Update. Decided to try Peninsula Ford of San Bruno (on El Camino Real). They are almost as bad as Souty City Ford.
As I said before, my coolant light is coming on, and I don't spot a puddle on the ground somehow, so I took it in. My appt was for 8:15. I got there a LITTLE late. They didn't even TOUCH my car until 1130AM! If you can't touch the car for 3 hours what's the point of having an appointment?
About 1130AM, the junior tech jacked it up and did a pressure test. I see drips coming out the bottom. Looks like time for a new pump as the leak's around there some where. Checked the computer... $115 for a PLAIN pump. Hello! The one with METAL impeller is only $65! When I asked the parts guy, he didn't even KNOW the impeller is made of plastic!
Then the service advisor came along. I don't know what he ate in the morning, but he sounds as if he's still asleep, and has the "see if I care" attitude. No pleasantries at all. Then he dropped the bomb: you need a new pump, and we don't have time to do it today. We'll give you a shuttle ride within 10 miles, you can come back tomorrow.
I told him I need the car today, he basically reinterated the whole thing. He even went as far as claiming the car was already disassembled when all the guy did was removed that "Duratec" cover to look for the leak.
Then I dropped the bomb on him: I asked him to close the car up and fill it up with coolant so I can keep driving it for a day or two. He looked as if I hit him with a sledgehammer. He tried to tell me I'm wasting time and money... I insisted. Then he just said "If that's what you want to do, that's what we'll do." Then he turned around and went to close the ticket without another word.
I STILL ended up paying $100 "diagnostic fee" for that pressure test when they're not even 100% sure it's the pump that's leaking!
As a "gesture" they put a gallon of premixed coolant in my trunk "just in case". That deserves an extra point.
This dealer experience is about 2 out of 10. Pretty abysmal.
I need a shop recommendation for my plain "Jane" LX/V6 in San Francisco please... No more than 15 miles out would be preferred.
