Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

Last week my wife complained that her FEH had a wrench light and service engine soon light. Since it had just turned 80,000 miles and no replacement of the electric system cooling pump I thought I would check the pump by listening to it. It sounded like a bucket full of rats scratching in a steel bucket. I guessed that the pump was going out and called local dealer who said they couldn't work on the "Hybrid"without running diagnostics on it. So, $170 later they called and said the MECS pump is failing. Then they said since it was a "Hybrid" it would take more time and the cost for pump replacement was $860 and they might be able to get it done the next day. I can see why Ford will not be big in Hybrids with dealers who want to take advantage of customers who have little knowledge about their vehicle. I told the service rep not to touch the Escape and that I would pick it up and fix it for far less. I took it to an independent auto service garage and got the pump replaced for a total of $353. If I were a little younger I would have done it myself. If toyota would make a 4X4 SUV hybrid that wasn't so expensive ($40-50000) I would have got a Toyota and forget Ford. Oh, the Ford dealer wanted $365 for the pump alone. Needless to say they left a bad taste in my mouth.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

I am waiting for Toyota to make the Rav4 hybrid it's not like it won't sell.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

All I can say is that dealers will screw you if they can and with a hybrid, we are more vulnerable. They have the special diagnostic and re-flashing tools but we can help each other on this and other hybrid forums to avoid getting ripped off.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

To add more to my original post, we got the wrench again yesterday with a message to service engine soon. So took it to local auto repair shop and put on snap -on diagnostic device and no codes. The wrench symbol disappears after you turn off the ignition. I am know thinking that I paid 170 dollars and they did not even hook up or get any code at the Ford dealer last week. I thought it was due to my electronic cooling pump going bad which I had replaced. My local auto repair service said to stop when the wrench is lite up and he would check for codes. Whatever is causing this intermittent wrench light has not had any effect on the Escapes drive-ability as we still are around our average of 29.5 to 30.5 mpg.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

That sounds like the blend door issue. It throws a wrench light but doesn't leave a normal code. However, the Ford dealer can run a special program to find the problem.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

IIRC the Scan Gauge can also detect the blend door fault. I can't remember the details now but my SG did display a fault, but I think a special command was required to display it. Details should be posted here somewhere.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

I found the Scangauge info for doing this at: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/archi...p/t-21291.html

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

To correct an earlier post, the A/C Blend Door Actuator does throw a DTC when going bad.
B1239 = traction battery blend door actuator

It's the MECS pump that won't throw a code, since there's technically no code to throw on it (there is a relay code that can trip for it though). Many generic code readers won't find these make-specific codes though, so your local Pepboys scanner might not see anything even though the DTC is indeed present.

BTW, the MECS pump is extremely easy to buy and replace yourself. PM me if you'd like a document that describes the procedure. I copied it off another thead and/or site awhile back.

Re: Ford dealer and MECS pump replacement
 

Hi eldiee. Do you mind sharing the outcome to this problem?