Driving through page Az as we always do with no plans to give it more than a restroom break. We travel 15 miles west of page and the ford explorer gets hot. Have it towed to
to Lake Powell Ford per recommendation of the tow truck driver. We arrived about 2:30PM Thursday. They were informed that we are passing through and needed to be in Provo Utah tonight. They told us, ""we will get it in right away and find the problem"". We told them we would rent a car and be back Monday morning service department told us we will have it done by Monday and would call with estimate. The next day Friday about 11:30AM they called with estimate, $571..00 for thermostat housing and, would be ready at 11:00 AM on Monday. ""Whoa"" that sound high. They said 3 hours to change it and 1 hour to find problem at $90.00 per hour. What do we do we are in Provo Utah. Go ahead and fix it no choice for us. We travel back to page with rental car on Sunday and get a room. The next day Monday we go to service and they tell us waiting for parts to arrive between 10:00AM and 2:00PM. It is clear they didn't look at the explorer until Friday morning and ordered parts then. We had to turn in the rental car so we waited in waiting room. Then at 1:45 PM the parts arrive and we have to wait for mechanic to come back from lunch. He returned at 2:00PM and started work. I watched from a distance. He returned from test drive at 3:05 PM all done! It should be note that the service department referred to the job as ""Just a thermostat housing!"" I went to pay and protested about the $571.00 charges. The service guy got the calculator out and start calculating. He said I will give you 10% discount. Oh that sounds good! He then finishes and says ""$570.00, and look here I am lower than the estimate. It sure was by a whole whopping $1.00. Well with no choice I pay the man and we leave Page AZ at 3:30PM
I check with my Thatcher Az Ford dealer about said charges. Ford dealer here say would do the same job for $225.00 labor and a max of 200.00 for parts but could be less depending upon condition of other related parts for a total of $425.00. With the labor set at 2.5 hours. Be advised Lake Powell Ford is a ripoff! I would advise you to avoid them.
more