Auto Mechanics: Need an engine/installation for 2008 V6 Ford Escape

[theGinsue]

My daughters engine died last night on her 2008 V6 Ford Escape and we need to find the best price possible on a new engine & installation.

She really needs her vehicle to get to/from work & school (college).

The shop she had it towed to (John Senter North in COS) quoted her over $5K for a rebuilt engine installed. Her funds are limited so she's going to have to get a loan to get this covered.

Any auto mechanics that can get her a better deal?

Help me ObiWan Kenobi; you're my only hope!

[tmleadr03]

Yes. Get a low mileage take out. Labor shouldn't be much more then 1K. Should be able to get a used engine for 2K and then the gaskets and fluids and such for another 500 or so.

Keep in mind these are round numbers and you would need to call my shop tomorrow and ask Shannon for an estimate if you really wanted good numbers.

ETA: How do you know the engine is dead?

ETA2: I hate promising time on used parts like that. I had one vehicle I had to go through 3 engines to find a good one. So there is a up side to just getting a rebuilt one.

[theGinsue]

ETA: How do you know the engine is dead?

I was driving home from work and the check engine and battery lights came on and I lost power (died).

It wouldn't jump start, and when I tried to turn the engine over it made a weird "chirp" sound.

John Senter says I need a new engine, that there is something that has come loose from mine and by the time they get it out, apart and fixed and back together it would be more cost effective to just get a new engine. I'm waiting on a quote from them on how much [edit: John Senter quoted over $5K] but I've called a couple other places for quotes and got these:

New (likely rebuilds) - $4923, $5259 (two different places)
Used (pull outs) - $3033, $3129 (same two places, respectively).

We usually take our vehicles to John Senter Tire & Auto & they've always seemed honest, just not cheap. Then again, it could be they're looking for the easy way out to repair for themselves.

[tmleadr03]

The used engine is about right, keep in mind I don't really know on this one I am way more familiar with German stuff.


I just read the procedure for this job. The engine and transmission has to come out the bottom for this job and then split up. Plenty of one time use only nuts and bolts and special tools I do not own.

[theGinsue]

Dang. Sounds like this would put you out a LOT (such as getting tools for a US car).

Do know know any reputable folks who work on Fords?

[tmleadr03]

Dang. Sounds like this would put you out a LOT (such as getting tools for a US car).

Do know know any reputable folks who work on Fords?

I like buying tools. But I also want my customers to get their moneys worth out of me. And I do not have the experience with this one to really do you justice.

I am also booked out till almost the 24th right now. It also looks like you could just take the bumper/lights/radiator/AC out and pull it that way.

We have another mechanic on this site who does more Domestics I think down in CoSprings but for the life of me I can't remember his screen name.

[streetglideok]

There's a couple of us down here. One guy, his username begins with a Z, is a ford tech, I think at a dealership. I do domestic and Asian. I proudly defer euro stuff to guys like tmleader,lol. For labor, it calls for 10.7hrs in Mitchell for a complete engine swap, plus any other incidentals. For a long block, its 15.2hrs. Realistically, even a used engine is not much more than a long block. By the time the boneyard gets it to you, things are cut and broken, and you end up swapping 3/4 of the stuff from the old engine. I normally ask for long block time needless to say. I can't think of any special tools really needed on these, or at least nothing I wouldn't have. As tmleader said, euro brands have their own list of special tools you use just on them, to which I simply don't own.

My question to ginsue, what did the escape do, and what led John Senter to condemn the engine? If this is the shop off Academy and Austin Bluffs, is Rob Gillis still there? He would remind you of Santa Claus, lol.

[Great-Kazoo]

Dang. Sounds like this would put you out a LOT (such as getting tools for a US car).

Do know know any reputable folks who work on Fords?

ZETNIK BOBBY ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

You're gonna need a bunch of stuff to pull it. I have the stands, hoist etc. BUT it's a somewhat major task.
I know you can shave a few $$ on a good used engine. However the labor's the same, rebuilt or used. why not go factory , getting the factory whinetome. I've seen more than one "guaranteed" used engine take a crap, usually 2 months install, and mid winter.

[jerrymrc]

zteknik Is a ford mechanic.

[Great-Kazoo]

zteknik Is a ford mechanic.

Like 3 of us were replying the same time. great minds melt alike.