Am I getting jacked for my ca$h ???

[WiTcHDoKtoR]

Hey guys, took my Explorer in for my regularly scheduled maintenance and they said that my tierods need to be replaced. The quote from Ford, (Man I love these guys) was $1032 with parts, labour and our lovely tax. I know I'm getting jacked, but I don't know what a resonable price is for this work. And remember I'm up here in Canada, so prices will be different, but I'm just looking for a ballpark figure.

Also, what's up with my rear wiper system. The arm is fine, but the nozzle will not spray. I filled up with resevoir in the front, but still nothing. I didn't see a resevoir in the back, so I'm kinda confused. thanks for the help guys !

 

[daniel cauchon]

I thing you are definitly getting shafted !! it should be aroune 6 or 700$ but then again if i`m not mistaken there is a recall for this ???? check it out..and for the back wipers well there is one tank it,s in the jack compartment you have to fill but the outside right on your left side when you open the back door there is a litte nozzle their..open it and fill it up !

 

[daniel cauchon]

if you want give me your VIN # I Could check it out for you..or you could too just go to ...
http://www.mycarpage.com/main.asp
and register and you will get all the recalls..

 

[Texplorer]

Your filler for the back washer fluid is right above your driver side tail light.

 

[Carl D.]

Yes, your are getting JACKED. In Misouri it would cost between $550 and $650 at a independant garage.

Ford, Chevy and Dodge, as do all dealerships, have such a high labor rate that they have priced themselfs out of the market, plus there service is slow and shoddy. The last time I went to a Ford dealer for repairs, it took three visits to get it correct, then I had two new problems, which I had fixed at a local shop and suprisingly, they fixed it on the first try and blamed the problem on ford mechanics.

Auto Dealer Mechanics better wake up or they will be out of jobs. It would be cheaper for the manufacturer to allow the independants to make warranty repairs and pay them, than to keep and maintain repair facilities, pay high saleries, pensions and medical for all these mechanics.

In this day and age of down sizing and cost cutting, it's very possible this could happen, there no longer is any job that is secure.

 

[Ray Lobato]

The outer tie rods are a piece of cake to replace. The inner tie rods are lot harder if you don't have the tool to replace them. Do yourself a favor and buy the tool to replace them and you can do it for about $125.00 US. Then all you have to do is get an alignment. Don't take it to the Ford dealership.

 

[Robert]

And don't bother looking in your jack compartment for a rear washer bottle, you won't find it. Ford stopped putting them back there mid way through the '96 model year. Mid '96 and up only has one bottle and it is mounted under the hood.

 

[Alec]

If your rear nozzle isn't spraying then either you have a bad pump, clogged lines, or a clogged nozzle.

 

[WiTcHDoKtoR]

Still no spray out of the nozzle

I looked in that compartment, and didn't find anything. I'm running a 97, so that's where the main confusion lies. As for doing this myself, I like my vehicle, and wouldn't want to unleash the fate of my poor mechanic skills on it. If there was a recall for this, that would be great.

 

[WiTcHDoKtoR]

clogged Nozzle ?

if that may be the case, how would I unclog said nozzle ?

 

[nak4af]

I replaced all of my front components (inner/outter tierods driver/passenger, all 4 balljoints) for around $550. Granted, I did the work myself and got 50% off of an alignment. Got my parts from NAPA.

Alaska isn't very cheap either!

 

[Ray Lobato]

Originally posted by Robert
And don't bother looking in your jack compartment for a rear washer bottle, you won't find it. Ford stopped putting them back there mid way through the '96 model year. Mid '96 and up only has one bottle and it is mounted under the hood.

Robert,
That's funny I have a 97XLT and I have the rear washer fluid container in the back panel where the jack sits. Maybe it's only certain models?

 

[dogfriend]

I have a 97 Sport like Robert does and there is only one washer fluid container which is under the hood.

 

[dogfriend]

Re: clogged Nozzle ?

Originally posted by WiTcHDoKtoR
if that may be the case, how would I unclog said nozzle ?

Sometimes they can get clogged by wax or dirt, so inspect very carefully where the opening in the nozzle is. If you are careful, you can try using a fine needle to clear out any junk, but you don't want to damage the opening.

You could also remove the hose from the washer pump and see if you can blow some low pressure air through it to clear the nozzle/ hose.

 

[hardeeharhar]

wow so what dealer in edmonton is that ????i too am from edmonton and i will stay away from that one.

 

[Scormunch]

I have a 97' EB with two seperate washer containers just like Ray Lobato... but he has an XLT... did Ford plan this out or did they do "eeny-meeny-miny-moe" to choose which ones get seperate tanks??

 

[Ray Lobato]

It must be on the 4 door models only.

 

[Robert]

I knew Ford changed the system to one bottle and since my '97 Owner's Guide states that there was only one bottle, I assumed it was the '96 model year that they made the change. Was probably the '97 model year then since there are at least two '97s here with two bottles. Maybe it was only 4-doors. My manual doesn't mention the second bottle though and as far as I know there is only one '97 Owner's Guide for both two doors and four doors. What do your Owner's Guides say? Here is mine:

 

[Scormunch]

I'm not sure where my scanner went off to and my digicam is out in the car... and its snowing so I'm too lazy to get it.... so I guess I'm just gunna type it in.

=====================================
Checking and adding washer fluid for the rear window (if equipped)

On some vehicles, the washer fluid for both the windshield and the rear window is contained in the engine compartment reservoir.

For vehicles equipped with a rear washer reservoir, the reservoir opening is located on the left, rear side of the vehicle body, just above the tail lamp and is accessible only when the liftgate is open.

To determine which type of reservoir your vehicle is equipped with, simply check for the rear washer reservoir above the rear tail lamp.
======================================

 

[WiTcHDoKtoR]

I'm seriously not getting this

Ok, I've checked the hoses, checked the nozzle, and still no spray. Then I decide to look in the back compartment even though the book tells me there's no good reason, and SUPRISE ! there's a stinkin tank back there. Now unless I'm totally out to lunch, and there's some other use for this tank, I just don't bloodywell get this !!! So now here comes the next question: How in God's name do I get some juice in this little freakin tank so that I can wash my back window, is that so much to ask for ?