To scrap or not to scrap - costly repairs?

[jonathanm1982]

Hi everyone,

So I've had to take my Puma in as the engine management light came on just before Christmas.

Took him to a Ford garage (I know their expensive but wanted it to be properly checked).

Turns out there is a list of things wrong with him which if I got fully done would cost for parts and labour - £1,500 which is more than he was bought for 3 years ago.

So the only approach seems to be scrapping as its not worth the money - although I love driving a Puma and I really dont want to get rid.

Just wondering it anyone might be able to offer any advice / costing for what the true cost of this work should be so I can try and make a judgement call before I scrap him.

The repairs needed are -
Rocard cover leaking oil into plug wells. Requires clean and new plugs - quoted £339.30
Heater valve electrical connector broken - quoted 160.93
Discs Front Scored Badly - less than 50% surface area intact - quoted £251.83
Front wishbone brushes split offside - quoted £114.91
Oil leak from power steering pump - quoted - £268.68
Offside driveshaft seal leaking, near side rear wheel bearing grinding - quoted £212.39

I've had a look online at just buying the parts but even this seems to be a good £400.00 - £500.00 quid and as I'm not mechnically minded I would need to pay for labour to get this fitted.

I think the answer will be scrapping but wanted to at least try to get him fixed as hes a great car.

Cheers

Jonathan

Ford Puma - Sheffield - Y13 JPM - look out for the roof rack

 

[martinthrapston]

Seriously,you would believe a ford dealership said all of that was wrong,never trust a main dealer,more intrested in trying to get you to buy a new car,if it is supposed to be that bad take it to a local garage and ask them to check the car over or put it through an mot,cam cover is not a big job and if you have a basic tool kit you can do it,but use a genuine cam gasket. The eml light is on most probably due to the oil leak where its killed the ht leads and possibly coil pack.

 

[Puma Babe]

Which Ford garage in Sheffield was this?

You could buy mine off me when I've had it VIC tested. Its a cat 3 write off that really only needed a new bumper and exhaust. Will cost a lot less than repairing yours and it's a damn good car

I'm in Sheffield and always take mine to a Ford dealer because I trust them

 

[Wild E. Coyote]

If in doubt about the effort needed to keep the car on the road, check this: http://www.escortevolution.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=149919" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After you read it all, you will probably find your car closer to a spring chicken….. :-D

 

[jimfrp88]

Those prices are absolutely shocking! :shock:

You could do must of those jobs yourself with basic tools. Shouldn't cost any more than a few hundred quid to sort that out if you do it yourself.

 

[jonathanm1982]

Cheers for the replies everyone.

I know the prices quoted by ford are massively overpriced but its just knowing what to do next.

Ideally it would be taking him to a local garage who can do all of the work at a decent price.

Id love to give the jobs a go but not being confident I think I might end up making more of a mess :?

Maybe phoning round some local garages might prove fruitful.

Anyone recommend any in Sheffield - South Yorks area?

 

[Puma Babe]

Sorry, only ever take my car to Carters in Chapeltown, Ford Garage

 

[jonathanm1982]

yeah Carters for me where rubbish last year - giving them a miss. Thought Lookers would be better but no such luck!

 

[Puma Babe]

In what way rubbish? I've been using them for over 20 years, odd niggle here and there but overall great service. Have always been well looked after there

 

[jonathanm1982]

just not good service from them, delays and over inflated prices.

Glad you have had a good experience through.

Maybe I was just unlucky

 

[oilburner]

Really annoys me when people complain about dealers prices! Does the average back street garage send all their technicians on training courses at Ford at least 4 times a year?

 

[Puma Babe]

you pay for what you get Darren. When I've tried local garages I've ended up having stuff done again at Carters to get it right.

I probably do pay a bit more at Carters but they fit me in at a moments notice, find me a courtesy car, quite often I don't get charged for diagnostics etc and when I test drove my current vehicle they just threw me the keys and said bring it back when you've had a drive.

 

[Ian G]

Firstly, that's all fixable.

Rocker cover - £28 for a Ford one - tenner or so pattern but I'd probably go Ford for that as they do fit better in my experience.
Heater valve - got a box full of them, £10.
Discs and probably pads while they're off - Pads £22 the pair, discs £31 the pair from brakeparts.co.uk
Wishbone bush, need to check which one, replacement wishbone is £25 used, bush probably about the same but there's lots of labour in pressing the bush so you're normally better throwing an entire wishbone on it. Plus the old wishbones are worth money if they're genuine Ford, for people who are upgrading the bush to an aftermarket one.
PAS leak- need to see it. Pump £30, pipes tenner or there abouts per section. Does it need fluid regularly or drip on the road?
Driveshaft seal - probably wants a CV boot, £8.
Wheel bearing - from memory about £13.

So you're under £200 for the bits. Probably the same again to do it all. Not all new, not all Ford branded but it keeps the car on the road and I would bet when you drive to work the next day, you'll arrive at the same time as if you'd shelled out grands.

Out of interest, did you sort the original EML issue?

Also when is the MOT due? It'll fail on the wheel bearing if you can feel it through the suspension when the wheel is rotated. Possibly also the brakes. The other stuff is discretionary so you may be able to put that off.

The most expensive part of owning a Puma should be the road tax, and that's because you've got to buy it. Maintenance need not more than the car is worth if you are a bit wise with it.

Main dealers are nice - but so is running a car on the cheap. Particularly when three months down the line when the car is fine you'd never even know who did it.

 

[tuonokid]

Top reply Ian G
Ford main dealers are such rip off merchants. Yes they do send off their Technicians on training courses but it's not necessarily those guys that work on your cars.
Barry

 

[jimfrp88]

Exactly Barry...
Yes, Ford may be 'the best' people to service and repair the Puma... But how can they honestly expect someone to spend £1500 to repair a car that's worth around £700?
I mean come on, £339 to replace the rocker gasket and spark plugs... I'd have laughed in their faces!
That's just ridiculous..

 

[Glenn_]

If you lived closer I would of helped you out.

The garage is only looking for work.

 

[ElDude at Allison Automotive]

Those prices seem REDICULOUSLY high even for FORD .. I had a steering rack replaced at FORD for what they are charging to change a gasket and plugs... :lol:

 

[3dcandy]

Try and find a local garage that will do the work bit by bit...
Keep another Puma on the road that way...

 

[red]

The rocker cover price seems outrageous to me to!?

 

[yippeekiay]

The whole lot seems outrageous but I'm not suprised either. The ONE time I went to get work done at FORD they wanted an arm and a leg for new suspension all round. I bought my coilovers instead for HALF the price!!!