Ford Focus Power Steering Pipe

dollybird2

How much would you expect to pay for a power steering pipe and drive belt for a new model Focus approximately? Want to make sure I'm not being ripped off cos I think there is a fast one trying to be pulled......

Hal1

Give ford a call before doing anything. They had a recall over this known fault in 2008.

dollybird2

I left it into a garage and asked them to tell me what was the problem with the car and let me know and as I am selling it I will see from there how to proceed. That was Mon. Today they call to say the car is ready! And I owe €500 for drive belt & new pipe!

Hal1

Ouch, I would still log a call with ford and see what they have to say about it.

R.O.R

What year and what model Focus?

dollybird2

I have tried ringing the Customer Service Cork number with no joy, rings and rings and then goes dead. I need the car to get home today. I don't know what to do bar pay the bill but i'm fuming.

It's a 05 Zetec 1.4 model. It's been a great car but as soon as I decide to sell it to make ends meet someone backs into it and now this.

John_Mc

In fairness, they shouldnt have done any work without authorising it with you first. Did you give them the all clear to do it without enquiring about the cost?

dollybird2

I didn't give them the all clear, I asked to be contacted regarding what needed to be done. I rang again when they didn't get back to me and I was told that it needed to be done, the car couldn't be driven across the road etc etc. I think I'll just pay it and be done to be honest, means beans on toast for a month!

Apparantly this is a very common problem in Focus cars so if anyone intends buying one make sure this is done already as once replaced it doesn't tend to give any more trouble apparantly.

Sickened having to sell this after spending on the repair, it'll probably be a even better car now with this brand new and a big service and new tyres!


Thanks for the help guys.

Morlar

I am not a solicitor but if you left it in for them to look at it and for them to call you before proceeding with the work then you only owe them the labour for looking at it - not for the labour or parts of what they decided to go ahead and do without your authorisation.

I don't know if it's a fair price - you may want to ring other garages to get an estimate on what they would have charged you for the same parts/labour. If find out that it's the same price and that it was a genuine mistake on their part to proceed and this is not covered under any kind of ford recall then that's probably the time to pay.

rugalo

that particular concern was not on any ford recall listings or field service actions. The pipe kit (thats a double pipe kit) costs around €200, union nut €8 and the PAS fluid €10, the labour is worked out at around .5hr. so depending on the labour charge ? by my reckoning it should have cost between €250 to €300.Plus they sould NOT have proceeded with the repair without your consent. Ive had countless discussions with customers about weather a repair that is required is done without consent even IF its a safety issue, and im told dont do anything without say so, if its a safety issue ie. brakes, we get a disclaimer signed by the customer.

dollybird2

Thanks a million for all the help. I had it out with the garage and insisted on a break down of parts costs, labour costs etc. Paid for the parts but refused to pay for labour. With the money I saved I had 4 new tyres put on.

The car is a dream to drive again and I definitely don't want to sell it now! I hate this recession!

Hal1

Fair play OP, I'm glad you sorted them out . A happy ending so .