then the one on the band, and apply some muscle to twist it in the band a bit. The band is spot welded to one side of the pipe, but spins on the other, so just need to twist the right one. It does take a little muscle the first time, and the band bolt has to be really loose. It needs to be turned enough that the bolt has like 1/2" of clearance, but turning it too much puts the elbow in the pipe pointed down which causes clearance issues on speed bumps and stuff. There is also some play at the flange to twist it. I ended up having to shim the bolt over the tip with some washers to get them to hang right after clearancing. It can be done on the ground if your arms aren't too short, or easily on ramps or a jack stand. The ratcheting box wrench is the key, one of the flange bolts does not have clearance for a socket so otherwise you are doing a lot of 1/8 rotation turns having to keep putting the wrench on and off the bolt.

Personally I don't like letting the dealer put my car on a lift, I have had the pinches damaged too many times on other cars when they don't use a pad, and on this car there is a chance they will smash up the side pipes. Plus, you will have to deal with alignment every time you mess with the baffles so might as well learn how it works the first time.
 
With my BOSS I had the dealer I purchased from fix the right side rattle - same as you. Must be pretty common.

I had my Track Key install done by a dealership that specializes in Ford motorsports. Call/Shop around in your area for the TK install if they have never done it IMO. I'ts just not worth the hassle if you have to wait a day or more for them to figure out that ya need XYZ to get it done.

GL man - a guy round the block from me has a 13 GB - i'ts awesome looking
 
So don't need the original dealer for the track key? Il start researchingg. Ford moot sports specialist shops. There are a. Dozen ford dealers within an hour or so from me. Sure to find one. Thanks
 
Boss1601 said:
So don't need the original dealer for the track key? Il start researchingg. Ford moot sports specialist shops. There are a. Dozen ford dealers within an hour or so from me. Sure to find one. Thanks

Nope - you can go to any Ford dealer/service for anything. Your not tethered to the dealership you purchased it from.

Rob
 

ace72ace

Zaino, I put that $hit on everything
1,242
71
You can also order the TK tune from Tousley Ford as I read they have the lowest price on it, about 229$ I think. Then all you will have to pay is labor. My TK install took 3 tries, but they finally got it right. Small dealership in southern NH that is also a Roush dealer. They also had only 1 allocation and I ordered mine for MSRP on April 1st and took delivery July 3rd. M&M Ford was great to deal with, as they know how fanatical some Mustang owners can be, including me. I had asked that they don't touch it at all, or even wash it and they took care of me.

When I finally got the TK installed, the service manager drove the car from where they had it stashed inside and I noticed that he took the car to drive around 2 big puddles that were in the parking lot. Not a big deal but an indication as to how they take care of their customers 'special Mustangs'.

It's about 70 miles from your town to Epsom, but I can tell you for sure that they will be able to bang out the TK install for you quickly, and take care of your Boss. Their service guys put a plastic cover on the Recaro drivers seat and put the courtesy cardboard floor mat in also. Again, all the little things add up. They have a small waiting room with free coffee, TV, and wifi just in case you decide to give them a call and see if you think the drive is worth the wait.

I recall that Acton Ford had a few allocations and that place is a lot closer to you, but I have no personal experience with their service dept or know if they have ever installed TK. My bet would be yes as they are a fairly large dealer and I think they had a couple of '12 allocations last year.

I commute from southern NH to Littleton off 495 & 119 exit for work, so I'm in the area 3 days a week. Would be nice to see a GB Boss again after I saw the one at the NEAS in Boston this past Januaury. Might be nice to meet for a coffee or a beer some time, I've yet to see any '13 Boss around, and only saw a '12 once this past year parked right across the street at my office.
 
Someone on here has to be close and know of a good dealer. I have never had problems with dealers just go in and let them now of you expectations and make sure you tell your service manager he is the only one you want to drive the car. You will have no problems once he relizes you are one of those ;D Works for me ::)
 
ace72ace said:
I commute from southern NH to Littleton off 495 & 119 exit for work, so I'm in the area 3 days a week. Would be nice to see a GB Boss again after I saw the one at the NEAS in Boston this past Januaury. Might be nice to meet for a coffee or a beer some time, I've yet to see any '13 Boss around, and only saw a '12 once this past year parked right across the street at my office.


Cool. Lots of kids keep me busy in evenings and crazy job (though it paid for the Boss) keeps me busy, but would be great to see another boss & owner as I haven't seen either yet!
 

ace72ace

Zaino, I put that $hit on everything
1,242
71
Thank me when the TK install is done and you giggling like a teenager as you drive down the road with the red key in the ignition. ;D
 
ace72ace said:
Thank me when the TK install is done and you giggling like a teenager as you drive down the road with the red key in the ignition. ;D
Thank you ;D

Had it done Tuesday was in and out within an hour no issues. I'm loving it!
 

ace72ace

Zaino, I put that $hit on everything
1,242
71
Boss1601 said:
To help some recent posts on other threads I'll inquire if this dealer thinks removing the restrictor plates will damage the engine.

If they answer yes, find another dealer. Would Ford engineers made the plates removable if they could damage the engine? Time to squash this internet rumor once and for all, it's one of the silliest things I've ever heard. One thing Boss owners learned starting last year that there seems to have been zero training or information disseminated to the dealer network regarding *anything* about the Boss. Not the unique oil capacity, track key programming, track attack, owners kit, restrictor plates, nothing.
 

Boostd4

Relapsed Turbo Addict
161
0
For you NorCal guys, Sunnyvale Ford did mine (and CaliMR's as well IIRC) and they were great. In and out in about 2 hours and they put .1 miles on my car, basically moving it in and out of the shop. Bruce is the guy you'll want to speak with, very stand up dealer. ;)
 

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