CONTACTS 
0201 - S & C Ford                         415 553 4400 fax or 800...
020101 - Mr. Bob Radcliff; Manager; Service Department     =Telephone/fax

SUBJECTS
Millie's Mercury Sable, 940423
Service after trip to San Diego, Warranty
Change Oil, Rotate Tires, Fix back door

0505 -    ..
0506 - Summary/Objective
0507 -
050701 - Follow up ref SDS 14 0000, ref SDS 13 0000.
050702 -
050703 - The invoice shows a charge of $83.81.
050704 -
050705 - May have wheel alignment or some other problem that causes vibration
050706 - and car to drive off line.  Scheduled inspection by S&C and corrective
050707 - work at no charge with respect to wheel balance and alignment.
050708 -
050709 -
050710 -
050711 -  ..
0508 -
0509 -
0510 - Discussion
0511 -
051101 - Talked to Larry, the Assistant Service Manager, because Bob has left
051102 - for the day.
051103 -
051104 - We have another 200 miles to 36K miles.  Millie wants to be sure all
051105 - warranty work is performed before the warranty mileage limit is
051106 - reached.
051107 - ..
051108 - Reviewed discussion with Bob on 950928, ref SDS 13 9453, and
051109 - analysis at ref SDS 13 0896
051110 -
051111 - Advised of problem report on 950927. ref SDS 12 9640
051112 -
051113 - Larry said front breaks wear faster than rear brakes.
051114 -
051115 - He thinks the first measurement taken on 950407 was likely inaccurate,
051116 - ref SDS 1 5555.
051117 -
051118 - Larry did not indicate how the second measurement could have been
051119 - taken more accurately.
051120 -
051121 - Larry said that if the rear brakes have worn faster than the front
051122 - brakes, it would have caused a significant driving problem.  He feels
051123 - that since we have not noticed such a problem, it indicates S&C erred
051124 - in reporting the amount of brake wear on 950407. ref SDS 1 5555
051125 -
051126 -     [On 961006 Larry submitting issues to Ford for further analysis.
051127 -     ref SDS 15 9649]
051128 -
051129 - Larry said significant change in the wear on the brake linings is not
051130 - likely the cause of the problems we encountered after S&C rotated the
051131 - tires and performed other service on 950906.
051132 - ..
051133 - Larry said that vibration reported on 950927, ref SDS 12 9640,
051134 - indicates the tires may need to be balanced and/or aligned as a result
051135 - of the rotation S&C performed.
051136 -
051137 - He described a tire problem called "cupping" that can be determined by
051138 - running a hand over the tire tread surface.  Larry noted that, since
051139 - "cupping" is not mentioned in S&C's the invoice, ref DRP 6, it is
051140 - likely the mechanic did not find this problem with our tires.
051141 - ..
051142 - Larry advised that "cords" could have slipped in the tires, but
051143 - he feels this is not likely because it is very serious and so would
051144 - have caused a very significant problem in driving.  The S&C attendants
051145 - would have felt it in moving the vehicle in the shop, and we would
051146 - have noticed it while driving to S&C's shop and subsequent.  Larry
051147 - said our reports of a slight pull to the right and vibration on the
051148 - passenger side are more consistent with alignment and wheel balance
051149 - problems.
051150 -
051151 -     [On 951009 S&C reports tires failed due to cord slippage, had to
051152 -     be replaced. ref SDS 16 9653]
051153 -
051154 -     [On 991006 warranty on Firestone tires says vibration indicates
051155 -     tire failure that can cause injury and death. ref SDS 17 1980]
051156 -
051157 - Larry said the tires could have been out of alignment and/or out of
051158 - balance prior to rotation even though we did not notice any problems
051159 - prior to S&C rotating the tires on 950906, because rear tires out of
051160 - alignment and out of balance do not cause vibration and pull.  He said
051161 - that when the tires were rotated to the front, this is the most likely
051162 - cause of the pull and vibration.
051163 - ..
051164 - I asked why and under what circumstances rear tires can be out
051165 - of balance and alignment, when the front tires are not.  Rear tires
051166 - are on a fixed axle, and so seem less susceptible to problems than do
051167 - front tires.  So the question arises whether the process of rotating
051168 - the tires caused the problems?
051169 -
051170 - Larry said he is not sure about these matters, but S&C wants to fix
051171 - it.  He said S&C will inspect the vehicle to determine what is causing
051172 - the problems we have encountered.  If the tires need to be aligned or
051173 - balanced, S&C will perform this at no charge.
051174 -
051175 - He will prepare a report for Barbara Stone to take care of.
051176 -
051177 - We scheduled a visit for Monday 951009 0900.
051178 -
051179 -      [On 951009 S&C reported finding damaged tire, and recommended
051180 -      replacement. ref SDS 15 9653]
051181 -
051182 -
051183 -
0512 -