This is what happens if you break a half-shaft in Frankfurt
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I refer to Tony Chaston's write-up on Ford Service in Europe, (" What happens if you break a half-shaft in
Frankfurt ?" CM October 10). I think the main problem, from our point of view, was one of timing. When Chaston contacted me we had not launched the Transcontinental and could not therefore go into anything like the detail we would have liked to have done. Now that we have launched the Transcontinental in most countries across Europe, the picture has changed considerably.
The Ford Service in Europe booklet, referred to in the article, has been replaced by a later 1975 edition. This is a more comprehensive multi-lingual publication which carries break-down procedures, dealer addresses, telephone numbers and
service capabilities together with overseas Ford National Sales company addresses, telephone and telex numbers. It still does not have, however, the Daven try parts depot number or any of our European parts depot addresses or numbers, as it is a company policy that these locations are
contacted only through our approved dealerships.
Taking the Frankfurt exercise in this new light the procedure would be roughly as follows : By referring to his Ford Service book the driver would find that there are three Ford Truck specialist dealers nearby, one in Frankfurt City itself, one in Mainz and another in Weiskirchen. The latter on the outskirts of Frankfurt is a Transcontinental specialist dealer.
By turning to the Transcontinental illustrated parts guide, which is supplied with all Transcontinental models, the driver would find the axle half-shaft reference of his particular vehicle (there are only four different half-shafts in the complete Transcontinental range).
A telephone call or message to the dealer at Weiskirchen, quoting the failed half-shaft reference, would start the repair.
The half-shaft and appropriate gaskets would he drawn from the dealer stock (they are standard stocking items for this dealer) and a roadside repair would be made by the dealer using his own service vehicle.
The Transcontinental, being less than 12 months old, would be repaired at no charge as our overseas companies carry the warranty costs of visiting operators. Whilst all Transcontinental dealers hold a stock of fast-moving parts to provide immediate service, any nonstocked part required is obtained by the dealer from the Ford parts distribution centre in Cologne (for the German market). Cologne is part of the Ford European distribution depot network all of which have an automatic referral system for non-depot stock items at the Transcontinental depot at Daventry and from January 1976 at the Transcontinental European master-supply depot at Amsterdam, All emergencyordered parts are shipped direct from the supplying depot to the ordering dealer by the fastest transport available. G. R. GRACE,
Chief Press Officer, Commercial Vehicles,
Public Affairs, Ford Motor Co Ltd.