I bought my first car (mustang) a few weeks back. I had driven about 4 hours to the place to get it and there was no garage that could look at it before the purchase. I did as thorough of a look over as I could, and didn't seen anything wrong. Today, the mustang went to a garage and got looked over for $50. I was about to be able to pay off my car to my dad, but another $625 is added on they found the following things wrong:
$125 Engine sensor was causing the check engine light to come on and needed replaced
$500 OEM Springs must be ordered and installed along with tires being aligned. The previous owner had the car lowered with aftermarket springs, and when the tires are turned all the way to one side they hit part of the body (wearing out the tires)
Those are prices including installation. It just makes me sad b/c I had plan to pay it off soon and build a new computer
Why are you having the OEM springs reinstalled?? Most people would be happy to have the car lowered.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
I bought my first car (mustang) a few weeks back. I had driven about 4 hours to the place to get it and there was no garage that could look at it before the purchase. I did as thorough of a look over as I could, and didn't seen anything wrong. Today, the mustang went to a garage and got looked over for $50. I was about to be able to pay off my car to my dad, but another $625 is added on they found the following things wrong:
$125 Engine sensor was causing the check engine light to come on and needed replaced
$500 OEM Springs must be ordered and installed along with tires being aligned. The previous owner had the car lowered with aftermarket springs, and when the tires are turned all the way to one side they hit part of the body (wearing out the tires)
Those are prices including installation. It just makes me sad b/c I had plan to pay it off soon and build a new computer
Before you go swapping out springs, what kind of wheels and tires do you have?
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
My dad took it into the shop for me, but I will try to answer the questions as best as I can.
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Originally Posted by BlueStreak03
Why are you having the OEM springs reinstalled?? Most people would be happy to have the car lowered.
From what I heard, that is the best way for the garage to fix the problem. It is too low now (hits small bumps), but most importantly the tires are hitting the front outer edge of the wheel well when turned.
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Before you go swapping out springs, what kind of wheels and tires do you have?
I'm not exactly sure, but the rims are the 17" 3 spoke stock ones that come with the car. I am not sure about the tires.
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Was the CEL on when you looked at it, or did the shop just tell you something was wrong?
Sorry, but I am not sure what CEL is. I am guessing it is the diagnostic test result showing I needed a new sensor. In that case, my dad saw it.
Hope I answered those correctly, thanks for the help!
My dad took it into the shop for me, but I will try to answer the questions as best as I can.
From what I heard, that is the best way for the garage to fix the problem. It is too low now (hits small bumps), but most importantly the tires are hitting the front outer edge of the wheel well when turned.
I'm not exactly sure, but the rims are the 17" 3 spoke stock ones that come with the car. I am not sure about the tires.
Sorry, but I am not sure what CEL is. I am guessing it is the diagnostic test result showing I needed a new sensor. In that case, my dad saw it.
Hope I answered those correctly, thanks for the help!
Have you seen the wheels hitting anything with your own eyes? I've never heard of stock rims and tires causing this problem with aftermarket springs unless the springs have been cut even further or they were installed without the spring isolators. Oh, also, what year Mustang do you have? That will help us.
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
Have you seen the wheels hitting anything with your own eyes? I've never heard of stock rims and tires causing this problem with aftermarket springs unless the springs have been cut even further or they were installed without the spring isolators. Oh, also, what year Mustang do you have? That will help us.
I have a 1999 mustang. I am not sure if my dad was there to see it hit. He trusts this garage though and goes there often. I just went out and turned the wheels all the way to one side and did a 2 minute look and I didn't see the wheel hitting anything obvious. However, I am not sure that it is not happening.
It has never been seen by my dad or me, but the shop had it up on a lift so it might have been more obvious. I think I will go ahead with the repairs for two other reasons:
1. The shop also said they need to put OEM springs in because they cannot align the wheels since it is too low.
2. It is so low it hits alot of bumps and dings up the bottom or bumpers/ side skirts.
the CEL is the check engine light. If it wasn't on when you were driving and all of a sudden the shop says it's lit and needs new sensors, I'd be suspicious. I've also never heard of lowering springs causing those kinds of problems. If I were you I'd get at least a second opinion. If you go to a shop and ask them to find something wrong, believe me they will no matter what.
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1995 GT 5.0
CAI, American Thunder Cat-back, Mac O/R H-pipe, 180* thermostat, Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, Steeda rear swaybar, Urethane bushings, MSD coil, King Cobra clutch & flywheel, GT40 Intake Manifold, ~1800 watt sound system
I think you are getting scr#$%d. Unless the coils are cut so rediculously short that there would be no suspension travel, the shop should be able to align the wheels the way it sits.
Even if the springs do need to be replaced, replace them with a set of Eibachs or similar instead of paying out the a$$ for Ford pieces.
I think you are getting scr#$%d. Unless the coils are cut so rediculously short that there would be no suspension travel, the shop should be able to align the wheels the way it sits.
Even if the springs do need to be replaced, replace them with a set of Eibachs or similar instead of paying out the a$$ for Ford pieces.
I agree, you are letting yourself get screwed out of $625. This shop obviously has no idea what they are doing if they can't align a car with lowering springs. No way am I going to spend $625 dollars to have some moron install inferior equipment on my car. But, hey, it's your money. Do what you want.
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2008 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner SR5 Reg Cab
2.7 4 banger
No mods (yet...)
You may just need a set of camber plates that's why they can't align the car, and new shocks because the current ones aren't designed for the springs . . .
The cost may be the same, though . . .
Taking the car to someone who isn't a mustang specialist will get you responses like -go back to OEM, because they don't really know what's going on . . .
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
the CEL is the check engine light. If it wasn't on when you were driving and all of a sudden the shop says it's lit and needs new sensors, I'd be suspicious. I've also never heard of lowering springs causing those kinds of problems. If I were you I'd get at least a second opinion. If you go to a shop and ask them to find something wrong, believe me they will no matter what.
Oh ok, the check engine light had been on for a while. That problem I am pretty sure was good to replace.
As for the springs, I am not sure what kind they are. I was thinking that it seemed strange to take them back to $250 OEM springs. If I am going to replace them I would think there would be some name brand aftermarket ones for that price which lower it alittle, or give better performance somehow. I guess I can try to get another opinion somewhere.
That would be $200 instead of OEM springs. It still looks like I would need the shop to install it. So it would be $50 less than OEM springs.
Having OEM would mean my car wouldn't scrape as easily on the bottom and possibly damage exhaust. But lowered may look nicer. Maybe those camber plates would raise the car alittle?
That would be $200 instead of OEM springs. It still looks like I would need the shop to install it. So it would be $50 less than OEM springs.
Having OEM would mean my car wouldn't scrape as easily on the bottom and possibly damage exhaust. But lowered may look nicer. Maybe those camber plates would raise the car alittle?
no, they won't raise the car .. . . what are you scraping on?!
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
$625 in repairs 
they found the following things wrong:
