Mechanic Blues! 2002 Taurus SEL

Hello,

I have a few questions and would appreciate any help you all can give me.

First, I took my car to a mechanic on the referral of a friend. Mechanic tells me a hose that I could see was blown was my EGR valve hose and both the EGR vavle and hose needed to be replaced...no issue with that as I could see the hose was completely off...

Question 1: In a shop, how much should this replacement cost? He charged me $106 for the part and $150 for labor.

Next issue: Now he is telling me I need a new Cat Convertor and that my car is not running. It was running when I took it to him so I am not buying that however,

Question 2: How much should the replacement of the Cat be?

Question 3: I am not a mechanic, but, is a Cat replacement easy to DIY??

Thanks for any assistance in advance.

This is a difficult situation, both for you, the shop, and anyone offering you a response. Not seeing the car, knowing how it was running, knowing which "hose" was damaged, and not being able to inspect it now, it's impossible to say if the bill is accurate or if the story now is accurate.

If the 'hose' was a vacuum hose, then the car has probably not been running properly for quite some time. A vacuum leak could case the catalytic converter to overheat and degrate over time. It might be that after the car cooled down while at the shop, the converter plugged and is in fact bad.

A vacuum hose to the EGR should not have caused the EGR to fail, but if the engine was not running correctly and the EGR was not opening and closing as designed, the improper air/fuel ratio may have caused enough residue in the exhaust stream to seize up the EGR. It may have been possible in such a case to clean the EGR, but then if that didn't work, you'd have gone back to the shop complaining that they didn't fix the problem and they'd likely eat the labor for replacing the EGR at that time, plus charging you the $106 for the valve at that time, which doesn't seem all that unreasonable of a price. You would have been unhappy. It puts the shop in a tough position.

If you were unwilling to tackle the EGR valve and/or vacuum hose, then I would not consider the catalytic converter a DIY job either. Since the converter is installed in the exhaust, and the converter has likely been really hot since it maybe has failed, it will not likely come out without a fight. It may take a cutting torch or reciprocating saw to get it out, and possibly a welder to fit a new one back in. The easy test for an exhaust restriction would be to remove one of the oxygen sensor before the converter and see if the car will start and run (albeit quite loudly) with the sensor out.

-Rod

Hello,



Next issue: Now he is telling me I need a new Cat Convertor and that my car is not running. It was running when I took it to him so I am not buying that however,

Question 2: How much should the replacement of the Cat be?

Question 3: I am not a mechanic, but, is a Cat replacement easy to DIY??

Thanks for any assistance in advance.

Answer to question 2: replacement catalytic converters are about $99-$350, depending on whether you get a universal one or a direct replacement.

Answer to question 3: I agree with Rod's analysis

just priced a EGR valve for my 1998 Taurus from the dealer 80.00.
so with a standard markup and a probable slight price difference for the newer models that sounds reasonable to me.
160.00 is not an unreasonable cost for labor. EGR valve takes about an hour to replace, opening hood to final check out , add in time to diagnose problem and there you have it.
I'm not set up for exhaust work, but I will say it is very time consuming and requires, lifts, torches, welder. A cat cn cost you as much as 300.00 Its not a DIY.

rod, rdh and pat...thanks a bunch! The price to change the cat came in at $600 even...I think I am going to try to get a new car starting tomorrow! All told that is $860 and I just KNOW there is more wrong with it (I need all new brakes for starters!)....going to have him take the EGR assembly off since I do not plan on keeping the old girl at this point...so...can I get at least $500 for a 2002 Taurus SEL all leather interior, bad carpet, sunroof needs work, 104,000 miles (roughly...I am probably a little over)...needs a cat, EGR, tune up, etc??...it would help with the down payment!

I have to give it to the old girl though...she gave me my money's worth!

Thanks again everyone!

PS...the question about how much I can get for this (if anything) is serious :icon16:

rod, rdh and pat...thanks a bunch! The price to change the cat came in at $600 even...I think I am going to try to get a new car starting tomorrow! All told that is $860 and I just KNOW there is more wrong with it (I need all new brakes for starters!)....going to have him take the EGR assembly off since I do not plan on keeping the old girl at this point...so...can I get at least $500 for a 2002 Taurus SEL all leather interior, bad carpet, sunroof needs work, 104,000 miles (roughly...I am probably a little over)...needs a cat, EGR, tune up, etc??...it would help with the down payment!

I have to give it to the old girl though...she gave me my money's worth!

Thanks again everyone!

PS...the question about how much I can get for this (if anything) is serious :icon16:

I wish I was closer to you. I would gladly give you $500 :grinyes:. Black Book dealer trade-in in Rough condition is approximately $2000. I would think you should be able to get at least $750 out of it, even in the condition its in, in a private sale. A dealer may give you more, but you will pay for it.

-Bob

so...can I get at least $500 for a 2002 Taurus SEL all leather interior, bad carpet, sunroof needs work, 104,000 miles (roughly...I am probably a little over)...needs a cat, EGR, tune up, etc??...it would help with the down payment!


Don't forget that the work you need done is only expensive because you are having it done by a professional and using new parts. If someone did the work themselves using parts from a donor car they could have the car fixed the same day for under $200. If the cars interior and exterior is in average or better condition and you live in a poplated area with a lot of potential customers I would price the car around $1900. Check out Craigslist.org to advertise your car for free.
Don't forget the new Taurus SHO arrives at dealers next month! :smokin:

Taurus GLenn

I love my taurus and wouldnt mind adding another fixerupper to my stock. Wish I lived closer to ya. For an exp. DIY the work could be done very cheap.

It needs the DPFE sensor for the EGR code,most people think it is the EGR valve and the code comes back on after replacing it.Most parts store stock this sensor since it does go out.