Am I being scammed? Firestone replaced distributer, now recommend Crank Sensor!
04-09-2008, 07:47 AM
#1
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Am I being scammed? Firestone replaced distributer, now recommend Crank Sensor!
I am desperate need of help! I went in for an oil change and now I have a bad distributer and crank position sensor. Does this all add up?
Took my car to Firestone for an oil change kast week. They recommended a fuel system clean (the injectors) so I had them do that as well. Two days later,mMy car died on Saturday morning. Engine would crank fine but does not fire. I towed it back to Firestone and they said I needed a NEW distributer.
They resused to just replace the cap, parts, igniter etc... and I have been swamped with work so had no time to argue and after getting the price of the distributer from $00 down to $327 (still a rip off in my mind) I just agreed.
They replaced the distributor yesterday and today say I need a crank position sensor.
Am I being ripped off? What should I do?
I am temped to go there and see if the car even starts, as I am guessing that it was the crank sensor to begin with, not the distributer.
ANY ideas will be greatly appreciated!
Took my car to Firestone for an oil change kast week. They recommended a fuel system clean (the injectors) so I had them do that as well. Two days later,mMy car died on Saturday morning. Engine would crank fine but does not fire. I towed it back to Firestone and they said I needed a NEW distributer.
They resused to just replace the cap, parts, igniter etc... and I have been swamped with work so had no time to argue and after getting the price of the distributer from $00 down to $327 (still a rip off in my mind) I just agreed.
They replaced the distributor yesterday and today say I need a crank position sensor.
Am I being ripped off? What should I do?
I am temped to go there and see if the car even starts, as I am guessing that it was the crank sensor to begin with, not the distributer.
ANY ideas will be greatly appreciated!
04-09-2008, 09:08 AM
#2
Apathy Kills
What year is your Integra?
If it is reasonably new, they shouldn't be tossing parts at the problem blindly. The ECU will generate a fault code for a failed CKE (crank speed fluctuation) sensor.
Generally speaking, the crank speed sensor has a very low failure rate.
Since I don't know what codes have been logged, I'm more skeptical about the fuel side of the equation. This "fuel system clean" could be the root of the problem.
It's also possible (but unlikely) that they didn't install the distributor correctly.
Here's what I'd do: Ask the parts monkeys how they came to the conclusion that the crank speed sensor is faulty. Ask them for the fault code numbers logged by the ECU. Then come back to us and we'll put our collective heads together.
If they try to BS you, get the car away from them and into the hands of a qualified specialist.
I know you're already regretting the decision, but these quick oil change joints are a horrid place to take a modern car. Once this is resolved, find a independent Honda / Acura specialist and save yourself the trouble.
If it is reasonably new, they shouldn't be tossing parts at the problem blindly. The ECU will generate a fault code for a failed CKE (crank speed fluctuation) sensor.
Generally speaking, the crank speed sensor has a very low failure rate.
Since I don't know what codes have been logged, I'm more skeptical about the fuel side of the equation. This "fuel system clean" could be the root of the problem.
It's also possible (but unlikely) that they didn't install the distributor correctly.
Here's what I'd do: Ask the parts monkeys how they came to the conclusion that the crank speed sensor is faulty. Ask them for the fault code numbers logged by the ECU. Then come back to us and we'll put our collective heads together.
If they try to BS you, get the car away from them and into the hands of a qualified specialist.
I know you're already regretting the decision, but these quick oil change joints are a horrid place to take a modern car. Once this is resolved, find a independent Honda / Acura specialist and save yourself the trouble.
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04-09-2008, 09:22 AM
#3
Still Water
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Yuck, Firestone and Big O tires all horrible places to take your car other then to change your tires (even then). They told me i needed new wheel bearings but when i got home, i jacked the car up and no laderal movements on my wheels...
Anyways, I'd ask to borrow a code scanner at autozone and scan the codes myself to see what codes come up before you take their word for it (assuming you have 96+).
I had a Crankshaft postion sensor code and when i took it apart, somehow the sensor's magnetic part had a huge dent in it (maybe debree from when i ran the car w/o the upper timing cover).
The sensor is about $115+ new and $40-50 used. It's alot of money for two wires, plug and a magnet but my car ran with it busted.
Yea, $327 is steep as a distributor swap is 3 bolts.
Anyways, I'd ask to borrow a code scanner at autozone and scan the codes myself to see what codes come up before you take their word for it (assuming you have 96+).
I had a Crankshaft postion sensor code and when i took it apart, somehow the sensor's magnetic part had a huge dent in it (maybe debree from when i ran the car w/o the upper timing cover).
The sensor is about $115+ new and $40-50 used. It's alot of money for two wires, plug and a magnet but my car ran with it busted.
Yea, $327 is steep as a distributor swap is 3 bolts.
04-16-2008, 10:06 AM
#4
The Duke of Earl
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Buy the book and do it urself!!! These r the simplest engines to work on!!! Dont b scared! Even if u didn't know what a car was u could still figure out how the engine works after an hour of reading and looking at ur engine. He's not joking about the distributor being easy. 3 bolts and they made it stupid proof!! U just have to set ur timing which u should buy the book to do. $20 worth of knowledge would save u alot later!