Was O2 Sensors, now is DEALERS ARE STUPID when coming to working with customers!!

[Sare]

I just got off the phone with the dealer about sensors for my car.... $125 a piece and this doesnt include time and labor.. Is there any cheaper way to fix this sensor prob? I have to get them fixed cause I failed echeck and my plates expire soon.. if anyone has any suggestions they will be greatly appreciated. :-D

[B3NN3TT]

Those sensors ARE expensive. However, they are not hard to swap out, if you know which ones are bad, and know someone with a 7/8" wrench, some WD-40, and a jack. Someone here must be nearby enough to help out- how long till new tags time? I'd be happy to do it, but Manchester sure is a hike from Columbus...

No e-check in Columbus! WOOHOOO!

No idea why, but I won't question it...

[OSUStallion]

Ok this is the easiest thing in the world trust me! But this is cruicial.. DO you have a Check Engine Light on?

If yes then simply go to Auto Zone and have them scan you CEL. They will tell you for FREE exactly which O2 sensor is malfunctioning. They will also tell you what kind you need and probably have it in stock. I had the same problem. Be ready though O2 sensors are like 80 bucks.

Anyways if this is case then write back. They will probably say like Bank 1/Bank2 blah blah. We can help with that.


Tony

[Sare]

Yeah my check engine has been on for quite awhile. I had it checked my akron transmission last week when I took my car in to have the transmission checked (when it downshifted it would either leap off the ground or sound like the rear of my car got riped off, the cause of this was when I got rear ended last summer). They did the CEL scan and said it was an O2 sensor but not which one. My dad told me to take it to the dealer and get it fix but for 500$ uh.. I know dont have that much. :-/

my plates expire mid-april. The echeck place said I can get 30 day tags if need be... but I currently think they are a$$ wipes.. when they went to run my car they put the rear wheels on the rollers.. I knocked on the window and told him its front wheel.. i spent 10 minutes fighting with the idiot that my car isnt rear wheel drive.. he kept saying "its a cougar".. no sh*t! I only been driving the thing for the last year! I sooo dont want to go back there.

[LionMarshal]

My Sensors on too, i just bought the car like 3 weeks ago, and it already on. Thank god its still under warranty.

[Sare]

well I did buy that insurance/warranty when I bought the car.. but I still have to pay the larger amount. Like when I got my passanger window fixed. it came to 190$ I had to pay 110$.. blah.

[Sled]

Ok- now, how many times do I have to tell you ? Stop going to the damn dealer****! Seriously, they will rip you off then rip you off some more. $120 for an o2 sensor? No freaking way. They must have some good stuff they are smoking over there! More like $80 max for a sensor. Call Fordpartsonline. Secondly, you said yourself the car smells like rotten eggs ...I'm no mechanic but every time Ive ever heard that it was the catalytic converter. Replacing O2 sensors isnt gonna fix the converter. Listen to Tony. Go to Auto Zone, find out which sensor it is, and then only buy one for that position. If the problem remains then replace the Cat. If you spend $500 on O2 sensors I might not ever talk to you again:slap:

(unless it ends up being ALL the sensors but um...highly highly highly unlikely)

[OSUStallion]

Yes.. go there now. They will hook up a little hand held machine under your dash near your steering wheel. It will tell you EXACTLY which one to change. Then all you have to do in jack you car up go under there and change it. Its as easy as changing a light bulb

Front of car
Bank 2 of Engine


Bank 1 of Engine
Real of Car

There should be 2 02 sensors on each exhaust manifold. (the pipes leaving your engine) If it says its the frist O2 sensor than its the one closest to the engine. If its the second one then its farther down the pipe.
here is an example of 02 sensors and their position. They are the things hanging out of the pipes on the side of the motor
02 (http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/3LIMG%5F018%2Ejpg)

[Sare]

I made a deal with the dealer.. told them to run the cel check and what comes up is what they fix and I am going to be there while they run the check and they are gonna tell me if not... :disgust: i kick some booty!
I will let you know friday what went down.

::EDIT:: Mom called them and got what I wanted! wOOt!

[Cat88Extreme]

Just as fyi, Slade just found the O2 sensors at Ford Parts Online for $58.73 and that is the price (+\- a couple dollars) that the dealership pays for the part.

[Sled]

Not that I'm convinced its the O2 sensors but here is some info for ya:

List price for a 2.5L O2 sensor according to fordpartsonline part # XC2Z9F472BB $96.67
Ford parts online price for same sensor: $58.73

Now will you finally start listening to us- unless you like pissing away money:slap:

[Sare]

Mom went to Advanced Auto and gotta quote from them.. $65 a sensor.. and they said theres only 2 found on my cougar. So I will see. Oh Im not letting them touch my coug till they call the insurance company and make sure that its covered.. if it is I might tell them to go ahead (They are still running the cel check first). I tried calling the insurance company but all I get is "Sorry for the inconvenience we are experiencing technical difficulties due to weather" (the company is out of Denver, Co.) So maybe I will save some money if it is covered by them. :shrug: who knows..

Anyways back to work.

[Sled]

Ok- seriously, Ive never been so damn frustrated on here as I am right now so this is the last time I post on this.

1. WHOEVER SAID YOU ONLY HAVE 2 O2 Sensors IS AN IDIOT! Youve got either 3 or 4. 2 is not an option.

2. I forget if youve got an auto or mtx but here is Catalytic converter prices:

MTX 2.5L; list $508.75 Fordpartsonline $412.09
ATX 2.5L; list $372.17 Fordpartsonline $301.46

Do these supposed proffessionals even have any school or training or do they just make stuff up as they go? WTF. See why I dont let the dealer within 50 ft of my Cougar?

Sorry I sound harsh but damn, crawl up under there and count em!

[Cat88Extreme]

Also catalytic converters are covered by law (federal) for 5 years so it doesn't matter what kind of warranty you have or had, it is covered for 5 years no matter what, meaning you wouldn't pay for the part or it's installation.

[Sled]

Ok- actually its 5 years/ 80k miles IIRC. And she's over that. ;)

ok- now I'm done...maybe

[Sare]

I will be hitting 90,000 in about 500 miles or less.. which will mean end of may she'll hit it.

:rolleyes: Thanks for seeing me as a dumb@$$.
I never buy parts or pieces from Advanced Auto or Auto Zone. I only go to dealer if its something major such as passager window motor broke had warranty why not get it fixed.

But thanks for the info, i quit b!tch*n, see ya later. :disgust:

btw, slade my cheeks are starting to hurt. :slap:

[OSUStallion]

Ok so I think i figured out the problem. There are two KINDS of O2 sensors on our cars. I think one is like 100 bucks the other is 80 I dont remember. Maybe thats what they ment.

[Sled]

Dont take it personal Sare-

I am just sick of seeing dealerships rippin people off all the time. regardless of which type of sensor it is they are NOT $120+ each. That is just a bunch of crap. My dealer tried to tag me for $550+tax on a part that cost me $118 and a half hour to do myself. They just try to squeeze every dime till someone calls them out. Hopefully your extended warranty will work out but I guess till we know exactly what the problem is we cant do much. Then again, you have to count on the dealer to actually be truthful about what they found.

Just take the part costs with you and if they are waaaay off then call the dealer on it and ask why since these prices I posted are from a ford dealer. They shouldnt be that far off. Also, if they cant price match then they dont want your business. Good luck- sorry if I offended you; you know it wasnt the intent.

[Sare]

Well shes at the shop.. and still havent heard anything...
theres like 5 lincolns, 4 taraus and 1 1977 mustang convertable in the bays..

[Sare]

Its now been 3.5 hours since i left my baby... and they havent called me yet.. :-/

[Sare]

Heh, I HATE dealers. I know I will probably get a bunch of "I told you so" but godish dealers are a joke!
I just got off the phone with them (3:00pm). The dude was trying to tell me that its my transmission that is kicking up sensor probs. And is trying to tell me that this code will enable my car if it goes to long. I asked about the o2 senors coming up and he avoided my question and kept telling my about the transmission prob. I asked him again whats some other codes coming up and he said hold on let me see if it he saved the list. He said that a lein code came up which means its either engine vaccum leak or o2 sensors.
I told him to only correct the lein code and the other maintence things I told him.

I got a price on how much it would cost me if they had to find out the transmission problem: $400 to tear it down and $400 to put it back together (overall 10hrs).. and this does not include parts.

I am deciding to not fix it and if my transmission breaks, it breaks. I will rather rebuild and add a turbo than have them tear it down replace one part for $1000 and put it back together. I'd rather spend the 3,000$ to rebuild my motor/transmission and toss in a turbo.

Thanks for listening to my b!t*hen. I get my car back and hopefully it will be able to pass echeck. :rolleyes:

[LittleB]

Hey girl!

Sorry to hear of your problems. We dont have e-check in hickville Mansfield, so I can't relate.

I understand wanting things to be 'done right' and logically, to me anyways, the first thought is 'take it to my dealer...I've got the extended warranty'. However, the people working at this dealership sound, as you said, STUPID and are a bunch of rip-off artists. One can always expect to pay more at a dealer for parts, but it pisses me off when they pretty much bend you over and stick it to you good.

Hopefully, you can get your car outta there....fast... and not be out a lot of moolah.

:grouphug:

-Beth-

[Cat88Extreme]

Try this one on for size. My dealership, the dealership I bought the car from, and Ford themselves can't find the right part or part number for my driver's seat cushion. They have the cover but no cushion and this has been going on since Feb. 17th. Luckily it's all warranty work so it's 100% covered (took the car in before the warranty ran out). I had a loaner Taurus for one week and finally said put it back together and I'll drive my own until you get the right part in (thank God I did). They agreed to do that and gave me paperwork stating they would fix the problem under warranty when the part came in. Only thing I think they would have been a little more accomodating if I had a rental for over a month as it would cost them buckoo $ for that (they were paying for the rental, always do if repairs take more than 1 day).

[Sare]

I bought mine from Park Honda. Yes some one dumped my poor coug for a rice grinder! :(
But I have her now and I am going to make her all better..

Dad made me feel like an arse.. he said "if you didnt seel your bonneville you wouldnt have these problems" He says that to anyone we come into contact with when it comes to fixing my coug or making a minor adjustment. hes driven dragon kitty.. and he loves the ways she handles.. only disagreement is shes to looow.

[eurocrisp]

aw, dragon kitty

i had a cat named dragon... it was 'cuz of his eyes.

Good luck on the e-code check, its pretty weak they grade you on that.
Seriously tho, for much much less than Ford will charge, you can go to auto zone, Get the new right sensor, and then you can find some mom n' pop garage to install them for you. Probly cost you like $50 labor tops for an under 20 minute job.

[TeamNFC]

On a very off topic side note here..... WTF?!?!? is up with the "Mitter Media?" Was this some blatant attempt at advertising or was there a reason that it was uploaded into this post (of all places?) Anywya just busting some balls cause I can. It's 4am.

Peas

Kris

[EricF]

Did you know that O2 sensors are the most often (incorrectly) replaced items on cars,
Meaning that they are being replaced when they don't need to..
They are throwing a code.. which means in most cases its doing its job.

Find whats causing it... and you'll be all set. Take these guys advice
go to AutoZone, have em scan your computer..