"Having it done" Nightmares on MM Street

[SlkMerc]

Hello Gents,

I have a local shop here in the LBC that is reputable ( checked out good from the research ). They had a special on trans flush, pwr strng flush, rad flush and oil change for $200.00. So I called, asked about the methods they employ to perform said flushes and all was good. Went to have the work done. I get 2 blocks from there and the temp gauge pegs HOT. I go back and they say air in the system, evacuated coolant one more time, refilled and away I go. 2 blocks again and BAM, she pegs HOT. I go back, somewhat less than happy, joyous and free. I mention that our 4.6's have that bleed off chingas in the cross over pipe( Thanks to this forum, I learned of this )They bring out "Ace Certified Ford Guy". He takes one look, goes to the bleeder bung, adds coolant and tops off and She is cool and purring again. I notice that where they had a fender protector placed, a nasty oily residue was left. I get a free wash ticket, she washes up ok and Im a happy man once again, albeit 4 hours later.

I am going to invest in the tools needed to do my own maintanence. I am extremely busy, running the construction business and 4 sober living homes ( im a sober drunk, 4 years now without any booze or drugs). However, after today's fiasco, I will MAKE the damn time to do this myself.

Needed to vent and I apologize for bein a BIT*CH.

Future MM Guru

Donnie

[Bigdogjim]

It's all good. Learn how to do your self! Good luck, stop in and post up if you have a question someone here can answer you.

[DEFYANT]

Working on your own car helps you to become one with it.

[RUSTY]

Working on your own car helps you to become one with it.


I have been working on cars and aircraft for years. I have done engine changes and overhauls, but when you work on a car that if you drop a wrench or a sochet in the engine bay and it doesn't fall out underneath it freaks me out. I have spent alot of time just studying the mechanics of this beast, much to my wifes bemusement. However I am lucky to be able to look up info on this website and i am alot more comfortable working on this machine.

[RF Overlord]

Donnie, although the price you were charged sounds reasonable, that shop obviously has no experience working on the 4.6 DOHC, or they would have known about the bung in the crossover the first time.

There are many people here (including me) who would be very happy to help you learn to do these simple tasks yourself, not only saving you money and aggro, but getting the feeling of satisfaction that goes along with it. :)

BTW, from one recovering alcoholic to another, congrats on your 4 years! :up: Now THERE'S a feeling of satisfaction!!

[Bradley G]

If you save money and aggro doing your own maint, more money for mods!:banana:
Congrats on the sobriety!!!:bows:
I celebrated Five years in July !

[MitchB]

There is an O-ring on the plug in the crossover pipe. This is what actually provides the seal. When you have the chance, get a few spares. Flushing the cooling system on my dad's 03, this O-ring split. Luckily, I did have a spare.

Mitch

[BillyGman]

The only thing that I don't do myself is the transmission flush. I take it to the dealer for that. I believe that it would be pretty difficult to get all of the old fluid out of the torque converter w/out flushing it like the professionals do, since there isn't any drain plug on the converter itself. They get $160 for the flush and fill, and I've never had any problem. Since I have a stock transmission, and I'm puting a lot more power through it due to the supercharger, I have the transmission flushed out and filled twice per year as preventative medicine. And because I've always gone to the same dealer for that procedure, I've gotten to know some of the mechanics as well as the assistant service manager. In fact, they've all seen my burnout video, and the last time that I was there, one of the mechanics requested another copy. :D

And I always have the assistant service manager (who's actually the service writer) test drive my car after the work is completed. He's the only one at the dealer who drives my car, and him and I have an agreement about that. He can get into the gas pedal all he wants just as long as he remembers to do so with the O/D button clicked off. Every time he comes back from the test drive he says.."Gee, I had forgotten how fast that car is, and what incredible throttle respnse it has!"... sorry for the rant...

[AstroVic]

Stories like these remind me why I like to do as much maintenance and repair work on my cars as possible. While I'm fortunate to have a trusted mechanic, I trust myself more than anyone. ;)

[99SVT]

Donnie, although the price you were charged sounds reasonable, that shop obviously has no experience working on the 4.6 DOHC, or they would have known about the bung in the crossover the first time.

I had the same thing happen when I took my Cobra in for a coolant flush and oil change at an SVT dealership. I would have thought that they would know about the plug, seeing as they are the only ones to sell that particular product.

I ended up putting 5 more liters of coolant in the car at a 7-11 that I stopped at when the needle started pegging. Got it home without a problem, the next day I checked the level and had to put another 3 liters in it.

I called to complain and they asked if a coupon for a free oil change would help. I told them no, they weren't touching my car unless it was for a warranty claim, and even then I would go to the other SVT dealer first even though it was further away.

The final nail in the coffin was when I did my own oil change a few months later and the drain plug was difficult to take out. I looked at the plug and the threads were cross threaded. They were the last ones to put that plug in.

END RANT.

[wchain]

Hello Gents,

I have a local shop here in the LBC that is reputable ( checked out good from the research ). They had a special on trans flush, pwr strng flush, rad flush and oil change for $200.00.

Please tell me that you made sure they used Mercon V or some kind of additive that makes it Mercon V compatible.

[SlkMerc]

They did in fact tell me that they used an additive that makes the transfluid they use Mercon V. Is this a reputable claim? If not what recourse should I take?