02 escape/ dead cylinder

[doinitmyself]

My sister has an 02 ford escape w/a dead cylinder. The car has 120k miles on it. A ford dealer as well as an independent mech. have diag. the same problem. Dealer wants $2500 to fix, ind. mech. wants $1500. We have been told that this is a common problen on the 02 escape and that it is caused by a batch of defective intake valves. Both places say they are going to replace the piston. If it's the valve that is bad, why are they quoting her prices to replace the piston? The car runs way too good for the valve to have broken off and damaged the cylinder and piston. I think both shops are planning to replace the intake valve and make a huge profit. Anyone else run into this problem w/a dead cylinder

[rhandwor]

I don't think they can replace a piston for $1500.00 the shop time to pull a head plus gaskets and machine shop labor to do a valve job is around $1500.00 at todays labor costs. I pulled a head for a friend on a straight 6cyl. Volvo with bent valves. I paid the machine shop over $600.00 for labor,replacing bent valves,pressure test,and shaving the head. Unless you do it yourself the $1500.00 is reasonable. You have to pull a head to change a valve. $18.00 per new valve may be more at this time. I certain they will have it pressure tested and checked for straightness. They may have to shave it. All this costs money.

[Johnny Mullet]

I seriously don't think it will need one piston. The only way to know for sure is after the head is removed, any damage (if any) will be noticed right away.