Dang cars with brains

[bgkast]

It's going to cost $100 something for the dealer to figure out why the check engine light in my ford focus is on.

I love my brainless Mercedes.

[Nate]

take it to a parts store first, most have scanners they use to diagnoise cough bring in money cough...

Or buy your own scanner, and a book on it for around $100...

Dont let a dealership do it unless it's running wierd, or something

what year car?

~Nate

[TheDon]

Yea, autozone has scanners and they do it for free since you will more than likely buy something when you go there.. Just like me.

[Nate]

I think the good ford scanners are like $130... pays for itself if u use it 2x...
and you own the tool, so u can help others...

The cheap ones are like $50, and they do work... they just blink led's at you, and u look it up in a book...

the $$ one has it on screen i think
~Nate

[Matt L]

Originally Posted by Nate

The cheap ones are like $50, and they do work... they just blink led's at you, and u look it up in a book...

the $$ one has it on screen i think
~Nate

Different animals. Ford EEC* uses the blinking lamp (either LED or the MIL). OBD-II is a digital communication between the PCU and the scanner. None of these use blinking lamps, but there are multiple protocols so you need to ensure that you get a scanner which will actually work with your car.

[bgkast]

It's an '02. It needed the 60,000 mile service anyway.

Spark plugs were the culprit. They wanted $70 to replace them. I said no thanks.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by bgkast

It's an '02. It needed the 60,000 mile service anyway.

Spark plugs were the culprit. They wanted $70 to replace them. I said no thanks.

I don't know but that sounds reasonable. That is under an hour's work. Why the shock? You count the time the tech takes the key, reads the ticket, grabs the car, do the plugs, test drive it, park it and you have what time?

[bgkast]

Guess so, but my time is free, and if I can put a new engine in my Mercedes I can change spark plugs on a ford!

[aklim]

Originally Posted by bgkast

Guess so, but my time is free,

and if I can put a new engine in my Mercedes I can change spark plugs on a ford!

Yes, but their's is not. Like I said, it was a reasonable quote, as I see it.

I wouldn't go that far. Some of those FWD cars with the transvestite engines are hard to get to for the plugs nearest to the firewall

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by aklim

Some of those FWD cars with the transvestite engines are hard to get to for the plugs nearest to the firewall

You ain't kidding. I recently did a water pump on one of those "transvestite" ford big 6 cyl. engines. PITA, I lost a lot knuckle skin on that job.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

You ain't kidding. I recently did a water pump on one of those "transvestite" ford big 6 cyl. engines. PITA, I lost a lot knuckle skin on that job.

Isn't the water pump on the pass side near the shock absorber or strut? I thought that was a transvestite engine where you have to "roll" the engine forward by disconnecting the motor mount or something to get to those back plugs. In that case, I would give it to the mechanic. Let them lose the skin.

[bgkast]

Originally Posted by aklim

Yes, but their's is not. Like I said, it was a reasonable quote, as I see it.

I wouldn't go that far. Some of those FWD cars with the transvestite engines are hard to get to for the plugs nearest to the firewall

Yeah, luckily I have a 4 banger. No need to pry the engine forward!

Gotta love these newer cars.

[t walgamuth]

i recently did plugs and plug wires on my wife's pt cruiser.

you have to remove the entire intake for chrisssake!

well, i decided to suck it up and go for it. it actually was pretty straightforward. not too hard. i doubt it took all of an hour. and ran fine when i was done.

tom w