# 1999 ford escort zx2 repair cost $900? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 4, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210 "2013-09-04T17:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FshrKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@FshrKing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FshrKing)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/1 "2013-09-04T17:34:26Z")
Hi, took the car into the shop for it’s regular 175,000 miles maintenance check up. The total cost is $900 which includes brakes, ball joints calipers and gasket repair. Not including struts Is this a reasonable price? ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/2 "2013-09-04T17:42:09Z")
FROM WHAT YOU LISTED , not sure too vage ---
**Author:** ![FshrKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@FshrKing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FshrKing)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/3 "2013-09-04T18:33:38Z")
Everything I listed above needs to be replaced at the ford dealership. I just wold like to know is this normal or above normal pricing for this type of work on this type of car. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/4 "2013-09-04T18:35:59Z")
For a dealership, the pricing sounds normal, even cheap, assuming all the work was needed. But you need to find a good independent shop, all that work does not require a dealership. Click on ‘mechanics files’ above and see if you can find one in your area. ---
**Author:** ![Stoveguyy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Stoveguyy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stoveguyy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/5 "2013-09-04T18:47:33Z")
4 wheel brakes with pads only is 200. Replace rotors, add 200. Replace 2 calipers, add 100. So a major brake job could be 500 easy. Yes, I have seen $20 rotors and $90 rotors. We can debate cheap or expensive brake jobs forever. It’s like a paint job. Good, better , best. Now throw in ball joints. Replace control arms too? Alignment? 2 wheel or 4 wheel? Gasket? Oil pan? Valve cover? Timing cover? Huge price difference ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/6 "2013-09-04T19:00:36Z")
don’t need dealer for this kind of service ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/7 "2013-09-04T19:16:38Z")
For a dealership, that’s a very reasonable price actually. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 9:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/8 "2013-09-07T09:25:59Z")
I don’t think we can help someone who would take a 1999 Escort to a Ford dealer for a 175,000 mile checkup. At that age and mileage they are going to hit you with everything but the kitchen sink because they know they probably won’t get another oppertunity to make money off that car. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/9 "2013-09-07T14:36:21Z")
This website gives “should cost” estimates for repair work. I’ve found it to be reasonably accurate. > **[Car Repair Estimates | Auto Shop & Mechanic Reviews - RepairPal](https://repairpal.com/)** > > RepairPal is the leading provider of auto repair and maintenance information to consumers. Our RepairPal Certified shop network helps you find a repair shop you can trust, and our RepairPrice Estimator ensures you never pay more than you should. We... ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/10 "2013-09-07T16:37:11Z")
The price does seem reasonable, and–depending on which gasket(s) are being replaced–it may be a very reasonable total. Can the OP tell us more about the “gasket repair”? ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/11 "2013-09-07T16:54:36Z")
By the way, I’ve lost track of how many times a dealer has told me I needed a new valve cover gasket or oil pan gasket, often when said gasket wasn’t leaking at all, or leaking such a trivial amount of oil as to be not worth the expense. Ask the dealer to show you the leak and judge for yourself whether it’s actually of any significance. Chances are it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/12 "2013-09-07T17:04:46Z")
Never use a dealership for anything after the warranty runs out. Get a second opinion from a good independent mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-ford-escort-zx2-repair-cost-900/81210/13 "2013-09-07T19:30:56Z")
The dealer can provide valuable services outside the warranty. I got a great price on a timing belt replacement for my Accord last September. I got 3 estimates for the same items and the dealer had the lowest price by more than 10%.