Expert: Mike Evans - 3/31/2010

Question
My boyfriend took his 2006 Ford Mustang GT in when he noticed his dashboard lights flickering. The mechanics said they had to replace the alternator and a bad battery cable (corroded) was to blame. They  need $400 and 2 days to make the fix. Is this reasonable or is this something my boyfriend can do on his own (he's a diesel truck mechanic/concrete operator)?

Answer
    Sure he could do it himself.  But the alternator is probably over $200 and the cable (you'll need a custom cable which comes from the dealer) could be $50.  The savings would be good, but not great.  If there is any warranty left, you should definitely stick with the dealer.  Even though the warranty doesn't cover the repair, they won't be able to deny future warranty claims due to the "non-approved" nature of this repair.  Ford used to offer a lifetime warranty on repairs using their parts, they may still do so.  And the only reason they would make you wait an extra day is the availability of the parts, so you'll have to wait anyway.