Okay I'm pretty sure it's time to have some of my coils replaced. I have a little over 93k miles on my 2004 VS so I'm pretty sure I just make it with the warranty (I hope) but how do I go about doing this? Do I just go to the dealer and ask for a stress test and have them change the coils? First off how much would a stress test be? My car stutters at like a stop light or upon start up and Ive read somewhere before that If that happened its most likely the coils. Also, I saw something about Ford dealers doing a special called The Works like oil change, expecting etc. for only about $30. Is this a scam? Has anyone had it done? Do they do anything similar where they can check like..everything in my car to make sure it's running smoothly? Alsooo, I think I'm having an issue with my breaks. They are extremely squeaky! I recently went to my mechanic to have it checked out but he said they have plenty of life and that there was just a little dust/rust on them that he cleaned off. Yet they are still squeaky when I come to a stop. I know some new breaks are squeaky once you get them but this has been going on for weeks now, maybe even a couple months. I need to know what's going on. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you!
Coils, stress test, breaks...HELP!
- Thread starter Becky04LS
- Start date
Actually, it's brakes and squealing is considered normal. It is the pad vibrating in the caliper. There are special lubricants you can buy to eliminate the squeal. I'm surprised your mechanic didn't mention that.
An oil change for $30 isn't bad (unless you can do it yourself). What are they "expecting"? To find something to charge you to fix? J/K. The stuff they inspect is pretty basic.
You probably want to use some buzz words like my car hesitates on light acceleration or you feel a light miss-fire. Something to point them in the direction of the coils. Should they find any bad, they will only replace those. The stress test itself is rather expensive. You would be better off buying a set of Visteon coils off of ebay and having them installed. Also, V6 or V8? I'm not sure the TSB covers the V6.
An oil change for $30 isn't bad (unless you can do it yourself). What are they "expecting"? To find something to charge you to fix? J/K. The stuff they inspect is pretty basic.
You probably want to use some buzz words like my car hesitates on light acceleration or you feel a light miss-fire. Something to point them in the direction of the coils. Should they find any bad, they will only replace those. The stress test itself is rather expensive. You would be better off buying a set of Visteon coils off of ebay and having them installed. Also, V6 or V8? I'm not sure the TSB covers the V6.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
Just to maybe clarify what LS4me said...
You need to go in and indicate that you believe you are having mild misfires. Print a copy of the letter below and take it with you.
http://www.allstatetrucks.com/Recalls/cust satisfaction recalls/07m07/R07M07 dealer bulletin.pdf
While stress testing is expensive, by the terms of the letter, you are only on the hook for the standard diagnostic charge (usually $100), and then only if all coils test out as good. The chances of that are pretty much zero. So, I think you have a good plan and it shouldn't cost you anything but for the oil change.
The reason that they do oil change at (or sometimes below) cost is that it gets customers in the door and its a chance to sell other services, like brake jobs. It's not a bad thing from the customer side either. If you get a relationship going with a dealer, they're more likely to do little things for you without charging.
You need to go in and indicate that you believe you are having mild misfires. Print a copy of the letter below and take it with you.
http://www.allstatetrucks.com/Recalls/cust satisfaction recalls/07m07/R07M07 dealer bulletin.pdf
While stress testing is expensive, by the terms of the letter, you are only on the hook for the standard diagnostic charge (usually $100), and then only if all coils test out as good. The chances of that are pretty much zero. So, I think you have a good plan and it shouldn't cost you anything but for the oil change.
The reason that they do oil change at (or sometimes below) cost is that it gets customers in the door and its a chance to sell other services, like brake jobs. It's not a bad thing from the customer side either. If you get a relationship going with a dealer, they're more likely to do little things for you without charging.
@ LS4me; I know it's brakes. I just quickly wrote this up and didn't really proof read...I have a V8. I'm pretty sure that v8s are under the warranty if I'm not mistaken.
@joegr; just want to say you've helped me out so much in the Past and I really do appreciate it! I already had an oil change at my mechanic but I was just giving examples of the stuff they do for The Works specials. So I might just have them just check the coils and air filter. I took my car there once for a reprogramming so hopefully we build a little bond. They have me in their records lol
@joegr; just want to say you've helped me out so much in the Past and I really do appreciate it! I already had an oil change at my mechanic but I was just giving examples of the stuff they do for The Works specials. So I might just have them just check the coils and air filter. I took my car there once for a reprogramming so hopefully we build a little bond. They have me in their records lol
Thirdworlddoug
Well-Known LVC Member
your correct it is the v8s they cover
TooManyToys
Well-Known LVC Member
Becky,
Please keep in mind that if the dealer finds only one coil bad, they will only replace that one coil and sparkplug. At 93k miles, you are about in need of having all of them done.
Your wording indicates to me you are not about to break out a set of wrenches to do this so here is what I would recommend. Ask your mechanic what it would charge to replace the sparkplugs and coils if you supplied the coils (only because then you can control the brand of coils that will be installed). Then if you go to the dealer and they find a bad coil or two, you can ask them what it would cost to replace the rest of them. With the info you already have from your mechanic you can make a spot decision on where you are going to get the remaining coils replaced.
You choice of coils would either be to get Vistions from an eBay source that people here will tell you about, or an on-line source such as Tasca, Max or Rock Auto.
As far as your brakes squealing, I spend 80% of my 30 year career trying to deal with that issue. Noise is not necessarily an indicator of a problem, but with aftermarket pads usually a poor choice of noise insulator, friction material composition, or geometric changes from the OE design. Or it can even be the rotor design. Some band-aids or handywork could reduce the squealing, but that's iffy. If the mechanic doesn't see anything wrong, you may have to make a choice to live with it or pay for a changeout to another brand of pads.
Please keep in mind that if the dealer finds only one coil bad, they will only replace that one coil and sparkplug. At 93k miles, you are about in need of having all of them done.
Your wording indicates to me you are not about to break out a set of wrenches to do this so here is what I would recommend. Ask your mechanic what it would charge to replace the sparkplugs and coils if you supplied the coils (only because then you can control the brand of coils that will be installed). Then if you go to the dealer and they find a bad coil or two, you can ask them what it would cost to replace the rest of them. With the info you already have from your mechanic you can make a spot decision on where you are going to get the remaining coils replaced.
You choice of coils would either be to get Vistions from an eBay source that people here will tell you about, or an on-line source such as Tasca, Max or Rock Auto.
As far as your brakes squealing, I spend 80% of my 30 year career trying to deal with that issue. Noise is not necessarily an indicator of a problem, but with aftermarket pads usually a poor choice of noise insulator, friction material composition, or geometric changes from the OE design. Or it can even be the rotor design. Some band-aids or handywork could reduce the squealing, but that's iffy. If the mechanic doesn't see anything wrong, you may have to make a choice to live with it or pay for a changeout to another brand of pads.
$1000 is not normal but $100 is more typical of a diagnostic fee.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
I think that you need to find a better dealer and report this one to Ford. Most likely, their plan/scam is to scare you into buying another (new or used) car from them and trading your LS in for next to nothing.