Stay away from New Brighton Ford, New Brighton Minnesota!!!

I went to New Brighton Ford to get my oil changed. I drive a 1999 Expy EB 5.7 with 88,000 miles.They change the oil and then it's time to pay the service writer, he says to me your truck needs a head gasket on the rightside. They told me it would cost around $1900.00 for both sides to fix it.

My truck never used any oil or antifreeze so I thought it was weird.

I went to the mechanic my dad uses they said they would do it for $1500.00 for both sides still alot.

I dropped the truck off 8 am, at 9 am I get a call from him and he says there is nothing wrong with my truck. The head gasket is not leaking your truck is fine.

I call the service manager at New Brighton Ford and told him that his service writer told me I need head gasket when I didn't. He says is the mechanic you took it to a Ford Certified Mechanic and I said no they are ASE Certified, then he says they don't know what they are looking at.

Thats a bunch of bull. New Brighton Ford tried to rip me off. they are crooked stay away from them if you need any repairs. I will never step foot in that Ford Dealership ever again.

 

See Bunny at Superior Ford if you want to try another dealership. I've had no problems with them and they service my '98 Expy, '02 Focus, and '04 Taurus. She is the tops as far as service contacts go.

 

I'd be calling a general manager and district manager. I had a bad experience with a body manager in Costa Mesa many years ago. Needless to say, he no longer works there.

 

I would have had them raise it in the air and show you where it is leaking or show you what they saw during the oil change that justified thier claim. If they can't show you, then an appology would be in store as well as at least a free oil change on your next trip in. Use this as a an opportunity to help the dealership get better, rather than to just get mad and not help the next guy who has this done to them. If a lube tech found the problem he may have less experience than your ASE certified tech. If a line tech found it and he can show you justification for his claim then you will at least know where the problem is. If the technician made a false claim to actually try to screw you as you imply then you can follow up with a complaint to the dealer owner and demand the technician be fired. He may not get fired but he sure as hell will get some serious heat from the head shed.

I do know that the 99 5.4 was notorious for head leaking problems so it may not be as outlandish as you may think. But there are some techs who are less than noble in thier work ethic. So the best thing to do in my opinion is to face them one on one and have them show you this leakage. I dont know a lot of techs who ENJOY doing headgasgets.

 

Sage advice John.

 

Thats too bad, I have had some good experiences at New Brighton Ford. Try Brookdale, thats where our truck came from, and also try Superior, I have had good experiences with them too.

 

I'm glad you got a second opinion...word to the wise...if you feel funny about it..get another opinion...