Car Trouble -- cracked Intake Manifold

[Pathogen03]

Took it to a gas station to figure out what went wrong when suddenly antifreeze hit the fan, sprayed all over my engine and smoked for a good 4 hours out from under the hood.

left it at a gas station nearby (refilled with water, it lasted untill the gas station)

Went there 9am the next morning to meet AAA tow truck to take it to the service station.
Truck finally arrives at 10:45 (I have class at 11:00)

lead truck to service station, and tell them to figure out whats wrong with it, be it the radiator, a tube, or whatever.

They determine its not anything visible, and need confirmation to remove my alternator, to get a good view of the rest of the system. 1.5 hours labor, $80 an hour. ok. So far $120 spent.

Then they call back and say the intake manifold is cracked, a known problem on Grand Marquis. They dont call me, they call my father. He gives them the go ahead to replace it, and is quoted another $1080 for (part + 3.5 hours labor).

That is RIDICULOUS

the part is at most $300... and this is even cheaper, and an improved design

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/IntakeManifolds/Mercury/GrandMarquis/1AEIM00010/136107

and at there 3.5 hours labor, 80 an hour thats $280, so they just charged me $800 for a part worth no more than $300...

AND MY FATHER ALLOWS THEM.. Now to be fair, he is paying, as I am a poor college student and have no chance of recouping that amount, but still. Gaaah

that just bugs me.. he should have let me and a friend fix it once they isolated the problem..

I hate wasting money like that He doesnt have it to spend either..

 

[Pathogen03]

more venting:


Im willing to bet the problem was just the thermostat anyway... It wasn't turning when we poured water in and turned the car on... GRRR


Why did I let him deal with it... I was dealing with AAA, then in class, then at a family dinner from 8:30am to 10pm... (he was not, was with moms side of my family)

 

[Ornery]

You need to locate a trustworthy mechanic ASAP. He could have had the car towed to his garage without you waiting around, not raped you or your dad, and give you peace of mind that the job is done right. Ask friends in that area who they use for auto repairs.

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

There is a recall on the plastic intake manifolds on mid 90's Ford's with the 4.6 V8 motor.

 

[Zim Hosein]

quoted another $1080 for (part + 3.5 hours labor).

:Q

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
There is a recall on the plastic intake manifolds on mid 90's Ford's with the 4.6 V8 motor.

Plastic? I've never seen a plastic intake manifold, interesting.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
There is a recall on the plastic intake manifolds on mid 90's Ford's with the 4.6 V8 motor.

Plastic? I've never seen a plastic intake manifold, interesting.

Heh. They're not exactly rare.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
There is a recall on the plastic intake manifolds on mid 90's Ford's with the 4.6 V8 motor.

Plastic? I've never seen a plastic intake manifold, interesting.

the famous GM 3800 uses one

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
There is a recall on the plastic intake manifolds on mid 90's Ford's with the 4.6 V8 motor.

Plastic? I've never seen a plastic intake manifold, interesting.

Heh. They're not exactly rare.

I've never seen one!

 

[EagleKeeper]

1) Check out what it actually costs from a dealer and from the local parts shop. They may have gotten it from a dealer - higher kickback/markup for them. Do not use the internet for justificaiton unless they have a local shop.

2) Talk to the shop and demand an justificaiton for the price.

3) If they can not give it to you, ask for an adjustment based on the part cost.

4) If no go, let them know (and do it) report them to the local BBB.

Make sure that you can document the discrepency before confronting them and go onward.

 

[Pepsi90919]

what do you have to say for yourself now Ornery? i thought everything was easy and cheap on these things.

 

[Ornery]

I'd fix it myself for a LOT less than that, IF it broke. A POS, FWD go-kart would be certain to require a scheduled timing belt replacement (at comparable cost), unless it was the rare bird with a timing chain. In which case, it still wouldn't escape the mega expensive CV-joint repairs, and other expensive, FWD related problems.

I'm well aware of all issues with full size, RWD domestics, and will gladly take my chances over any FWD, weenie-mobile of any make.

 

[thedarkwolf]

yeah samething happend to my dad's 96 t-bird 4.6l at 80k miles but as mentioned it was totally convered including the tow by the recall. After fixing that the car went another 200k miles before cracking the head. Call a ford dealer and see if you still quallify for the recall. Might be able to get alteast some of that money back.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Ornery
I'd fix it myself for a LOT less than that, IF it broke. A POS, FWD go-kart would be certain to require a scheduled timing belt replacement (at comparable cost), unless it was the rare bird with a timing chain. In which case, it still wouldn't escape the mega expensive CV-joint repairs, and other expensive, FWD related problems.

I'm well aware of all issues with full size, RWD domestics, and will gladly take my chances over any FWD, weenie-mobile of any make.

LOL, my weenie mobile has a timing chain and an aluminum intake manifold. That's right, metal instead of plastic.

Ford, where quality is job #1

 

[Ornery]

03 Honda Accord LX NHTSA Recall ID Number: 04V176000

• Summary: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
  Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Lets not even discuss how friggin' expensive it is to replace a CV-Joint VS a simple $10.00 U-Joint, or a $15.00 shock absorber VS a McPherson strut assembly, or several hundred dollar electric radiator fan motor VS a simple belt driven fan... why they call it an "economy car" I'll never understand!

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: Ornery
03 Honda Accord LX NHTSA Recall ID Number: 04V176000

• Summary: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
  Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Lets not even discuss how friggin' expensive it is to replace a CV-Joint VS a simple $10.00 U-Joint, or a $15.00 shock absorber VS a McPherson strut assembly, or several hundred dollar electric radiator fan motor VS a simple belt driven fan... why they call it an "economy car" I'll never understand!

Most FWD axles are about $100 a piece. And very few cars use something other than a mcpherson strut in the front. One of the exceptions would be a Honda Civic. Oh wait, thats an 'economy car'.

As for the fan driven off of the water pump, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Mark

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Ornery
03 Honda Accord LX NHTSA Recall ID Number: 04V176000

• Summary: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
  Consequence: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Lets not even discuss how friggin' expensive it is to replace a CV-Joint VS a simple $10.00 U-Joint, or a $15.00 shock absorber VS a McPherson strut assembly, or several hundred dollar electric radiator fan motor VS a simple belt driven fan... why they call it an "economy car" I'll never understand!

that afflicts automatic V6s only, my car is immune. google is not your friend

 

[Ornery]

1. Don't care to discuss the balance, eh? Sort of figured that... :roll:

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: Minjin

Most FWD axles are about $100 a piece. And very few cars use something other than a mcpherson strut in the front. One of the exceptions would be a Honda Civic. Oh wait, thats an 'economy car'.

As for the fan driven off of the water pump, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

That's nearly 10 times the price of a simple U-Joint, and the labor is about as bad.

They wouldn't use a stinkin' electric fan motor, if they could get away with the far simpler design. Face it, FWD is economical for the manufacturer, NOT the owner.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Ornery

1. Don't care to discuss the balance, eh? Sort of figured that... :roll:

You should know as well as I do there is never any meaningful discussion with you, it's just never ending moaning about weenie mobiles.

 

[phantom309]

If you want to instantly feel better, PM me and I'll tell you what I just paid to replace the timing belt and water pump on my Porsche 944S. :shocked: