Dealer Recomendations? Need help... - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

99SableGS · 05-04-2007, 17:00

Well I took the Sable into the Ford Dealer by my school today, it needed an oil change, and they advised a tire rotation. I agreed. Cost was $28.93 Not bad I suppose. Anyways, they always go over everything, and this being my first time not taking the car all the way across town to the Mercury Dealer, they made sure they could put everything into their computer. So after going over the entire car, they came back with 'the list' of items in need of service.

Here's what they gave me. (Quoting work for word, from my service advisor, linda)
Front Brakes; New pads, turn rotors. Rear's need shoes (advised customer not to drive vehicle as they may lock up due to cracking). $290 with labor.
Air and Fuel Filter - $90 - Is most of that price for the fuel filter? I can do the Air myself.)
Coolant Flush - $100
Transmission Flush - $170 (That's REALLY high compared to my Hondas $55 drain and refil, is the 'flush' part the reason it cost so much?)
Alignment - $90 (Thinking of getting this taken care of at Sears for $64.99)
P/S Flush - $100 - (Told them about the whine it makes, and it's a 20k old pump, it's a Ford thing I guess?)
Finally. //Rear Brakes are UNSAFE// Could lock up!!!

Then she noted the tires needing replacment soon, but that's all normal.

No brake shop I've called could beat the $290 signifigantly, so I'm thinking that's a fair price. What about the others? BTW - Have 700miles under 80k as of now.

Thanks!

Johnny Mullet · 05-04-2007, 19:08

That is really not bad. Here is what it would cost at our Dealer in NW Pennsylvania...................

Turn front rotors and replace pads - $180.00
Replace rear pads - $140.00

Fuel Filter - $46.96
Air Filter - $23.95
Trans flush with Mercon 5 - $119.95
4Whl Alignment - $79.15
P/S Flush - $87.95

Have the dealer do the brakes since they will be covered by any warranty failure for at least 60 days depending on Dealer.
Change the air and fuel filter yourself.
Change the coolant yourself
Change P/S Fluid yourself with a vacuum or suction pump.
Get the tranny flush done at the dealer incase of any issues since they recommended it.

99SableGS · 05-04-2007, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

Have the dealer do the brakes since they will be covered by any warranty failure for at least 60 days depending on Dealer.
Change the air and fuel filter yourself.
Change the coolant yourself
Change P/S Fluid yourself with a vacuum or suction pump.
Get the tranny flush done at the dealer incase of any issues since they recommended it.

Any DIY instuctions out there for the fuel filter? If the coolant is the typical unscrew the drain plug on the radiator, let it drain, and refill I can do that no problem. I have a shop vac, but I don't trust it to suck out my P/S fluid, and it's on it's last legs. Any cheap ideas for a 'home made' suction pump (besides a turkey baster?).

mre_power · 05-05-2007, 00:01

the problem with the power steering fluid change is there is no real way to get all the old fluid out with out major dismantling of componates . so for the diy selfer the baster method is the best and you would have to empty and fill it multiple times. after multiple days of remove and refill you shoud have near clean fluid.
fuelfilter

99SableGS · 05-05-2007, 09:13

Wow, what a handy site!

Thanks for the information!

99SableGS · 05-09-2007, 16:04

Well here's an update! And I'm very happy with the Sable :).

Things I found out...
I thought about it, and I said to myself, if CarMax (where the car was bought at 65k) has such a rigorous inspection process, they more than likely found soemthing wrong with it, and fixed it, or maitennaced it. So I called up the CarMax on the southwest freeway in Houston. I spoke the Bill I believe, he was very helpful and gave me a rundown of everything the car needed at the time, all of which they replaced. The list included Tranny Drain and refil; he said it didn't need to be done until 90k, and that he doesn't think I should let them flush my transmission, as it can damage the transmission. So I'm gonna stick with drain and refills. Also, the power steering fluid doesn't need to be changed until 90k, and the pump is new. Lower ball joints were repalced, and sway end links as well. Fluids alone are $270 off my checklist. So sounds good to me!

I had the rear's replaced at the Ford Dealer yesterday. $163.54 and it was done in less than 2 hours. Brakes much quieter now, the front will need repalcement soon, but CarMax machined the rotors before I bought it, so I'm going to get them done under the $89.95 special that is running until June 24th. Tires are next, and I replaced the airfilter on the weekend. I found the airconditioner filter! It wasn't even in the holder, and O'Rileys didn't have it, so I'll be buying that one from the dealer. If anyone knows a good online ford/lincoln/mercury parts store, please link me to it. I need to buy quite a few things. Lastly, I think I'll be doing my maintenance at CarMax for now on, their prices are very competitive, and the staff seems much friendlier; my dealer is nice too, but I felt a bit pressured to do things that I possibly didn't need, and they didn't show me the actual condition report the tech completed. Depends I suppose!

Welll that's my update, and I'll let you know how the rest of the road to recovery goes. She's going in for a full exterior reconditioning (insurance is covering this one!) so she'll be looking like new soon. Can't wait!

Thanks for all your help guys.

Johnny Mullet · 05-09-2007, 18:52

Thanks for the update!

**jwko** · 05-10-2007, 04:47

That is a lot of repairs at such low mileage.

99SableGS · 05-10-2007, 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwko

That is a lot of repairs at such low mileage.

I suppose it is, and none of my Hondas or the Volvo have had suspension work like ball joint and endlinks yet period. However, my Accord has had it's fair share of torn CV Boots, and recently, the front left axle was leaking bad (replaced). The first occurance was at 65ishk and the most recent was at about 98k.

Not to dis ford, but what can I say, I love my country (maybe not its leaders) but I haven't had very much faith in American Made Products of the 90's. Especially cars. The sable fires right up everytime, never left me stranded, and can pass people on the freeway with ease; however, around town it rattles and squeaks like nothing else I've heard before, my pass. door already has 'sagging' and the drivers seat creaks and crunches. None of that had really made me highly dislike the car, I mean if I were back in 96' choosing between an Accord and a Taurus/Sable I probably would've chosen the Accord, there's something special about feeling connected to your car. I like the way everything in it was shaped and placed for my convience. It is truely a drivers car; but so far, the Sable has been less costly to own (mainly becuase it was under warranty for 2 grand of work that was needed), and it doesn't cost two arms and three legs to get serviced by the dealership. I like that alot.

I mean it has 80k, so obviously some things are going to wear out, and the 3k a year is all city miles.

One question, do I need to be concerned about this rubbing noise; sounds kinda like rubbing a rock over cement, while braking? It's coming from the rear, and I never heard it before. Are the shoes just getting seated or something? I love how on my recipt from the Ford dealer they're so kind as to say "Pads/Shoes are NOT PREMIUM (exactly how thay wrote it) they may make NOISE. I thought I was buying motorcraft parts becuase they were better! I'm ok with it though...however it's kind of sad that as a consumer I'm ok with $163.00 brake job being possibly noisy still.

BTW - Jwko - were you referring to the car being reconditioned as a lot of repairs? It's being repaired from two accidents if that's what you were wondering.

Johnny Mullet · 05-11-2007, 18:05

Well, the Volvo will last you forever! I am a Ford tech who is now working on Volvo full time and it has been a learning experience for me. Some of the diagnostics are frustrating, but once you fix a Volvo, it's pretty much fixed for life.

That Sable is a good American made car that will be pretty reliable for the most part. I have always liked the Mercury product over the Ford since there is just something nicer about the trim package and styling of a Mercury.