recommendations60k ford fez wq auto service

[morbo]

i just came back from a 60k service. cost me $540 which i dont think is too bad.
they have recommended some additional repairs but i decided to hold off because 1) its lotsa money and 2) thought i get a second opinion.

recommended repairs:
eye level brake globe - $30
brake fluid - $90
drive belt - $290
wipers x 3 - $50
front discs and pads - $625
injector service - $150
throttle body clean - $150
rotate and balance $30

i have no clue on cars. all i know is that i can do the brake globe and wipers myself and save a bit of money. but what about the others?

[Fiesta_Man69]

60K is very early to have injectors serviced/throttle body cleaned. Dealers are professionals, no doubt they spotted you having 'no clue on cars.' Unless the car is hard to start/isn't running/accelerating smoothly then don't bother.
Supercheap auto will supply and fit wipers for half the price.
Unless the brake globe is gone then don't bother.
Take it to an aftermarket brake specialist - get their opinion on your brakes - discs, pads and fluid. If they do need doing the specialist will do a better job for far less money.
Also $540 for a service is disgraceful - but its what dealers charge because its what people will pay.
I recommend finding a mechanic you can trust. Buy the oil/filter and other things required in your next service (as listed in your book) at repco. Then just pay a trusted mechanic labor costs. Services like that cost me under $150, with fully synthetic oil included. Thats a quarter of what you're paying.
I also bought a K&N air filter: it fits straight in the airbox, is fully legal and doesn't void the warranty. It is washable (every 50,000kms) and will outlast your car. It cost $80. Air filters from Ford cost $50 each 30,000kms (thats when mine was dirty and needed replacing). Your car will feel better to drive too, and might just use a little less fuel.

[BorisBC]

whoa whoa whoa.. the service cost you $540 and they want to do these additional things?? A 60K service is a cat b service that replaces spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter and an oil change, but there's no way it should've been $540 unless they used the world's greatest spark plugs. I wouldn't go anywhere near these guys again.

[Fiesta_Man69]

Here here to BorisBC's comments. Pls: find your own mechanic - you will enough $$$$ so you can get a K&N filter, exhaust, semi slicks and still be ahead......

[AussieFiestaMK6]

$540 is ludacris. I agree with both BorisBC & Fiesta_Man69 it shouldnt cost that much, I get the parts and do it myself much cheaper

[morbo]

sorry, got uni exams so im a bit of a slow responder.
gah, lesson learnt. will find my one mech - out of habit, keep on going to ford dealers for the warranty (which is pointless since i have realised that my car is out of warranty).

oh one more thing - are mechanics likely to get the grumps when you bring your own parts instead of using theirs (and their profit margins)?

[Fiesta_Man69]

I have been going to the same one for years: loyalty counts, makes it easier for him cos he doesn't have to source the parts beforehand. Labor should be around $60-$80 an hr, a basic service should only take 45 mins if they know what they're doing. Whether you supply the parts or your mechanic does : either way it's a far cry from Fords criminal $540.

[csv8]

My WQ Zetec auto had its 40k service today.Its on a Harrier warranty and cost me $195..They also "Updated PCM with later calibration" I had complained of its fuel consumption, its nearly the same as my BF Mk2. !!!! Not sure what this later calibration does..except "the engine in your Fiesta has been optimised to run on Premium unleaded fuel" was attached to the account. It will be interesting to see what it does now on fuel!!!

[morbo]

Ah thanks for all that.
I just came back from the an independant mechanic. They said that there's nothing wrong with the driving belts and whilst the front brakes are a little worn they said that it should last till the next service interval. A normal service is $165.
Gah, i feel so stupid for going to that Ford dealership.

[vhcbm]

Maybe get a Haynes manual or something like that so you can do some things yourself...maybe?

But even a normal service from Ford should only be around 250 or less, My 15k one was $169.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by morbo

Ah thanks for all that.
I just came back from the an independant mechanic. They said that there's nothing wrong with the driving belts and whilst the front brakes are a little worn they said that it should last till the next service interval. A normal service is $165.
Gah, i feel so stupid for going to that Ford dealership.

Don't feel stupid. You are not to know, after all, you thought you were doing the right thing, like anyone else would.

Always do 2 things when you are getting a service done.

1) Ask what the base price is (as per your log book) and what it includes.

2) When they call you saying this and that is also needed, tell them to itemize it on the receipt and quote it (as you have done) - then get a 2nd opinion.

I would be looking elsewhere for your services. Oh, keep a record of what has and hasn't been done (like a spreadsheet or table in Word)

I'm sick of hearing this sort of customer treatment by Ford as well... No wonder things are not looking good.

[csv8]

I have had 3 full tanks since PCM upgrade..since the second tank, the low fuel light now comes on around the 500km mark. Before it was around the 430km mark. Don't know what the PCM upgrade did, but I would recommend it.Done wonders for my WQ auto....

[morbo]

Ah thanks. I did a *little* bit of groundwork. I did check the prices on that fixed price car service website and found the ford quote was slightly more expensive but then thought that it was justified because of the whole ford servicing thing.

Meh, i am just a little disappointed at ford. Yeah a service is a service and I know i shouldn't have any unrealistic expectations but this should have been an opportunity for Ford to extend their relationship to their customers. Not rip them off. Ford can get away with it now because they have good product at the moment but good luck enticing people when other manufacturers catch up

Thanks for the Hayes suggestion but I'll give that a pass. Everything i touch inevitably goes to ****. Ill be able to convert my fiesta to a combustible pinto with my magic hands.

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Don't feel stupid. You are not to know, after all, you thought you were doing the right thing, like anyone else would.

Always do 2 things when you are getting a service done.

1) Ask what the base price is (as per your log book) and what it includes.

2) When they call you saying this and that is also needed, tell them to itemize it on the receipt and quote it (as you have done) - then get a 2nd opinion.

I would be looking elsewhere for your services. Oh, keep a record of what has and hasn't been done (like a spreadsheet or table in Word)

I'm sick of hearing this sort of customer treatment by Ford as well... No wonder things are not looking good.