Charlene is alive again - mystery solved!

prices are off the NAPA website, those of us with accounts there, your prices will be lower.

Echlin Ignition Oxygen Sensor Contact customer service for ordering details. ECH OS227 $ 57.99 Front, Passenger's Side, Front, w/ 15" or 16" Wheels

Echlin Ignition Oxygen Sensor Contact customer service for ordering details. ECH OS239 $ 57.99 Except Natural Gas Vehicle, Rear

Bosch Oxygen Sensor Usually ships in 24 hours. BSA

13133 $ 65.99 OEM Type, Downstream Sensor, Located After Catalyst.

Bosch Oxygen Sensor Usually ships in 24 hours. BSA

13117 $ 66.99 OEM Type, Located Before Catalytic Converter

Bosch Oxygen Sensor Usually ships in 24 hours. BSA

15730 $ 69.99 Universal Type, Downstream Sensor, Located After Catalyst.

Bosch Usually ships in 24 hours. BSA

15733 $ 92.49 Universal Type, Located Before Catalytic Converter

Beck Arnley Oxygen Sensor Usually ships in 24 hours. BA

1568400 $ 129.00 4 Wire Universal Type, Contains Splice Kit

"CobraJet" wrote in message news:211020041746507440% snipped-for-privacy@streetracer.sfv... | In article , SWG | wrote: | | > NAPA Fuel Pumps Fuel Pump (OE Electric In-Tank Type) | > Usually ships in 24 hours. NFPP74946M F8ZZ9H307BE $ 202.49 | | Can you bring up replacement Bosch brand O2 sensors (4 required) for | a '97 Crown Vic? | >

| >

| >

| > "JD Adams" wrote in message | > news: snipped-for-privacy@nospam.here... | > | Scudder wrote: | > | | > | > I'm happy that you're up and running again, and I appreciate your | > | > sentiments regarding your independent mechanic, but I fear that this | > | > particular "local guy" might be out to make more than a few quick | > | > bucks. The most expensive fuel pump that I can find in my trusty | > | > Mustang catalog (a Ford Racing 190 liters capacity) is well under HALF | > | > than the one you bought. | > | >

| > | > Making a fair profit is one thing, but 230% of retail is another, IMHO. | > | | > | Fordparts.com listed part# F8ZZ-9H307-BE as $284.63; I was actually | > charged | > | 443.58, a markup of about 55%, which is about average for most shops these | > days. | > | | > | I know the owner personally. He's having a hellova time making ends meet. | > He | > | employs 4 of the best mechanics you'll ever meet. They treated the car | > with | > | the utmost in respect: no greasy fingerprints or footprints anywhere - not | > | even on the fuel tank cover or rear bumper, and they had it fixed within | > an | > | hour and a half after they got the parts in, which they had to special | > order | > | from Reno, NV, 3 hours away. And they had it fixed and ready to go within | > 12 | > | hours of flatbedding it in. | > | | > | Hell, they didn't EVEN hot-rod it around the block, like the last moronic | > | dealership did. It had exactly one-tenth of a mile on the clock from | > start to | > | finish. That alone warrants my appreciation. | > | | > | Yes, he marked up the parts - every shop does to pay the bills, jeez, the | > | workmen's comp alone costs this guy 1.2 million per year! He can't even | > | afford to offer medical coverage for his employees; it's damn tough to be | > in | > | this business these days. I wouldn't want to do it, that's for sure. | > With | > | Pep Boys right down the street, he has quite an uphill battle on his | > hands. | > | He keeps customers around with SERVICE, and I don't mind paying a bit more | > for | > | that service. You get what you pay for - his exact words. | > | | > | Anyway, the thread was to be centered around the elusive diagnosis, not | > | Business Ethics 101. I'm just hopeful that everyone here will give the | > | independent shops a shot at their next repair, even if it costs a little | > more. | > | Everyone's always so concerned with price, and not with expert service | > these | > | days, and again, I still think you get what you pay for. | > | | > | -JD | > | | >

| >

| | -- | CobraJet | Thunder Snake #1

I can buy from them wholesale. I was trying to remember the cost details; I changed over to all Bosch sensors a while back and paid 210 for all 4 from NAPA. Ford wholesale at the time wanted, I believe (may be wrong), about 100 bux more for standard replacements. Thanks.

"CobraJet" wrote

*snipped*

| Well, you can sit back down because I don't give a rat's ass who you | choose to defend. Kate's post was hypocritical.

How so?

I called her on it. She should have known better. SHe has dished it out to others many times | before; did she suddenly need your help?

Yep, I have dished out my share.. and I can generally take it too. If I decide that I don't want to "hear" your opinion, I will simply stop reading your posts. In this particular thread, I have decided to exercise that option because you're getting on my nerves.

Kate

Getting on everybody's nerves. Not only pointed out a mistake of JD... but was a complete jerk about it. Ah well.

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Full Boar turbo mufflers Hi-speed fan switch

255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors

C'mon, you answered this right below. You've dished out your share. But you can't take it when the gun is levelled at your buddy. Why didn't you rush in to Mike's rescue when Jason was lambasting him? JD unable to fend for himself?

Like I said, hypocritical. You don't want to hear my opinion when it turns toward JD instead of someone else.

Listen, Kate, JD has posted borderline absurdities ad nauseum over the years. Exaggeration is his middle name. I'm so sorry if you cannot see that. I understand if you don't like my "style", but somebody finally had to call him on it. The fact that he ran like a coward pretty much confirms that I was too close to the truth for comfort. It's really shameful that you and others choose to defend a mentally unstable person who's vanished. Again.

It's not JUST defending JD... you pointed out that he potentially made up the story. In all honesty, I am leaning towards he made it up too! At the very least, there is some definite BS'ing going on in his story from him. You've very thoroughly pointed that out........ and then pointed your finger & laughed... and rubbed it in as much as you possibly could... and then some! It's just too f*cking much! You've made your point... why do you need to keep on & on??

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Full Boar turbo mufflers Hi-speed fan switch

255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors

Because he's a turd and an immature bully? There is something seriously wrong with someone who takes that much pleasure in brow beating and humiliating someone. And yes, I know JD can be a bit over the top at times, but so what? CJ seems to think he's on some divine mission to set straight the record on JD. Instead CJ's behavior resembled the overreaction of a petulant child who'd at last been given the opportunity to strike back at his abuser. Sad really.

They say what they say.... *shrug*

When all the engineering jobs go to China, then I'll consider it :) I've got a number of recession proof skills... Basically I just help out friends and family... the usual price is food and drink.

Even the lower middle class areas seem not to be immune here. There is alot of do it yourself. Salvage yards are big business in the south suburbs. People bend over or do the repairs on their own. There are a couple decent shops around, but compared to what you've been saying alot of their prices are way too high as well.

I don't mind technology, I can deal with the sensors, computers etc just fine. What I hate is tight packaging and FWD. If my winter beater was RWD I could probably squeeze a few more winters out of it....

Not sure what you're getting at... I've met all kinds in the salvage yards.. people seem to be people.

He has his reasons - the biggest being that he's obviously a very unhappy camper in real life.

The difference I've found is that Ford sells the entire fuel pump assembly. When I went to Ford to replace my dead pump, the guy takes out this giant box. I'm thinking, is "he for real?" Anyway, he takes out entire assembly with pump and quotes me something north of 200 bux. No way. All i needed was the pump, but Ford doesn't sell it that way.

Went to Autozone got one just shy of 100 bux about two years ago.

It still doesn't make sense. If that was the case, no independent shop would be in business anymore. They do cheapy oil changes to get you in and sell you other things you need. This totally defeats the purpose of going to independent shops. Ford would scream it from the top of the roofs that their repairs are HALF of any non-ford shop. Sorry, dude, I don't buy it.

Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying

The only repair I've had someone do the ford dealer had the lowest quote for, sure it was about $50 lower than the highest and a simple job for a shop. $50 was significant percentage wise. *shrug* (the highest quote was also from the shop that insulted me for actually having diagnosised the problem, trying to tell me I couldn't know the pinon seal was leaking)

I don't know what causes the conditions, only that they exist. Same woman I did the alternator replacement for was quoted some huge figure, like a grand to do valve cover seals of all things. 5.0 V8. They told her the engine had to come apart. Rutinely people ask me about the prices they are quoted. They almost all seem very high to me.

You won't believe what one guy I work with has paid to repair his nissan... Told him was too much for the work but he bent over and paid it. Although I think he was going to dealerships.

I've simply seen that independent, chain, and dealership all are often rip offs. There is a rare independent that won't. I know of one that isn't too bad...

I have no reason to lie. Feel free to cross post this to rec.autos.tech. Maybe it's just life in the big city.

CobraJet wrote in news:211020041744490125% snipped-for-privacy@streetracer.sfv:

dealers'

because

Very true. Dealers don't make near as much percentage-wise on engines and trannys compared with clamps, belts, and light bulbs.

customer

uniforms

That stuff is called 'shop supplies' and can be a percentage or a flat fee. Same can be true for GOG (grease, oil, gas), although GOG can be line-item'd out.

That's it in a nutshell.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

Not only did CJ peg JD, he did it in good ol' TA style. Absolutely great! Mike, you need to go back and google Thunder Alley in RAMFM, then sit back for some laughs.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

wrote in news:se0ed.8784$q% snipped-for-privacy@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com:

I'm not interested.

Right after the Holidays, then?

Well, I have to keep out of this topic or this group will go up in flames.

I'm not talking about people in junkyards. I'm talking about the way the Mexicans always figure things out in groups, and the first thing most Anglos do is whisk their cars off to the mechanic. The Mexicans are more efficient. I figure out my friend's electrical probs, he troubleshoots my late model (he has one of those 6k Snap On scanners). I get his alarm and stereo gear for cost; he gets my mechanical parts at cost. Make friends that know what is going on.

Yeah, that's it. The other morning I woke up and said to myself, "Thunder Snake Number One, you is a very unhappy camper. But maybe you'll feel heaps better iff'n ol' JD posts some outrageous poopy so's you can cook up some steaming cow pie wid it." Mmmm, cow pie.

So I slithered back to RAMFM and coiled up behind the bushes watching Charlene real intent-like, and watching how some other people were already pointing out how JD got poon-tanged by a shifless skonk. The stage was set. Then JD started opening his wallet for the starving mechanics who pay a mil for comp and all this poopy started dropping outta the sky. And I figgered I am now in my native element, honed my fangs wid some 800 grit, and struck.

And truly I felt better, to the point where I will be doing some happy camping this here week end.

Ya got me pegged, Rowdy. You the ginchiest.

No, grasshopper. There remains the big question as to "why". Why did JD write this? Why did he turn and run? Why, after years of seeing what prices are, did he feel like opening himself up to ridicule (whether or not the story was true). Why, after years of ridiculing others, did he think anyone would buy that "feed the homeless mechanics" tripe? Why?

If you were more properly cynical, you would asking yourself the same things, and be a tad pissed that a vested member of this newsgroup has again acted in a way that treats other people like trusting sheep. Question motive. Question authority. Get smart.

Yah know, typo insults are pretty low....

So you know what I'm talking about then.

It doesn't get any lower than me.

Arizona. A/C shops. *That's* the problem in my area.