always something
I’ll get it done this week. I just bring it to Ford. Every time I go to a local place I have to go twice rather pay more for the dealership and have a it done right the first time
That's really sad that the other shops are that incompetent. I have found it's best to stay away from the dealer on everything but very new or radical design things that other people don't understand. For instance, the original Ford Taurus s h o that had the Yamaha engine. This was not something to take to normal shops as they didn't understand and they would just throw Parts at it. The valves were adjusted basically like a motorcycle and not like hardly any cars in existence. So these it was best to go to the dealer and on stuff that's very new but by this point there is no reason to take a 3 valve to a dealer as the independent people oh, at least the smart ones, had already figured out better ways to fix them then the dealer.
It doesn't even sound like you need to go to a shop right now, it just needs more diagnosing which can be free. What codes are popped when the check engine light comes on? Do you have a scanner? You can go to any auto parts store and they will read the codes for you and if you're nice to them they will probably let you reset them. Then see what code pops back on so you can confirm what is causing your fault. This should be a simple diagnosis and a quick easy fix with just one part replacement. If it is a converter getting weak then a muffler shop would be a much better solution than a dealer but the best solution would be to find a good used one or a salvage yard if you can find one that will sell you with a converter and bolt it on yourself as most forwards it's a quick easy bolt-on operation if it's not super old and rusty.
Edit:
I just saw that you posted with a code PO141. This is almost always just a bad oxygen sensor or the wires have pulled out or they're somehow frayed or melted. So either wiring near the sensor or the sensor itself. These sensors go for about 20 bucks or less on eBay. Why don't you order one and give it a try? You haven't got that much to lose but a whole lot of potential savings to gain.
It looks like it's bank 1 sensor 2 so it will be on the passenger side and it's the one after the converter so it's very easy to get to.
Soak it with some PB Blaster or liquid wrench might make it easier to remove but you can take that out with a pair of vice grips or big adjustable wrench or whatever. Or you can just cut the wire off of it or break the tip off of it and put a deep well 6 point socket on it. Even can use a pipe wrench to remove it. Then be more careful installing the new one but it will be simple to install. And then just now get up and plug it in. Look around and make sure the plug-in connector coming from the car is in good shape and hasn't touched any exhaust pipe and melt it anywhere.
It's almost harder just to jack up the vehicle and get underneath it and it is to do this repair.
I would certainly try it before I went and gation Shop well over $100 two more than likely do the exact same thing.
Also, if you're having problems with repeated failing oxygen sensors then I would suggest pain just a little bit more and getting them from a local parts store with a lifetime warranty. Most of them at the parts stores have lifetime warranties. I don't really trust lifetime warranties online or eBay as it can be hard to locate or get timely replacement from the seller if you have one fail. RockAuto and Amazon are better but it still takes a while to get replacement. I would prefer just to be able to remove it take it into the store and have them having a new one. But they're going to be a minimum 40-$60 at a part store.
But once you buy a lifetime warranty options to yourself you will never have to buy another one.
This is another benefit of doing your own work in some cases. Or at least buy the parts and have someone put them on for you. About anyone who's ever worked on a car can replace an oxygen sensor underneath far back on the system like that.
Most people would easily stick one in for you for 20 or 25 bucks labor.
And since you have bought the part yourself you will have a lifetime warranty if it goes bad again.
