Hey guys,

Just wanted to share with you my experiences during a visit to the dealer yesteday for some scheduled maintainance.

I took my '01 4.6 Expy in for a simple oil change. It was the $19.99 synthetic belnd special that they offer. To my surprise, the Quick Lane center was empty so they got my truck in immediately. I saw what appeared to be a 17 or 18 yr old kid performing the work on my truck. I watched him pull and check the tranny dipstick, smelled the fluid, and reinserted the dipstick. He then did the same for something else; just couldn't see exactly what he was checking.

Five minutes later, the chic behind the counter approaches me and show me a document indicating that my power steering fluid smells 'burnt' and shold be replaced at a cost of about $49 I think. She also recommended a tranny fluid exchange for $139. I've become acustomed to this type of 'upselling' now so I simply said no thanks. In the back of my head though, I was like: "get the f@!$ out of my face. Why do you always try and sell me extra crap that really is not needed?"

So let me ask something here: has anyone heard of their power steering fluid smelling 'burnt'? I've heard about tranny fluid smelling 'burnt' but sometimes even doubt that this really occurs.

Anyway, I'm done venting for now. Hope everyone has a good Christmas.

Anthony

 

I think what they were 'smelling' was your wallet burning....

 

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I have never heard of the PS smelling burnt. Next thing you know they will tell you they need to flush out your washer fluid because it looks dirty and smells bad. For only $29.99.

 

A while ago when I was getting an oil change on the truck they told me I needed a new air filter and that they could change it for me for $X I told them I would do it myself. I went back to the same place 3 months later, same air filter (I had not gotten around to changing it) and there was no recommendation to change my air filter.

I figured it had magically cleaned/changed itself in the time period between visits.

 

You might have had a different tech the second time. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I used to work at a fast lube place. The recommendations flowed according to how I felt. Close to closing I didn't recommend squat. Specially if I had the mop in my hand when you drove up.

JMC

 

All very good responses. I'm still laughing at JMC's reply! That was a good one.

So let me ask: how do you change the PS fluid? Is there a drain or do you suck it out of the reservoir and simply replace what you took out?

Also, how about the transfer case? Does this only apply to a 4x4? My truck is a 2wd. Does it have one?

As for the tranny, did that about 35k ago. Just about ready to do it again here real soon. Also did the brakes and coolant too. All very, very easy to do.

Thanks for all the replies!

Anthony

 

I bet they make a lot of xtra money like that.........suggesting things that do not need to be done.

 

I'm sure you just suck it out of the reservoir or take the resevoir off ( if that's possible ) and dump it. I've never done this but the logical way would be to suck out the old fluid.

No, you won't have a transfer case. Only 4x4's do.

 

Changing the PS fluid:
Use a syringe, or a turkey baster (bulb type) and suck out what you can and then add more. Start truck, turn the wheels to the limit lef and right, shut off engine and do this till your fluids are clean looking. (I have never seen nor smelt "BURNT" PS fluids)

No transfer case on your truck.

(I had a friend of mine who took a car I sold to her into a quick lube shop. She got home and told me that they flushed the coolant, checked all the fluids. I said, "OK WHATS YOUR POINT?" she said, "They also, charged me 150$ for a transmition FLUSH." I said well that sounds funny to me because the tranny is a manual. I took the car back the next day and got the 150$ back. Took me 10 min to get the refund.) If you have a wrench, a bucket, and, can tell left from right, change it yourself! It take 20 min of your time, and, you know what happened with it. I have seen when they didn't even change the freakin' oil and charged for it. Don't go to a "quick Lube", UNLESS YOU OWN IT!

 

While some dealerships see it as an added value & easy way to make rent money by leasing out space to "Quick Lane", it's not a good idea. A lot of people unwittingly drive into these dealership lots for cheap oil changes, and get bad service, performed by unqualified technicians. The worst part is that they are then sold a bunch of unnecessary goods & services. At times, these kids screw up with simple mistakes like not replacing the oil drain plug properly or stripping the threads. It leaves the customer with the impression that the "Ford people" are a bunch of idiots. A lot of customers don't know the difference between a mechanic & an oil, filter, lube tech. These same people often aren't able to differentiate that the kids working there work for an independent business which has nothing to do with Ford except for leasing real estate. So is it really overkill to pay more for a real mechanic when it comes to simple things like changing oil & rotating tires? It's sort of like paying a Michelin 3 Star chef to make toast in the morning. If you can afford it: fine.

 

I like when I take my car in and they say the battery water level is full, problem is the battery under the rear seat and it's a maintenance free battery to boot Like they really pulled the rear seat out to check it

 

Sounds like a typical quick lube joint.

 

What a bunch of BS, thats why I only take my maintainence to one service provider when ever he is able to do the work......ME.

Powersteering fluid is easy to change, disconnect the bigger line in the back, start engine for 5-7 seconds, pump old out, put new in, repeat flush again, refill.

 

No, I'm pretty sure it's jbrew's shop and you are the chic behind the counter.