Between my wife, my kids and myself I have four cars. I found Harding Auto Repair out of necessity when Huntsville Automotive Inc., my first choice, was booked for over a week and I couldn't get a timely appointment for them to diagnose/fix one of my cars. I called Harding Auto and took my car to them. I was pleased with the timeliness of the service and the value, and decided that they had won my business for all my car repair needs. I told several friends about my experience and encouraged them to use Harding if they had any auto problems. I used them several more times after that and was always pleased... until now. My latest problem was a fuel pump, which I knew when I took it in because the OBD gave a P0087 code, which is low pressure to the fuel rail. This is almost always a fuel pump. I dropped my car off, expecting to be as pleased as all the times before. I was not. I got a quote to replace the fuel pump just shy of $1,000. I told them I felt like that was a little high... to which they said there was a lot of work involved because the exhaust has to be removed to remove the fuel tank. I got off the phone and quickly did an internet search on how to replace the fuel pump on a 2013 Ford Fusion. There were two very detailed videos that showed the whole process... Did either have to remove the exhaust? NO! Watching the video, unless you are just totally non-mechanically inclined, I would estimate a total time of less than 4 hours and the exhaust didn't have to be removed. I quickly called them back (within 10 minutes) and told them to not work on it, I would come get it and pay the diagnostic fee (which they have posted in their office as $55 whether they fix your car or not - which is fair) and do the work myself. I showed up to get my car and was charged $172.35 - the receipt says no charge for checking the code and getting "LOW SIDE FUEL PRESSURE LOW. CHECKED FUEL PRESSURE, AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, NEEDS LOW PRESSURE PUMP." But then it shows a charge of 1.4 hours (which calculates to $112 per hour) for checking the fuel injection system, which includes "Visual inspection, Fuel pressure test and Electronic Control System test". I never claimed to be a genius, but that check does NOT take 1.4 hours. I could've done that at home in about 30 minutes. Plus, the code had already told them the problem, why are they checking my fuel injection system? The problem was low pressure to the fuel rail, which would be BEFORE you get to the fuel injectors. If the injectors were clogged the fuel rail pressure wouldn't be low, but the engine would be starving for gas or mis-firing, and the OBD code would've indicated that. The only thing I can think is they were trying to find a way to charge me since I asked them not to do the repair and I'd do it myself.
Well, I purchased the fuel pump on-line for $150.00 and don't expect the work to take more than 4 hours (and that's with laying on the ground doing the repair because I don't have a lift that gives me ease of access, like they do). Their estimate had to be based on 7 hours of work at $112 per hour after $150 for parts. I just don't understand why they estimated 7 hours of work for something that should only take 3 hours, 4 at the most?
I thought I had found my preferred "working man's" repair shop for the foreseeable future. I guess it's time to reconsider and head back to Huntsville Automotive Inc. I will say it was nice while it lasted, I thought I had found a place that wanted my business... but I guess I was wrong. I gave them two stars in my review because of my past experience. But I won't be using them in the future, and I would advise others not to as well.
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Well, I purchased the fuel pump on-line for $150.00 and don't expect the work to take more than 4 hours (and that's with laying on the ground doing the repair because I don't have a lift that gives me ease of access, like they do). Their estimate had to be based on 7 hours of work at $112 per hour after $150 for parts. I just don't understand why they estimated 7 hours of work for something that should only take 3 hours, 4 at the most?
I thought I had found my preferred "working man's" repair shop for the foreseeable future. I guess it's time to reconsider and head back to Huntsville Automotive Inc. I will say it was nice while it lasted, I thought I had found a place that wanted my business... but I guess I was wrong. I gave them two stars in my review because of my past experience. But I won't be using them in the future, and I would advise others not to as well.