MNCRF150

OK, so While driving my 2007 F-150 SXT 4 x 4 on the highway it would kind of hesitate between 40 and 50 mph. Then one morning when it was foggy out it was having trouble even accelerating and then low and behold almost died on me and check engine light went on. Babied it back to the Ford dealership and they pull the code. Intake is leaking and needs to be replaced, might as well do the plugs and any and all parts since it is apart. $1600 is what they told me.

They call 4 days later, broke two intake bolts off and they need to charge me extra for the time to get them out. I say go ahead but I can’t believe they have no time in the estimate for stubborn bolts.

Then they tell me they can’t get them out and they need to send the engine out to a machine shop and their easy out is stuck in the engine block. They heat it up some more and finally get the bolts out after In inquire about their sanity as well as mine. Then they realize the coil is bad and that needs to be replaced as well because it is dropping cylinder #6.

So my question, what the hell are the manifolds made out of plastic? How would one warp? How sophisticated is the CPU as far as recording codes and how many different data points does the motor record when the check engine light is activated?

Picked up my truck and they tell me all is well, $2100 later. Driving the other day and bring it down the entrance ramp from 20 mph to about 85 mph with the pedal all the way down, about 80 mph the check engine light comes on again and the truck sputters?

Is this the fuel pump about to crap out or the fuel filter plugged? I am leery about bringing my truck back to the wizards at the dealership

Thoughts? Comments? Smart *** remarks?

convergent

I don't have any wisdom, but I think I'd be pretty annoyed by now if I was you. I've had a few experiences like that over the years. Having a trusted mechanic is a very valuable asset.

moulay

holly cow man $2100 for nothing. you could have done it yourself you know it is not that complicated to remove the manifold and replace the gaskets. but I don't think it is the manifold, if you had a leak your truck will be driving ruff and shaky, but it shouldn't stall on you. how the hell did they brake the manifold bolt?
it could be the fuel pump dying, injectors clogged, fuel filter dirty, spark plugs dead..etc what code did they scan?

redknight1

you are getting taken to the cleaners my friend. First letting them do all that work for $1600, then letting them charge you for their own mistake of breaking the bolts. I would take it back to the dealership, get your next repair done for free since they didn't fix anything. Otherwise I would contact ford and your lawyer.

Mod (Ret.)

In the OP's case, apparently it was complicated to remove the manifold; some bolts broke! While I'll pride myself on my shade tree mechanical skills, breaking off bolts is always a concern whenever I do certain types of work. My tool box is not equipped to remove broken studs or bolts either, so I'd be left with a large boat anchor in my garage or driveway until I could figure out how I was going to address that.

I tip my hat to the OP for realizing that some work is perhaps beyond the skill sets or tools available at home, and left to those better equipped to perform the job. That seems to be the issue here; where they better equipped in this case to diagnose and do the work?

To answer the question(s) pertaining to the fuel filter, sure, a partially clogged fuel filter can cause poor running issues. How long has it been since the fuel filter has been replaced? How long have you owned the truck, and was it ever replaced during your ownership? Those answers can help you decide if it should be changed. May not solve your running issue, but changing a fuel filter as routine maintenance does not hurt, and is not a costly repair.