fuel pump install turns into nightmare *warning* rant

[codypka]

Just a little rant about my now going on 4 day ordeal with pepboys replacing my fuel pump.

1. I take car in. They say they have the pump in stock, i go home
2. they call me back, no they dont have the pump, and they cant have it for 3 to 5 days
3. I purchase the pump that both autozone and advance auto parts recomend, drop it off the pep boys
4. They call me back an hour later, "we broke the plastic tab that holds the pump, a new one will be here in two days
5. the part come in and they call me to tell me the pump doesnt fit
6. i search around and end up ordering the pump from the dealer ($280 now instead of $100). It arrives the next day (today)
7. I deliver the new pump and take the not-fitting one back to advance who tell me they cant refund my money because the idiots at pepboys got gas all over it
8. Pep boyss calls me, "this pump doesnt fit either, but we are calling ford to send us the right one"
9. They call back an hour later "oh wait, nevermin, it does fit. it'll be ready in under an hour


...now, 6 hours later, i've heard nothing from them. I'm just waiting for the next call that will inevitably continue this nightmare

 

[zorrex]

B.b.b.

101010

 

[beyondloadedSE]

that sucks. Perhaps for future reference, I recommend DIY. Im sure theres even a how-to in the duratec maintenance. Remove the rear seat, get some tin snips and peel back the sheet metal to expose the fuel pump canister. Remove the retaining ring. Pull out fuel pump and install new one.

 

[Jason43]

How-to's on the main page. Being that you have a returnless car, the shop, as well as AZ probably sold you a return style pump since they are more common. And in the future, don'y let Pep Boys touch your car. Thats just common sense.

 

[codypka]

I would have liked to do it myself but i'm not mechanically inclined, so i decided to bite the bullet and pay for a shop to do it. OUr local pepboys has done nothing but great work on my car and my families cars since we moved to NJ, so I didnt hesitate to bring it there.

Update: they finally have the pump in and the car still wont run and they cant do a diagnostic until tomorrow when the technician comes in. My car has shown signs of fuel pump failure for months now (bogging when gas tank nears empty and going around corners). I dont know what else it could be (i already replaced the fuel filter). I just hope they dont tell me its something tremenously expensive tomorrow.

anyone know what else could cause this?

please refer to this thread i made when i took the car in on monday:
http://contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=15375

 

[codypka]

also, about a month ago i recieved the CEL code P0420, which is catalytic converter failure or something to that regard. I'm not sure if this could somehow be related to my current problem

please help!

 

[todras]

Should have asked another CEGer in the region to install. Take about an hour! Get teh upgraded SVT Focus pump for $100 and be done. I'm sure more inclined at fixing it then the guys at Pepgirls.

http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.php?s=howto&displayid=39

 

[98SVTC]

I would have liked to do it myself but i'm not mechanically inclined....

And neither are they apparently. One thing to remember is that in many of these types of places, this is the first job that many of these so called techs have had. They can't get hired at a good place until they get experience. They don't get paid as much at these places so while the price you pay may seem lower, you more often than not get what you pay for. I don't think I'd trust them to replace my tires.
Karl

 

[Shaggy]

Next time, drop a note in the NE area. I would've helped with the pump replacement. I am only about 30 mins away!

 

[qbcsvt]

I wouldnt mind helping, sry i didnt get to this earlier. Im always down in New Brunswick to with my GF @ Rutgers.... and Im 30 minutes away living in Jersey City...

Im also glad to see we have some PPL in JERSEY...

- Amyn

 

[codypka]

Next time, drop a note in the NE area. I would've helped with the pump replacement. I am only about 30 mins away!

I wouldnt mind helping, sry i didnt get to this earlier. Im always down in New Brunswick to with my GF @ Rutgers.... and Im 30 minutes away living in Jersey City...

Im also glad to see we have some PPL in JERSEY...

- Amyn

Thanks anyway guys, guess I should have asked around first. Everything is taken care of now... finally!
qbcsvt, I'm glad to see there are other CSVT's in Jersey too! I actually go to Rutgers, your gf goes to RU?

 

[Rich2279]

I do as much work on my cars that I can so that I can avoid issues like that.

 

[99SE]

How-to's on the main page. Being that you have a returnless car, the shop, as well as AZ probably sold you a return style pump since they are more common. And in the future, don'y let Pep Boys touch your car. Thats just common sense.

I believe my car is a returnless car and I bought the pump from autozone. I had to use my old sock filter but it fit fine. I've been running that pump for almost 40,000 miles and have had no problems.

I don't see where the pump is different in the returnless fuel systems. Can someone point it out.