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Car Help Question

SwantonSwanton Posts: 77
edited October 2009 in All Encompassing Trip
Hello all,

I have a 2002 Ford Taurus and have just over 61,000 miles. After putting in gas the other day, the Check Engine light came on. I thought maybe it was a loose gas cap but that didn't solve the problem.

I took it in to a local Firestone and they diagnosed that I have a faulty DPFE sensor, need a tune up, and need new plugs and wires.

Total damage - $633.

I have no knowledge of cars but the sensor replacement alone is only $140, so the rest of it seems mighty expensive. I have no idea if I really need the tune up and plugs/wires replaced --- but I don't want to ignore it and then blow up the engine.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!
You will try.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • rearviewmirorrearviewmiror Posts: 894
    Get a second opinion. I have no respect for Firestone and they have been nailed before. I have seen them defraud folks at several stores. Including an instance where I had just had the item in question replaced and they brought out an old worn out one.

    EDIT: I am sure this happens to all big companies at some point, but here is what you get with Firestone and Fraud from google.

    http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... tone+fraud
    9/7/98, 8/3/00, 9/4/00, 4/15/03, 7/1/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 5/24/06, 5/25/06, 6/17/08, 6/22/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 5/17/10, 10/15/13, 10/16/13.
  • SwantonSwanton Posts: 77
    I thought about that but I'm already in for $100 for the engine diagnostic service.

    I hate cars; it seems like this is the kind of thing that should be taught in every high school. Not Trig, but how to take care of your own car!
    You will try.
  • the wolfthe wolf Posts: 7,027
    Swanton wrote:
    I thought about that but I'm already in for $100 for the engine diagnostic service.

    I hate cars; it seems like this is the kind of thing that should be taught in every high school. Not Trig, but how to take care of your own car!

    I agree. fuck trig. we need to be able to service our own cars.
    Peace, Love.

    "To question your government is not unpatriotic --
    to not question your government is unpatriotic."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    sounds like you are getting screwed ... not in a good way either ...
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    Swanton wrote:
    I thought about that but I'm already in for $100 for the engine diagnostic service.

    I hate cars; it seems like this is the kind of thing that should be taught in every high school. Not Trig, but how to take care of your own car!

    they charged $100 to check the codes?
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • ra288388ra288388 Posts: 50
    my husband is a mechanic, tune ups are pretty expensive, have you ever tuned it up? does it need everything? the cars are built so we can't work on them ourselves, sometimes we have to buy special tools just to do a job, get a 2nd estimate, just call. but i'm betting they're close to everyone else's price
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    blackredyellow wrote:
    Swanton wrote:
    I thought about that but I'm already in for $100 for the engine diagnostic service.

    I hate cars; it seems like this is the kind of thing that should be taught in every high school. Not Trig, but how to take care of your own car!

    they charged $100 to check the codes?

    Swanton, go to Autozone next time...they check the code for free.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    Swanton wrote:
    Hello all,

    I have a 2002 Ford Taurus and have just over 61,000 miles. After putting in gas the other day, the Check Engine light came on. I thought maybe it was a loose gas cap but that didn't solve the problem.

    I took it in to a local Firestone and they diagnosed that I have a faulty DPFE sensor, need a tune up, and need new plugs and wires.

    Total damage - $633.

    I have no knowledge of cars but the sensor replacement alone is only $140, so the rest of it seems mighty expensive. I have no idea if I really need the tune up and plugs/wires replaced --- but I don't want to ignore it and then blow up the engine.

    Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

    run away as fast as you can from Firestone...get a second opinion...if your car is not overheating, and it all fluids are at level, you won't blow the car up....

    They know you don't know anything....they are taking advantage of you...

    some info:

    http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/index.p ... linearplus
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    you are getting hosed. as someone else said, autozone can pull the codes for free.

    plugs and wires are a 30 minute job to do yourself
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    81 wrote:
    you are getting hosed. as someone else said, autozone can pull the codes for free.

    plugs and wires are a 30 minute job to do yourself

    Exactly. Everyone I've spoken too has problems with Firestone...at least you've learned a lesson, like everyone else has to. Now you know not to go back to Firestone...myself I prefer local, independent shops...I try to go in and get a feel for the mechanic too before I even committ to anything. IMO, It's best to know who is working on your car.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    dcfaithful wrote:
    81 wrote:
    you are getting hosed. as someone else said, autozone can pull the codes for free.

    plugs and wires are a 30 minute job to do yourself

    Exactly. Everyone I've spoken too has problems with Firestone...at least you've learned a lesson, like everyone else has to. Now you know not to go back to Firestone...myself I prefer local, independent shops...I try to go in and get a feel for the mechanic too before I even committ to anything. IMO, It's best to know who is working on your car.

    I went to Firestone a few years ago to get tires... they had the best deal that I could find at the time. They told me that I needed new brakes and rotors and gave me an estimate for like $600+... I laughed in the guys face.

    I find out months later that on two different wheels, they cross-threaded lug nuts. I ended up snapping two wheel studs trying to get the wheels off to change break pads. Luckily I never got a flat, or I would have been screwed by not being able to get the flat tire off.

    That's just laziness by someone not starting the lug nut by hand.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    blackredyellow wrote:

    I went to Firestone a few years ago to get tires... they had the best deal that I could find at the time. They told me that I needed new brakes and rotors and gave me an estimate for like $600+... I laughed in the guys face.

    I find out months later that on two different wheels, they cross-threaded lug nuts. I ended up snapping two wheel studs trying to get the wheels off to change break pads. Luckily I never got a flat, or I would have been screwed by not being able to get the flat tire off.

    That's just laziness by someone not starting the lug nut by hand.

    That would just piss me off...doing something the right way the first time on an automobile is so worth it, it sucks that mechanics have the knowledge of something that isn't everyday to most people, and in return they take advantage of you for it. After observing something when I last got my PC cleaned up, I often think that computer technicians can be considered similar.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
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