I know this is not truck related, however it is a Ford svc. issue. My wife took her 97 Taurus w/ duratec in today due to severe hesitation and engine svc. light on.

The dlr. charged $100 just to hook up and diagnose on the computer. Then said that it needed a sensor(intake runner sensor or something like that), a spark plug in the #5 bank, a fuel injector and air intake cleaning, and to have the computer reprogramed. The total came to over $500!!!

I contacted the dealer to question this. The rep said that this was the reccomended fix and the computer would be reset to "new" suggested parameters at the cost of $80.

I told the dlr. to replace the faulty sensor and send it home.

I didn't notice a rough idle, as a faulty plug would suggest. I did however, clean the intake using over-the-counter products and unhook the battery to reset the computer. The car runs as good as the day we bought it!

Am I missing something or was the dealer trying to get a few extra bucks from our checking account?

Thanks, in advance, for your responce.

Darin

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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.

 

The dealer wasn't trying to screw you. He was informing you of the DTC's stored in the computer. The plug DTC could have been a freak occurence and set a code. The sensor could have been bad and set a code. The hesitation is more than likley due to a dirty T-body, fuel injs. and intake (I see this many times a week). Just because everybody has horror stories about dealers doesn't mean every dealer is trying to screw you. And another thing, the extra service he was trying to sell you is not only his job and how he/she feeds his/her family, but it is also a sign of good customer service. You did take the care to the dealer, they told you what was wrong. You may or may not like it, but what if you went into the doctor and he/she didn't tell you that your kidneys were failing (or something else). You would not be very happy when your kidneys did fail (or something else), I know I would not be very happy.
Sorry for the long post, it just pisses me off when people complain for the wrong reasons.

 

dlsipe:
Just be thankful you have the know-how and motivation to do the maintenance...just think how many poor souls out there fall for the story the service rep tells. If I had everything done that a service rep said was needed, I wouldn't be broke, I'd be bankrupt!!! I love it when they call you up after the veh has been there for a few hours and the rep wants approval to do something or other for another couple hundred bucks...I always tell them no, just fix the problem I brought it in for. I just know they make a lot of extra money this way.

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'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4, 3.55 rearend,
bodyside mouldings, Snugtop hard tonneau, K&N dropin and airbox mod.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck. Ford 2-piece bra. Catch-All floor mats.
No door cracks yet at 6K!!!

Future mods: 2/4 lowering, and some Roush stuff.

 

dlsipe:
I would say the dealer was totaly honest with you on what needed done. I would have taken the whole nine yards.

 

Yeah, what 98sleeper said.....

It bothers me too when people gripe about their dealers. When we suggest extra work to be done, the mechanic working on the vehicle feels it is necessary. I wouldn't recommend any work to be done, that is not needed. Brakes low, tires worn, belts glazed/cracked, etc... It's the stuff you notice while doing what it was brought in for. Sure, the added bonus is more work to put food on your table, but the customer benefits too by having their vehicle in tip top shape. Wouldn't you be pissed if you left the dealership with a cracked belt and it failed on the way home, or within a couple weeks.... Why didn't the mechanic see it, he was under the hood.... Why are my brakes metal to metal..... when the mechanic rotated the tires, didn't he see the pads were low? We are just doing our job. It's caring for the customers vehicle, and making money to put food on our tables for our families to eat. I don't know of one guy I work with that would try to sell something that wasn't needed, or wouldn't improve the vehicles performance (I don't mean horsepower either).

If you can do some or all of the work at home, then great, be thankful that the mechanic was skilled enough to suggest certain things be performed. So you opted to clean the intake yourself, rather than pay the dealer to do it. That's good.... Remember, they are there to fix your car, and keep it performing well.

All the complaints of dealers....what about experiences with some garages??? I'm sure somebody has had a bad experience or two with a garage. To boot, they don't have the resources available to them as the dealers do. Oasis, certain Ford Rotunda tools, the best darn service and evtm manuals (although the new evtm's suck). And there is a better chance that your dealer has dealt with and fixed a problem similar to your vehicle's problem. Some stuff garages just don't know how to do... (we get 'em towed in occasionally).

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Kenwood am/fm cassette head unit, Ford bugshield, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, Lund Premier tonneau cover, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)




[This message has been edited by Sycoholic (edited 05-17-2000).]

 

Guys, I appreciate your input. I was was weary of paying $150 to have the injectors and intake cleaned, and paying $50 for changing one spark plug. I guess for those who can't do those things themselves, they must pay the price. Just seemed a bit steep to me.

I am very familiar with the "art" of suggested selling. I used to manage a restaurant and man, we used to try to nail a customer for every side, salad and dessert that we could. Whether they needed it or not, we tried to push extra items on their tab, so I am very attentive to sales practices.

For those Tech's who have responded, please don't be offended, but I am sure if it was your $ being spent, you'd want to know if it was well intended or not.

All in all, the dealer suggested over $500 worth of work. I paid $100 for the diagnosis, $120 for the faulty sensor, and about $10 worth of parts & cleaning solutions.
Unplugged the battery to reset the computer and saved about $280.

So those of you who took offense, please don't fault me for trying to protect my hard earned dollars.

I have worked with this dlr. before, and been less than delighted with their techs, however, they are the only dealer that could get my wife's car in within a 2 week period of time in our immediate area.

Again, I appreciate your input on this. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think there were some good people who can provide honest answers on this site.

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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.


[This message has been edited by dlsipe (edited 05-17-2000).]