---- Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
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> Turns out the fuel pump is in an assembly bigger than a shoe box with the
> sender, back pressure valve, venting, etc. and Ford only sells the whole
> thing for $350. Tax to get to $900 is $82, so the labor on that repair was
> $468 at an independent shop.  Yikes.
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> > The Vanagon fuel pump takes about 15 minutes to replace!  Inaccessible
> in-tank pumps are a really dumb idea.  The assembly did have
> quick-disconnect connectors for the hoses though, which was the only easy
> part of the job.
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Well, none of that is a dumb idea if you are a manufacturer with a dealer network and you see a way to keep ordinary folks from repairing their vehicles.  After all, $900 bucks is not a bad amount to receive, and the dealer would charge even more.  The good part of the deal for the maker is the "fuel pump assembly," rather than separate parts.  And the whole shebang keeps the dealers happy.
David McNeely