DPFE sensor - local shop rip off!

[explore/escape]

my 94 explorer EB 4x4 had the check engine light on - so I went to local garage ( veenstra garage - gr michigan-fyi ) just to diag. check engine light - well $100 to tell me the PDFE needs replacement. They said $350 will fix it..I aske the shop manager to show me where the part is and his reply was " i should charge you a 100 to show you where it is " this made me a little pissed - after talking to a ford parts manager - he sold me one and told me how to replace the item - hmmmmm $ 60 - part - 5 minutes install - problem FIXED 350-160 = 190 saved....RIDICULOUS! how can these people charge $160 to install this! I normally go to another shop thats a 15 minute drive - I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN - that shop should be shut down for theft!

I figured a diag. would be about $50 - does autozone have the eq. for codes?
Is there a web site regarding what repairs cost? I can do somethings but I know pros are needed.

I am venting as well letting everyone know about these people as well as how these board may help!

KEEP IT UP ALL! :fire: :fire:

 

[jimbo74]

a shop can charge whatever they want, and it isnt crooked practice..... its your fualt if you dont do your homework and get ripped off by a garage....

 

[Fhantazm]

Not exactly, Jim. Just because a shop can charge you what they want, doesnt mean its ethical for them to do so. Not all customers are knowledgeable about vehicles, thats why they choose to go to mechanics to get the work done. You cant expect someone to gain an advanced automotive knowledge before going to a shop that is SUPPOSED to provide a service for a nominal fee. I understand everyone wants to make a profit, but things like charging $800 for wheel bearings goes beyond "making a profit" and delves into highway robbery. Fact is, there are garages out there that choose to do NOTHING but screw people. This isnt the consumers fault.

 

[RobW]

I had the same trouble last summer. The local dealer charged me $140 to diag then $200 for part and labour...ouch..... My regular mechanic said " let them do it. That way when the codes all spit out after they will have to fix it again." Guess what ...2 weeks later check engine light came on again. Back to the dealer and they not only did another diag ,but also repaired the wiring harness shorting out . For free... so not to sure if I got a good deal or ... but at least it is fixed now. Was also told that the air pollution settings needed to be adjusted after the new part was added.

 

[KPT]

You don't need a reader to pull codes on OBD I systems.

http://www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html

 

[jimbo74]

it maybe unethical, but you cant legally do anything for a shop being unethical....

 

[EBInterceptor]

That's why Dateline and tv shows do those sting operations. I had a Tuffy quote me over $500 for a for an exhaust job. They didn't listen to a word I had to say and they tried to tell me I was wrong when I knew what parts were available and how much they costed. I still have the quote posted on my board. It's insane how much they wanted to charge. $279.98 for a flowmaster muffler...just 1. Plus all the piping and labor Screw them, always get a second, third, and fourth opinion. The way our country works, you can always go find a place to do it cheaper. By the way, where exactly is that place so I never go there and tell people not to.

 

[B94Sport]

That's why Dateline and tv shows do those sting operations. I had a Tuffy quote me over $500 for a for an exhaust job. They didn't listen to a word I had to say and they tried to tell me I was wrong when I knew what parts were available and how much they costed. I still have the quote posted on my board. It's insane how much they wanted to charge. $279.98 for a flowmaster muffler...just 1. Plus all the piping and labor Screw them.

The same thing happened to me! That place is terrible! They told me I couldn't fit .25" larger diameter exhaust piping, and quoted me well over $300 for a new exhaust. Took it to another shop run by a guy who really knew what he was doing, and it was under $200 for exactly what I wanted.

 

[EBInterceptor]

They had my car held hostage too. They brought it into the shop to look at it which took forever and searching all the stuff for it took even longer. While I was waiting to get my car back I took advantage of having a cell phone and was calling other places to get a different quote. Then when they actually did give me the quote I was in awe. They tried to push parts on me that I didn't want, and again...did not listen to what I had to say. I was going to get my own muffler, I wasn't going to buy it from them for a 400% markup. Not all of them are bad, you just need to find one that won't completely rip you off.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

Advanced Auto and Autozone do free Diagnostic checks,

do you have one in your area?

I had a DPFE sensor go bad on my 95 T-bird, and it was the 4.6 liter v8 so the damn thing was in the back where you could barely see it, i had no idea how to get at it to change it, so i took it in to the ford dealership that i used to work part-time at, and i talked to a mechanic that I knew, and told me to wait around back for about 5 minutes,
he came out and did the diagnostic check for free, and then i had the work done about a week later, it was 50 bucks for the sensor and about 150 to have it installed, and the guy that did it also cleaned the egr valve port for me for free!, its nice to know people

 

[explore/escape]

WOW - this garage is crooked - is there a web site for what repairs should cost? also what I can do myself as well as what I should not do? THANKS everyone for their input!
I do have an autozone that I should have went to. it cost me 100 to learn that - I realize that they need to make $$$ - but $160 for a 5 minute job? and lawyers get a bad rap?
I will read here before doing anything to my FORD.

 

[EBInterceptor]

So where is it in GR?

 

[explore/escape]

they are off fulton st. /SE gr -

they seem like good guys - i usually go to Kamphius Auto in Jenison / they are quick and honest. sometimes they work with you for what you need done / used parts etc

 

[Deak]

Anytime I am in a new area and need work done i always call and ask the charge to diagnose the problem/or repair quote. The worst I was charged was 50 bucks basically 1 hour of labor at this shop and cheapest was 35 at a ford dealer. If a place can't figure it out for less than 100.00 I would not go there unless they applied it to the repair cost. Also you should report them to the BBB. What they wanted to charge was way more than a fair price for the work performed. On the Sohc the EGR is right up at the front of the engine...(i know it's different on every vehicle)

Deak

 

[explore/escape]

i agree - they were WAY over priced - and to charge that much to replace a sensor is just a joke! Makes me mistrust mechanics even more...