Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Liars and Cheats

A little entertainment for you:

I have been working on the a/c in order to arrive at the selling price. They had gotten an estimate on the a/c repairs from Pep Boys about 3 weeks ago for about $300.00 so we agreed on a selling price of $2,000.00 less the a/c repairs. So after I pay for the a/c to get fixed, $1,700.00.
So I took the car back to Pep Boys and they said they would have to re-estimate the cost of the fix. They came Back with $700.11. Later that evening we went back down there and called them on it and got our $50.00 back for being incompetent. The next morning I took the car to the Ford dealership to get an estimate. They told me it would cost $1151.07 to fix it and refused to give me an itemized written estimate. One thing he said as I pressed him was that the only reason that I would want it was if I were going to have the work done by someone else. After I payed the cashier the $30.00 inspection fee and received only a receipt stating a/c inspection for $30.00 I asked to speak with the service manager. Well, I never saw him. The Assistant Service Manager that had been "helping" me ran straight over and gave me the full written estimate with part numbers and prices. What a lying, shady, scamming, pant-load they are at that dealership. Moss Bro. Ford in Colton. So far I have spent $180.00 on a/c parts. The dealership said the compressor was bad and needed replacing but so far it cools to 38 degrees and seems to be working fine.
I used to have a great friend & mechanic in Fulleton but he closed up shop and moved to the river so I have been looking for someone trustworthy in the area. No luck so far. Fortunately this isn't my first time around the block so I can usually sniff out a rat.
So, assuming the compressor is still working and holding pressure for the next few weeks the total price I will pay for the car will be $2,000.00.

-Dan

If you can, just put a set of gauges across the compressor. If the compressor is compressing the refrigerant then it is fine. You should find the leak however. This may be a little harder to do. Do you know if leak detection dye was installed into the system? If not you may have to just try by soaping the joints. Most likely it is just one of the service valves. Are all the caps on the service valves? These are known to be trouble spots on any refrigeration system.

Good luck

Ooops! I only spent $90.00 on parts after I just returned one of the hoses.

-Dan

Welcome to the wonderful world of Ford "service"
I'm from that area and I actually bought my SVT a Fairview Ford in San Berdoo...if you have to take it to the dealership take it there...I've had significantly less problems with them than any other dealership I've dealt with.

the O rings on these cars do leak. ford has come out with larger orings to prevent leakage. I do all my own AC work on both of my Contours.......

These are orings for the ac lines. There are improved orings for where the hose fittings clamp on the compressor. They are green in color.