[stevenmonrad]

We need to tow a non-starting gas cargo van to a shop for diagnosis and repair.
Any experience in the Oakland/Berkeley side of the San Francisco Bay appreciated.
Thanks

 

[surly Bill]

I wish I knew an independent shop that worked on them, but I haven't needed a shop yet. I can say to avoid Hilltop Ford, though.

 

[surly Bill]

Does it crank but not start?
Or no crank, no start?

 

[stevenmonrad]

It cranked well on a newish battery. I read all the non-starting threads which seemed to apply but I cannot work on it myself. It's going to Torchio's Auto Repair in Oakland next week. I'm retired and don't use it much. At 65K miles it probably has some black box electronics or fuel system problem. We used to have such problems on the F series in the '70's models. I'll keep you posted on Torchio's.
Holland's in Berkeley says they work on Ford trucks but after three different scheduling attempts by phone they could never remember who I was.

 

[stevenmonrad]

Received Ford recall notice for "module that powers the fuel pump may fail prematurely.......... resulting in ........ an engine no-start......"
the day before going to tow to Torchio's. Then it started. So will be going to Walnut Creek Ford for recall. Torchio's did a routine service. He

 

[stevenmonrad]

Received Ford recall notice for "module that powers the fuel pump may fail prematurely.......... resulting in ........ an engine no-start......"
the day before going to tow to Torchio's. Then it started. So will be going to Walnut Creek Ford for recall. Torchio's did a routine service. He

Walnut Creek Ford did replace the fuel pump control under warranty and that fixed it. Still waiting for the replacement driveshaft joint.

 

[RustBeltRefugee]

.

 

[RustBeltRefugee]

Avoid: Pro Lube on San Pablo and 63rd, in Oakland (Emeryville border). The place was great for a decade or so, but whoever's running the place now has a problem. On my other vehicle, they hacked away plastic covers underneath the vehicle to speed up an oil change, doing damage to the front bumper cover as a consequence.

 

[RustBeltRefugee]

Avoid: Holland Service in Berkeley. They botched my transmission fluid replacement... twice.

Good: Schuck's Transmission in Dublin eventually solved the problem without dropping the subframe a third time. They actually listened in detail to my reported symptoms, examined the data I collected, and were very thoughtful about the diagnosis and solution.

 

[surly Bill]

Future Ford in Concord did the Torque Converter replacement under warranty for me and exceeded expectations (which are low for a dealership shop). They were very good about having the parts in stock before having me leave my van, and good communication when they had to order an additional part because they broke a bolt, they provided me with a car to use for the 3-4 days they had my my van. The only mishaps were the techs leaving grease on the door, door handle, and steering wheel (and not just a little smear, but globs of it, like they had been making snowballs out of grease with their hands), and crushing the heatshield putting the van on the lift. But the main aspect of the work was well done.

Hilltop Ford tried to lie to me about brake wear to sell me a $850 rear brake job I didn't need (did it myself for $125 in parts), and broke the fuel filler door. I had taken the van in for the first guibo replacement. I went back for warranty battery replacement and they wanted to keep my van for 3-5 days just to replace the battery. I went across the street to Walmart and bought a new one for $100 and replaced it myself at home in less than half a beer. Better to spend $100 than be without transportation for almost a week. Avoid Hilltop Ford.