Need advice on a Independent Mechanic

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2005 9:56 am

Here's the situation:

My now ex-girlfriend's '96 Explorer is doing some funking things. It wants to cut off while running, on or off the gas. It sounds like to me that a sensor has gone bad or she has a vacuum leak somewhere. Although we recently broke up, I still want to help her, but can't look at her truck as she is in Raleigh and I'm in Charlotte.

It's thrown a CEL and I'd love to have her get Autozone to pull the code, but it doesn't sound like it's running well enough to get her there.

Thus, I am requesting referrals for a good independent mechanic that I can have her truck towed to in order to do a diagnostic. More than likely I'll end up fixing it, unless the mechanic can do it relatively inexpensive.

Anyone have someone that's good with Fords? Posting here will work great. Thanks - AB

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Not what you're looking for, but Explorer vacuum lines are run in funky places and have a reputation for burning holes in them. That'd be the first guess.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2005 10:26 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

Not what you're looking for, but Explorer vacuum lines are run in funky places and have a reputation for burning holes in them. That'd be the first guess.

That's what I was thinking too. All in all, it's been a very solid vehicle, which surprised me

- AB

Mark Vitacco · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2005 10:47 am

I have had good luck with Cricketts in Cary the few times I needed
work done on the Ford. I fogret the guys name, but they have a good
FORD factory trained tech. I used them for A/C repair and electrical
T/S diagnossis a couple of times when I owned the Crown Vic.
prices seemed fair and reasonable turnaround was same day.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2005 1:08 pm

Thanks for the replies. I sent her to Fix and Fly Car Care on Westgate Rd near the airport, by the suggestion of Jim Pastorius. These guys get a big thumbs up. The hesistation was due to running on 5 cylinders (v6 4.0L). The #4 plug wire was burned through by the header. They replaced it for a parts cost of $4. They also diagnosed what I thought was a rear main seal leak... turns out a tube on the a/c compressor was bad, and they replaced it for free (not including labor). Total work was 1.3 hours... $92 + bill. Car runs excellent now.

If you need an honest shop, send your business there and ask to speak to Ed. - AB

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2005 5:18 pm

Aaron,

Good to hear that the new ownership of what used to be Fix & Fly (now Westgate Imports I think) is running it well. We had good luck when it was Fix & Fly. Note that their new sign says they do domestic and import.

Dick

THSCC Forums

Need advice on a Independent Mechanic

Who is online