I don't know call me crazy, but I take my Expy to the "stealership" today for a 10k service, w/$35 coupon. No biggie right, well after gouging me $9 for fuel injector cleaner, which I am more than okay with getting since I only use mid-grade fuel, and I only add the FI cleaner at oil changes. I decide, let me head on over to the PARTS counter and get an extra CD magazine for my upcoming long road trip.

Parts:We don't stock that, its special order
Me: Fair enough, how long?
Parts: Couple a days.
Me: Okay, How much?
Parts: Lessee, that'll be $80.
Me: no, I only need 1.
Parts: that is the price for 1 magazine.
Me: I could by a new CD player for that price. I walk.

Now I don't mind paying a fair price for things, I understand that people need to eat too, but c'mon $80 for 1 sq ft of plastic. Am I being too cheap here? Has it been that long since I priced out CD Changers. The magazines for my Lexus are cheaper for cryin' out loud, and those are Nakamichi and Mark Levinson, not Visteon.

 

Check ebay for the magazine.
I'm sure there's some there.

 

I remember back in about 94 or 95 going to buy an extra magazine for my JVC CD Changer and it costing around $50 Canadian so $80 from Ford doesn't surprise me that much.

 

For $80, I think I would rather pull over in a rest area for 5 minutes to switch discs

 

we had to get a new keyless entry pad and it cost like $50 to replace the whole thing. the parts guy said "yeah its a ridiculous price sorry about that"

 

Ouch
I am glad I have a aftermarket CD Changer.

Do a search, I think I remember seeing a post a while ago, that said it is the same as a clarion cartridge.

Bring it to a car stereo place maybee they can find a match for you.

Good luck

Don

 

the 6 disc changer in the lightning is the same as my aftermarket clarion changer..

 

well after gouging me $9 for fuel injector cleaner,


Let's see mid-grade fuel , injector cleaner at 10K miles ?????

I hear your plight but I just don't get your strategy .

Most mid-grade fuel contains ethanol which equals poor gas mileage . Use a quality regular and forget the the injector cleaner . Which is probably nothing but a fuel additive that Chevron already offers as part of their blend in regular gas .

My suggestion is do a little homework before spending your hard earned cash. I don't mean to flame , just trying to help keep money in your pocket for some good mods .

 

I see your point about him running the mid-grade gas. It offers no performance or any other gain. And it can actually increase carbon deposits due to its higher flash point (i.e. its harder to ignite.) These engines do not require higher octane gas and it is a waste to use it.

But I have to take issue with your comment about ethanol. In many areas of the country all grades of gasoline are blended with 10% ethanol...like here in MN. When used in a 90/10 blend there is very little if any effect on MPG. If he was to see reduced MPG with the mid-grade gas then it was likely due to the higher octane gas and its lower energy content. There are alot of people who have been misinformed about the "ill-effects" of ethanol on an engine. In fact there are none.

Ethanol gets a bad rap but I know that it is untrue. Due to where I live I run ethanol blended gas at all times, I have no choice. And I still get 14-17 MPG with my '93 Chevy 350. My brother lives up on the MN - ND border in Moorhead. When I get non-ethanol gas up there my MPG does not change.

 

I'll agree that ethanol blended fuels offer slightly, and I emphasize the slighty, lower fuel mileage. Studies have shown fuel mileage drops in the neighborhood of 1-3%. In my own experience, over 6 years of record keeping on the '97 F150, I have seen a difference of .1mpg between the two, which equates to .6% lower fuel mileage (I average 17 mpg on the '97). All gas in MN has ethanol in it (state law), not just the midgrade. I spend a lot of time on the road outside of MN, and I just haven't seen the difference to be that extensive.

 

Crutchfield's offers magazines for Clarion model CAA-355 for $29.99

www.crutchfield.com

 

There's Etronics.com also. $22.99

http://www.Etronics.com

 

What's the Ford Part # on your CD mag? I heard not all are interchangeable.

As for my reasoning on the mid-grade gas, I don't really know why I do it. In my other car it requires prem, so I use prem.. I guess I am using the "if it costs more it has to be better" logic, but I've never had issues doing it this way.

On the fuel injector cleaner...its probably the only thing I'll let the dealership "upsell" me on when I go in for my oil changes.

Probably doesn't matter much anyway since I'll probably be selling the Expy in the summer.