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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Cars / September 200693 ford aerostar
my problem is that on some days my van wont start so im thinking distributor cap. now i took it to a repair shop and they said that was the problem and also i need a tune up and wires and they quoted me $600.00 to put new wires and new cap and air filter and fuel filter so my question is $600.00 to much to pay?.and is there any way i can do it myself with a book or anything else. by the way i am a woman could that be why the price is so high. please help. > my problem is that on some days my van wont start so im thinking > distributor cap. now i took it to a repair shop and they said that was the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > or anything else. by the way i am a woman could that be why the price is so > high. please help. $600 is a lot for that; it should be $300 or less for plugs, wires, cap & filters. If you want to try it on your own, get the FACTORY Shop Manual from eBay (used) or from www.helminc.com (for new). You should also have a set of socket & open-end wrenches, a test light, a torque wrench, and a code reader. The first thing I would do is put in fresh spark plugs, which go a long way toward helping a car start. Another design weakness preventing a quick cold start is the Idle Air Control valve that wears out over the years & miles. >>my problem is that on some days my van wont start so im thinking >>distributor cap. now i took it to a repair shop and they said that was the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > design weakness preventing a quick cold start is the Idle Air Control > valve that wears out over the years & miles. I agree, $600 is WAY too much. Around $300 would be reasonable because the Aerostar is so difficult to work on, considering dealer labor and parts. Being a woman may make a DIY repair easier, as your hands and arms may tend to be smaller than the average gorilla male technician. ;) I did a quick search for manuals on Ebay. There are a couple of paper EVTMs (Electrical diagrams) but I didn't find any of the main service manuals in paper form. For a complete set there would be 3 books (EVTM, PCED, and Volume H). There are lots of CDs though, and they cover all of the material in the 3 books. The Ford service manuals have been available on CD since 1992. They take a little getting used to but are the same info as in the paper manuals. Here's one: http://makeashorterlink.com/?K24352ADD . This is a (possibly illegal?) copy of the CD used in the dealerships. To do the tune up may take up a weekend the first time if you havent attempted to work on your car before. It would be good to have a knowledgable friend for backup. With the proper tools, as mentioned earlier, it should cost ~$120 using good parts. Use Motorcraft plugs and good (~$70) plug wires. Good luck. In all honesty, I'd be looking at 4 hours (at least) for labour.... others may quote less but rush the job leaving a host of trouble in the making behind - there is just no room at the distributor for rushing (anybody ever look at that dinky little hole???) - especially if the tech is to run the replacement wires correctly as to avoid possible RFI enterference with computerized signals as well as avoid having the wires contact hot exhaust components (and failing shortly there-after). At the same time, I would recommend that the shop inspect and clean (if necessary) the sensing elements in the MAF (mass airflow) sensor... after 13 years I would imagine that they are wearing a pretty hefty "fur coat". Other considerations - has anyone laid with their face pushed into the 13 year old carpet between the front footwells? I might suggest, if the van is taken to a shop, some attempt be made to ensure there is no refuse on the front floor and the area vacuumed..... It can be nothing less than amazing as to what some customers expect us to endure. While a factory manual (the "pirate" CDs and DVDs are plainly labelled "Not For Resale"... I leave the morality up to the individual) is good intruction, it is not a replacement for experience or patience..... For someone learning how easy it is to damage new parts, I would NOT suggest the cramped, difficult to maneouver in engine compartment of the Aerostar as a classroom. FWIW, in our area, four hours of shop time would be nearly $400 (plus tax). I cannot vouch for how good the tech that performs the service is going to be, but going to a shop that lowballs the price wont usually have concientious employees. Of interesting note.... even after removing the access panel between the front footwells, it is still extremely difficult to view much of the distributor cap... the parts that matter cannot be viewed without removing the cap altogether.... considering the time spent and the difficulty resulting from the cramped quarters, I wouldn't remove the cap unless a new one was going to be installed. I am left wondering about the accuracy of this particular diagnosis... > In all honesty, I'd be looking at 4 hours (at least) for labour.... others > may quote less but rush the job leaving a host of trouble in the making [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > one was going to be installed. I am left wondering about the accuracy of > this particular diagnosis... Mr Warman, I defer completely to your experience (and my own) on these vehicles. They aren't for the uninitiated or inexperienced. I agree totally with the first part of your post (4 hours, clean the MAF, etc.) The Aerostar is not the ideal vehicle for learning, but more a "trial by fire" for a DIYer. If you can work on "that one" then... The OP was obviously less than a DIYer, by admission, and wondering abouthow to possibly reduce an, IMHO, out of line repair bill. No matter how you look at it, $600 for a basic tune up(plugs, wires, filters), on an Aerostar or any other vehicle, is just a little tough to swallow. .. >> Of interesting note.... even after removing the access panel between >> the front footwells, it is still extremely difficult to view much of [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > look at it, $600 for a basic tune up(plugs, wires, filters), on an > Aerostar or any other vehicle, is just a little tough to swallow. As a summat advanced DIY with relatively small hands... I recall doing rotor, cap and wires in about 2 1/2 hours. Wire routing takes longer than anything else.. and I still didnt get it exactly right. Plugs were done another time as I only have short rations of patience. The right (passenger) bank took about an hour. I'd suggest the OP remove the engine cover and make sure of the present wire routing (though it may be wrong, if it's been done before) maybe take a picture. Then inform whatever shop selected that the job should duplicate the stock routing.  SignatureYeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price you pay..DEAL with it! > my problem is that on some days my van wont start so im thinking > distributor cap. is there any way i can do it myself with a book > or anything else. by the way i am a woman could that be why the price is so > high. please help. I have owned a '91 Aerostar and currently own a '93 Aerostar and a '96 Aerostar. Between the three vehicles I have put on about 700K miles and the '93 and '96 are still going strong. First off, if you've never replaced spark plugs on anything, the Aerostar is not a vehicle to learn on. I've seen a dealership tech take four hours to replace the plugs and wires and simply give up. $600 is too high, but it all depends on what they are going to do to it. As far as spark plugs on this vehicle, I only recommend Autolite or Motorcraft double platinum. If I had to recommend one brand of plug wire, it would have to be Motorcraft. Do NOT put cheap plug wires on this vehicle. You will regret it within 5K miles. The A4LD tranny on this vehicle will last a long time if it is serviced regularly. If you forget about the tranny you will regret it later. My procedure for replacing the plugs: The left side can be gotten from the front. The two front right side plugs are accessible by taking the tire off. The back right plug you get from underneath. The proper sockets, extensions and ratchets are a necessity. YMMV. Yeah, did my own as well. Certainly not a 'learner' vehicle. I didn't have to go underneath for any of mine, but I have skinny arms. ;) Mine ran like a top at 108K miles until some bozo in an Astro (hate those durn-ugly vans) t-boned it. It was most uncomfortable. G >> my problem is that on some days my van wont start so im thinking >> distributor cap. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > tire off. The back right plug you get from underneath. The proper > sockets, extensions and ratchets are a necessity. YMMV. |
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