[Shotimes] My 'new' 96 SHO story

[SHOLANDO@aol.com]

I picked up my 1996 SHO last week that I bought on ebay a few days earlier. 
This is the car with the Jasper Engine installed by the Previous Owner for 
$12,000+.

I flew into Newark, NJ (first time seeing the NY skyline without the twin 
towers - It still shocks me!!) Tuesday morning at 10:30am, got to the 
Dealership by 11:00 and I was on the road by 11:30.  I got as far as Laurel, 
MD (just outside of the Washington, DC beltway) when I noticed the 
temperature gauge climbing really high. I pulled into the rest stop, thank 
goodness it was just a mile away, opened the hood, and ouch what a noise- the 
water pump was making an incredible grindling/clacking noise - obviously the 
impeller was going.  There was a Ford Dealership, 2 miles away (according to 
the rest stop information center).  I drove up at 2:30pm and asked it was 
possible to install a waterpump 'today'.  He asked the mechanic what was 
involved, the mechanic said: "It's the same thing as doing a timing belt" - 
HUGE RED FLAG WENT UP!!  I said to the mechanic, it's a V8 not a V6 SHO, the 
water pump is on the top drivers side of the engine.  He said oh, ok! The 
service manager checked the book, which quotes 3.7 hours to do the job.  The 
part wasn't available anywhere in a 300 mile area.  After a few more phone 
calls, they found one at a 'Motorcraft parts dealer' (whatever that means). 
It would be in by 10:00 am Wednesday, and I'd be on the road by noon.  I 
explained to the Service Manager that I had just bought the car, and it had a 
JASPER engine with a 75,000 mile warranty.  They called Jasper, but they 
wouldn't pay for the repair without first inspecting the failed part.  I had 
the option of waiting a few days for them to get out there, or pay for it 
myself and having JASPER refund the money to me.  I choose to pay for it 
myself - $1,011.74 (the waterpump alone was $448.00).

Noon, came and went and the car was together but they were waiting the Shop 
Manager to do a final inspection on the car.  By 1:30pm I was finally on the 
road.

The next day (Thursday), I was in the appropriate frame of mind to review the 
receipt for the work.  They charged me $124.00 for 1.8 hours to install a new 
thermostat!!!  I called the Service Manager and explained the T-Stat had to 
be removed when they replaced the waterpump.  There should be No labor charge 
for this.  He said he would look into it and get back with me. Today (Monday) 
he called and said they had refunded the $124.00 for the labor to my credit 
card.

I have to say that the dealership - Academy Ford, and the service manager - 
Bob Justice treated me very well, and I'd recommend them for repair work.  

On Friday, a huge Jasper Truck showed up at my work and picked up the bad 
waterpump.  Hopefully the rest of the story will go as well as this has. 

On Saturday, I had the chance to detail the car, Original Black paint - no 
repair work that I can tell.  The gray leather interior is in MINT condition. 
 I'm getting the transmission flushed and an external cooler installed this 
weekend.

Rob