[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-17-03 AT 09:04 AM (EST)]Took my '99 EB 5.4 in for a tune up, and asked them to check some other noises. Just got the call back on what everything's going to cost.

Tune up -- $199, I expected that

Sticky accelerator -- Upper intake area needs cleaning, because it's all gunked up -- $98

Noise in rear end -- leaky pinion seal at end of axle, and low on fluid -- $211

Am I being taken? This is at the dealership.....

 

Did you authorize the work?

 

Yeah, I did.....why? Bad idea?

 

Well you basically OK them to fix the problems, which they did. As far as getting rooked it doesn't seem like they did.

The Pinion seal would take a bit to fix would imagine you have to drop the drive shaft, remover the yoke, and then remove and replace the seal, the reassemble. Then refilling with the synthetics had to cost a couple of $$$$. So $211.00 doesn’t seem that bad.

If you think you got rooked ask them, they base there charges of a book that sets labor rates for services performed.

 

I'll admit, part of my problem is that I've moved from maintenance on an '89 Pontiac Sunbird (cheap cheap!) to maintanenace on a '99 Expy. When I got the estimate for the tune up, my jaw hit the floor! I never paid more than $60 for a tune up in my life!! :-staun

So, to me, these prices all seem high. I know logically I've got a bigger vehicle, with more gewgaws, more moving parts, more technical difficulty, etc. But emotionally, that total was a stunner, and it made my checkbook cry.

 

What is their shop rate ?



Dennis

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>
>Am I being taken? This is at the dealership.....




You get taken at a Dealership 99% of the time.

 

redvet I'm going to have to argue with you about that one.
Sorry if you've had bad experiences at dealers but you're not going to convince me that most dealers rip off people and are still open.
I'm a tech at a Ford dealer. Sure sometimes we charge more than other places do but have training and special tools to do the job right in a decent amount of time.
We regularly fix vehicles that backyarders, tire stores, independant shops etc have thrown hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of parts and time at and still havent fixed the problem. Would you rather have an inexperienced mechanic spend 6 hours at $50 an hour or a Ford tech spend 2 hours at $75 an hour to fix your problem. Never mind all the parts that the inexperienced guy throws at it.
I'm not going to say that no one but a Ford dealer should fix your vehicle though because I've seen some backyarders and small shop guys that I would trust with anything I owned. I've also seen some that didnt know which end of their screwdriver to hit with their claw hammer.
As for parts prices the genuine Ford parts dont always cost more. If you shop around you'll find that Ford has lowered the prices on a lot of commonly replaced parts to compete with the aftermarket and most of the time the quality is better. We see that lots.
I also wont try to tell you that some shops wont rip people off. Some do. So do some doctors, accountants, carpenters, gorcery stores etc. Ask around and get people's recommendations as to where is a good place to go. Dont lump us all into one category of rip off artists. If you're not sure about a quote you get take it somewhere else and get a second opinion.
Quite often people are their own worst enemies too. Men are especially bad because we figure that seeing that we're male we have to know about all things mechanical when some of us really shouldn't even try.
I once saw a car get towed in. The customer said it wouldn't start....needed a new fuel filter. The tech pushed the car in, replaced the filter and pushed it back out. Why? Because he could see the reason for it not starting was the timing belt had blown up and was sticking out the cover. The customer came in , paid his bill and went to take his car. It wouldn't start. He came in hollaring and screaming that we'd hosed him. After arguing for a few minutes he was told that the reason his car didnt run was the timing belt. He hadn't asked for us to get it running.....he wanted his fuel filter replaced. He turned some nice shades of red and decided maybe we could get it running for him.
I just wish that people would think and do a bit of research before they start making accusations.
Ok that's enough ranting for now

 

Racerguy
Your dealership must fall in the 1%.
In the NY Metro area dealerships are ripoffs in my opinion.
Example about 6 weeks ago.
Due to my mechanic who is very good and reputable is very busy I decide to call my Ford dealership for a price quote on a trans fluid oil and filter change.Price quoted $168.
I waited the extra week for my guy and was charged $129 with a tire rotation included.Must be the $25 more an hour the dealer charges.
My shop uses top notch parts which doesn't have to have Ford or Motorcraft on them.
Also with a dealership there's no guarantee you'll get a good mechanic just because he certified.
I guess all I can say is I wish your dealership was in my area.

 

Racerguy,

Since you're a tech, let me ask you a quick general question. My Exp has 3:31 gears. I put 295/75-16's on it. By my math, I should put 3:63 gears in the truck to get the same relative gearing as what I started w/. My question is, can/will a Ford dealership upgrade my gearing to 3:73's and place a limited slip in it (since I don't have one)? Would they do this type of work. My truck is still under warranty and if this is something that can be done, I would like ford to do the work, w/Ford parts, and give me a Ford receipt for the work. I don't mind upgrades, but would like to preserve the right to use my Ford warranty when I need it.

I am just asking a general question and realize that I will eventually need to contact the dealership where I would like to have the work done.

Thanks,
Ken
'01 Exp XLT
5.4L
4wd
295/75-16 BFG A/T KO's

 

Looks like the tune up price depending on what they are doing for $199 is a good price especially if you have 5.4..........I just got a quote from City Garage of $300 just to change the plugs!

 

redvet I agree that you aren't guaranteed to get a good tech at a dealership but i think the odds are better
I've seen dealership techs that I wouldn't let fix my wheelbarrow but I dont think that is the norm....not around here anyway.

 

khmorse that is something that I've done at our dealership a few times.....usually when someone buys a new truck and wants different gears for towing or whatever. I would guess that maybe not all dealerships would want do the swap but I can't think of any good reasons why not. As for the warranty aspect of it, you should have no warranty problems unless the gear change causes something, but I can't imagine what, seeing that gears you want were optional in your truck. If you got the gears changed at a 4X4 shop though as an example, and then had problems with them of course they wouldn't be covered but most people wouldn't expect them to be.
I would get a quote from any dealers in your area and ask around for recommendations if you have more than one dealer to chose from.
I would also hazard a guess that this wont be a cheap swap. Ford's prices on parts like that usually are in line with the aftermarket but wont likely be any cheaper.
It is also quite a few hours labor. Just a rough guess but I'd say probably 8 hours or so.

 

Khmorse, a front and rear gear swap for parts and labor should not cost more than $1300 and I've found drivetrain shops that will do it for a cool grand. Didn't ask for a differential quote, so can't help you there.

Let us know what your dealership quotes.