Got told by the shop that the heater in the fuel filter housing has corroded away, and they want to replace the whole housing.
Quoted $1,200 ($700 for housing, $50 in gaskets, and $500 labor)

I'm thinking this is ridiculous, I replaced all the gaskets on it about 5 years ago, and noticed no major issues on it at the time.
And the cost seems just crazy... this shop has also botched some repairs in the past, costing me time and money to redo, but it's the only diesel shop in 30 miles.

 

I'd be getting my truck out of there ASAP if I were you.

First off, something smells fishy. The amount they are trying to charge is also way too high. One of my coworkers got the fuel filter housing on his 7.3 replaced at a Ford dealership for under $700 2 years ago.

What did you bring the truck into the shop for originally?

 

Fluid changes, brakes, maintenance, they prob inspected the filter as they were doing it - but to replace the whole bowl seems... nuts, everything in it was repairable if I remember correctly.
They claimed if the heater fell apart, it'd short, and it's on the same fuse as the fuel pump, and I'd be stuck (possibly a true fact, I'd rather not stall on the freeway)
I found the whole bowl assembly for $249 new (I assume), Motorcraft parts, but yah, nearly $1,200 to do that seems crazy

 

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/fuel-...element-99-03/

Heater for $40 and 30 minutes to replace.

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/compl...ssembly-99-03/

Entire fuel bowl for $310 and less than 1.5 hours to replace.

That shop owner should be arrested and charged with robbery... If you cannot do the work yourself, drive further. No way I would pay a fraction of that.

Alternatively you can just remove the heater and unplug it from the back of the housing for free if you are not in the great north. I have doubts that the heater is even corroded and they misdiagnosed your original reason for taking it to that shop in the first place.

Talk to us... let us know what is or is not happening.

EDIT: You replied while I was typing. The heater is on the same circuit as the PCM and the connector can be removed from the heater on the back of the bowl while you figure out how to proceed.

 

Sweet, thanks for that advice - I forgot about Riffraff diesel parts.
Been driving this truck for almost 7 years, but besides wear items (and a turbo), nothing has needed much work - so hearing a fuel bowl that costs nearly as much as the turbo, I was like, wtf?

 

I would forget that that shop exists except to warn others that they do.

 

I'll post the name of it here, and quote tomorrow, after I pull my truck out

 

Where do you live? If it isn't really cold there then just unplug it and move on. You can take it out later of just leave it there to look like $1200 in your pocket.

 

As Sous mentioned do it yourself. I am a shadetree mechanic mostly jeeps but I have extensively rehabbed ,y 01 Excursion 7.3. Fuel bowl was easy

 

The only reason you need to replace that bowl is if you can see daylight through it.......