Any Ford Techs or Service Writers - need your opinion

My son's 2004 Ford Escape 3.0L V6 has been diagnosed as need new valve cover gaskets, o-rings, and spark plugs due to a leaking PVC hose. My bet is that while the source of the leak is identified (pvc hose), they are going for valve cover gaskets etc "just in case". Toss in various filters and a fuel injection service and the tab is $1,475.00 before tax.
Now it's been 3 decades since I worked in a shop, and some things have changed, but this seems like an example of an over zealous service writer. I can't think of any reason to replace the valve cover gaskets etc unless the PVC can't be replaced without removing the valve cover.

 

Did you take it to a dealer?

 

Not saying it's for sure, but there's a really common issue with the 3.0 in the taurus that's similar to this. There's an elbow on the intake that cracks and leaks, throwing pcv codes. I fixed it for something like $40 on the car we bought my stepdaughter.

 

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t609_ds527426

 

Yes. The dealer in question was recently bought out. We had minor services done since, but you can tell the employess don't seem to enjoy the new management. So the wife and son took it to the place we had been taken care of in the past. I'm beginning to think we may be looking for a new shop.

 

The service writer said it was the PVC hose when I spoke to him on the phone - surprised a PVC hose also calls for R&R of the valse cover gaskets, stc.

 

My dad works in up town at a small family(not mine) shop, he's been a mechanic for almost 40 years.

 

It's probably cautionary. Since they're made of the same stuff and subject to the same conditions they probably assume that if one is bad they all are.

 

uptown charlotte?

 

Yes, place called queens crown on providence.

 

I'll have to check them out. I told the service writer not to touch it until he e-mailed me a breakdown of the parts and each service item so I can pull the fluff out of what he wants to do.

 

Cool, if you get to the point of wanting a second opinion Let me know and I'll give him a heads up, because if you just call the he may not be able to talk on the phone at that point.

 

What did you take it to the shop for first?

 

Don't ever take a 12 year old car to a dealer. You're paying premium for "genuine" labor and parts, no fluff. And the service writer doesn't determine what needs to be done to your car so not sure why you keep wording as such.

 

yep, I'll take that second opinion.

 

Son came home and told my wife his car wasn't running right, so she did what had been done in the past. I can't fault her for trying to address the situation, but neither of them even looked under the hood to see if some organ grinders monkey had taken up shop in there...

 

Gotcha, he said sometimes when you remove the spark plugs on those engines you can see that the valve cover gaskets are leaking, just a fyi.
Did you want to call there tomorrow?

 

pretty sure it wasn't a mechanic,and he was throwing some other services in there - various filters, injector service. That's why I asked for the detailed write up.

 

Sure - working from home tomorrow. Should I just ask for Mr Clark?

 

Just keep in mind if you wanna pull it out now you're gonna pay a diag fee.