Excessive Repairs

[syncmax]

my car has ~32K miles on it. I have already replaced wheel bearings on rear wheel under warranty. I recently started hearing thump noise going over bumps. Sure enough one of the rear shocks need to be replaced and they have ordered it. When I took the car to the dealer, they recommended coolant flush and fuel injection and throttle body service @ $320 plus tax. I declined them for now, In the write up I saw "significant discoloration observed in coolant". This has me concerned - how can the coolant turn color so soon - I am driving an elantra for over 130K miles still with original coolant. With all these repairs, should I go ahead and buy an extended warranty before the factory warranty runs out? 

[obob]

I bought my extended warranty from these guys and saved some money.  http://andersonandkoch-ford-warranty.com/ [on the site it says "When you buy a FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY online, you save hundreds of dollars over buying at a dealership!] (There is a message thread on extended warranties.  That's where I heard about those guys) You may just want to get their pricing if you want to get it from your dealer and it gives you some kind of baseline.  I personally liked getting it off the website.  My dealer wanted me to come in and go into "the room" and I wanted something simple.  They wouldn't do it over the phone.

 

I haven't used it yet but it nice knowing for a few years I will not have any huge expenses.  I figured one bad circuit board and it practically pays for itself.  

 

I think questioning the coolant flush and fuel injection something is indicated.  No one that I know on this website has had to flush coolant, though some have had to add to it.  As far as injectors, some people here add an injector cleaner to gas every once in a while but not something the dealer does.  

 

I vaguely recall one person having to replace shocks, so it is rare but on a 2015 - is that a warranty item ?

 

One good thing about the extended warranty you can get an option for a free rental car though I don't know the specifics on when you get one.

Edited September 6, 2017 by obob

[jestevens]

The coolant is bright orange (sort of like the color of orange punch), you should be able to see it in the recovery tank for both the engine and the inverter coolant tank, does yours look burnt or have metal flakes in it or something?

 

Unless someone put the wrong coolant in it or a pump mechanically failed I can't think why you would need to do all of that at 32K mi..  I've got 75K mi using the cheap gas and never once did my dealer recommend an injector service.

 

Seems like they would like to sell you a bunch of services on top of the warranty work you actually needed done, maybe you should try taking it to a different shop and get a second opinion?

Edited September 6, 2017 by jestevens

[ptjones]

At 164k mi. I haven't replaced my coolant, but I have added to it after I installed ICE block heater and then removed it after it started leaking 2 yrs later. :sad:  I wouldn't worry about it till at least 100k mi.  and just add a bottle of good injector cleaner every 20k mi. :)  I would be looking for a different Dealer that's looking out for my interest, not theirs. IMO :)   I still haven't replaced my struts, don't think their shocks.

 

Paul 

[Tree63]

I bought my extended warranty from these guys and saved some money.  http://andersonandkoch-ford-warranty.com/ [on the site it says "When you buy a FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY online, you save hundreds of dollars over buying at a dealership!] (There is a message thread on extended warranties.  That's where I heard about those guys) You may just want to get their pricing if you want to get it from your dealer and it gives you some kind of baseline.  I personally liked getting it off the website.  My dealer wanted me to come in and go into "the room" and I wanted something simple.  They wouldn't do it over the phone.

 

I haven't used it yet but it nice knowing for a few years I will not have any huge expenses.  I figured one bad circuit board and it practically pays for itself.  

 

I think questioning the coolant flush and fuel injection something is indicated.  No one that I know on this website has had to flush coolant, though some have had to add to it.  As far as injectors, some people here add an injector cleaner to gas every once in a while but not something the dealer does.  

 

I vaguely recall one person having to replace shocks, so it is rare but on a 2015 - is that a warranty item ?

 

One good thing about the extended warranty you can get an option for a free rental car though I don't know the specifics on when you get one.

 

I had to replace a fuel injector at 80K km/ 50K miles - only unusual maintenance so far ... Flushing coolant due to colour change at 32K miles doesn't sound right.

[markd]

My 2014 SEL has been trouble free so far and I'm sitting at 29,000 and 35 months. I need to look and see if I bought 5 or 6 years of warranty. I love my car but I won't keep it a single day without a warranty.

[cmax-nynj]

There are plenty of NYC C-Max cabbies with 200K + miles. I bet you 95% of them haven't changed their coolant.  Your dealer is a rip off.

[SnowStorm]

The owner's manual describes the expected (and OK) changes in coolant color.  I too would look for another dealer.