I just bought a 97 Aerostar, and I need advice.

[rporter]

Hi Folks - I'm new to Aerostars & this website. Just bought a 97 that wouldn't pass inspection ("Check Engine" light doesn't come on) I was driving to fiance's "friend"'s shop when it "coughed" and cut out on me. I got it to start again, only to have it die again down the road. I had it towed to the guy's shop. The next day he said I need a new cluster. (didn't say anything about what caused it to cut out.) He said the part cost around $340, it would take about 3 hours, & he was only going to charge us $100 labor. I gave him a $300 deposit. Several days later, he called & said van was running. When we got there, he said he hadn't had time to replace the cluster, but he had "tricked the system" into thinking the MIL light was working so we could get a tag. He then pointed out that none of the panel lights were working, and neither was the gas gauge - it ran out of gas while he was running it, so he put some gas in it. He said after he put gas in it, it wouldn't start, so he replaced the ignition control module. We asked if he owed us money back or we still owed him, and he said we still owed him another $140. I was on my way to an ATM when I realized $140 was the balance due on the repair he DIDN'T DO! I called a parts place, and they told me he replaced a $50 part. I confronted him & he said they quoted the wrong part - he replaced the ignition control module for the D.I.S. system (no distributer -coils & plugs.) Oh, and he also replaced the crank sensor (but didn't mention that the 1st time?) I asked for his invoice, copies of his parts receipts, and my old parts back. He said there was a "core charge" so he didn't have my old parts (how convenient!), and the paperwork was "at home." Now I think it ran out of gas on me, & he paid a $6.25 reinspection fee, put $5 worth of gas in it, and kept my $440. Here's my question - IF he did replace the parts he said he did, what is a fair "side job" price, and is he blowing smoke up my a__ when he says there was a core charge? Also, what is a reasonable price for the cluster work that still needs to be done?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Stay away from this guy. Have him put everything back the way it was with the original parts (cluster, ignition module, etc). Don't let him play around with the wiring (bypassing wiring to get the computer or cluster to work). The computer controls the fuel pump. If you don't see the check engine light, and the fuel pump doesn't work, then there are a few things to check such as the PCM relay (suspected faulty part), fuse, and the PCM ground wire near the battery.

 

[rporter]

Just Bought 97 Aerostar/Need Advice

Hi Brooklyn Bay & thanks for your advice! When I said he "tricked the system" so the van would pass inspection, I didn't mean he monkeyed with the van wiring - somehow he "tricked" the state inspection computer into thinking the MIL was working (maybe he keyed in my VIN but hooked up another car w/a functioning "check engine" light if that's possible?) My concern is that I paid him $440 ($340 parts/$100 labor) to replace the cluster, & he was able to find a temporary fix to the problem so we could get a tag, but then said the van failed to restart so he replaced the ignition control module & crank sensor instead. I did not have a problem starting it, & the repair he did is not what we discussed. Also seems odd that the repair he did costs the exact same amount as the other repair, & he can't proove there was a need by showing me the old part because of the "core charge". Is he BSing me when he says he replaced the ignition control module for the D.I.S. system (no distributer -coils & plugs) & the crank sensor, it's a $440 repair, AND he can't give me my old parts back because there was a core charge? I also need to know if the cluster still needs to be replaced to get the dash lights working. I have NO dash lights, the check engine light, the brake light, and the ABS light do not momentarily flash when I crank it, and the gas gauge doesn't work. If the cluster is the culprit, what is a fair "side job" price for that work? Thanks for your help!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Where did he buy this module? There shouldn't be a core charge unless he installed a remanufactured unit, and gave the old part in to "save money on the core charge". It sounds like you didn't have a lot of these problems until you gave the vehicle in for an inspection. As for the issue of not showing a check engine light, why does he think it's a problem with the cluster? The wiring for the light could be traced back to the PCM without touching the cluster.

 

[rporter]

97 Aerostar

OK - so, if I have NO dash lights, the check engine light, the brake light, and the ABS light don't flash when I crank it, and the gas gauge doesn't work, that is related to the PCM, not the cluster? What is a fair price or price range for that work? The "core charge" he mentioned was for the ignition control module, not the cluster. I was trying to figure out if $440 was fair to replace the igition control and crank sensor - a local parts place said those parts cost $75, and this guy keeps telling me they're quoting me the wrong part. He says the ignition control for a van with coils & plugs is a more expensive part. Every time I talk to him, the facts just don't add up. I guess he took me for a ride.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The lack of indicator lights, and gauges is related to either a burned out fuse or a disconnected gauge cluster. Do you have a 3.0L or a 4.0L engine? You chould check the price of the parts on WWW.RockAuto.Com.