If you're a girl, don't take your car to a shop if it's broke

[Ricochet]

My g/f has a '98 Cavalier and it's been stuttering/stalling while driving. Turns out it only needs a new tps. Well she took it to a shop to get fixed, and they want $700 to replace it. I called a Chevy dealer and the part only costs $46. I called them and they said oh, well yeah labor and some other things make up the other $650... I'm like explain to me in detail the "other things".. and they're like "oh well it's pretty technical, we're digging into the engine for other things. We'll let you know when you come in to pick it up." I said again, explain the "other things". "Hang on I'll get you to a manager." I was on hold for a good 10 minutes, then *click*.

My brother's g/f just took her V6 Mazda 626 in for some problems, and it needed new belts and plugs. They're charging $120 to replace the serpentine belts which is somewhat reasonable, and $107 for new plugs/labor, and that she has to change the plug wires every time you change plugs, which cost $180. I told her to call them asap and tell them not to change any of the plug crap, and how they only cost like $40 for all that and I'd do it myself.

I swear to god, if you're a girl [most] mechanics make everything sound so technical and expensive...

[Ace$nyper]

thats mad dick i hate that when people are shady like that. you win more customers when you are fair my mechanics are good guys and i steer everyone i know to them cause they earn it.

[pheurton-skeurto]

thats why its so im portant that you take your ride/gf ride to a mechanic that you trust. ive seen this happen to guys too...granted dipshit guys who had no idea what the shop was going to do, but it happens on the other sid eof the table to uninformed people also...

[Miataracer]

lol... my mom once had her whole wiper arm fall off of her car. she took it to a chevy dealership to get a new one put on and they said they were going to charge her a 1/4 labor charge to do it. so she was like forget that just give it to me and I will do it myself! then the guy was like oh don't worry about it I will go out there and do it for you... he snapped it on and she left

not long ago I took my car to an oil change place and the moron under the car cross threaded my drain plug when he put it back in and it stripped. so not only did I have to sit and wait while the retapped the hole for a bigger plug but also they had added it to the cost of my oil change and were going to charge ME for it. I was like I just sat right here in this waiting room and watched that guy screw it up... I'll be damned if I am going to pay for your mistake! the guy gave me the money back, I thanked him and left

its always nice to know they are wanting to screw people that they don't think will know any better any chance they get

[bigol jonson]

those are normal labor rates now adays labor is now 60 and hour and better so what are you complaining about. labor rates are so high due to the fact that the economy is shit and diagnostic equipment prices are astronomical i mean the new snap on modis cost's 7900 dollars so i wouldnt complain if you think its too much do it yourself but dont bitch

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by bigol jonson

those are normal labor rates now adays labor is now 60 and hour and better so what are you complaining about

Yeah $107 to take 5 minutes and change $8 worth of spark plugs sure sounds fair You're a fuckin idiot.

[Mediocrity]

There are still good mechanics out there though.

My girlfriend took her Trans Am in to get an estimate (rear ended a guy who pulled out in front of her, tore off right lid, cracked fender, guy was gonna pay for it, but body shop guy didn't know)

He hooked her up with a functional ram air and all that other good stuff for cheaper than it would normally be.

Of course... he was also a Trans Am racer, but I'm sure that had nothin to do with it

[Ricochet]

No doubt there are great mechanics out there who are still human, but these are just some experiences I've had in the past few weeks. I gauruntee if I take my car in to get the plugs changed they'll charge me $20 for plugs and labor.

[mjshort18]

i feel kind of lucky...i found a guy that is a mechanic at a honda dealership and he gets me discounts on parts and charges very little labor.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

No doubt there are great mechanics out there who are still human, but these are just some experiences I've had in the past few weeks. I gauruntee if I take my car in to get the plugs changed they'll charge me $20 for plugs and labor.

This is why I do everything to my car MYSELF. Great learning experience, I've saved more than I can imagine on labor costs, and it's just a good feeling when you know you did it yourself and how easy most things are to do actually.

Ricochet, you shoulda gone down to that dealership about the $700 TPS and demanded a good answer for that, or else you're report them to the BBB. I would have LOVED to hear and know what $650 worth of "other things" really is. Next to politicians, auto mechanics are some of the shadyest and scrupulous people out there. Not all, but many! I almost want to pull my intake air temp sensor, let it throw my CEl and see what it would cost to "fix" it, hahaha!

[Ricochet]

hehehe... they did something like that a while ago on 20/20 or something. They took a problem-free car in saying there were problems, and the mechanic sprayed oil all over the bottom of the engine. They caught him because of a hidden camera under the car, then questioned later. They had no comment lol..

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

hehehe... they did something like that a while ago on 20/20 or something. They took a problem-free car in saying there were problems, and the mechanic sprayed oil all over the bottom of the engine. They caught him because of a hidden camera under the car, then questioned later. They had no comment lol..

LOL, that's where I was thinking of that from. But I'd like to do it just to make the mechanics feel like an ass. Though they probably wouldn't care.

[pheurton-skeurto]

Originally Posted by mjshort18

i feel kind of lucky...i found a guy that is a mechanic at a honda dealership and he gets me discounts on parts and charges very little labor.

kinda just had the same experience...went into dealership for some lame recall work (free, of course), and the guy changes my oil/filter, new plugs, rotor, dist. cap, even plug wires...all free...im sitting there in awe after the guys runs down the list of stuff theyve done for yes free...then i walk out to my car and unexpectedly, its spotlessly washed.
also on the way out, i have a nice half hour convo with the mechanic that worked on my ride and he offers to 'hook me up' with some decent prices on some stuff...whatever thats good for, i dont know, well see if he comes through, but either way, nice guy, nice experience. if youre in the c-bus, ohio area and you want a good dealership: john hinderer.

[raisin dick2]

you callin me a fuckin idiot? i have a raisin dick and i have to be called an idiot also?
listen up shithead lifes not fair sure it take 10 minutes but if you call any dealer/repair shop you wont find anyone who will do it for under 75$ and thats the lowest you will find. if you know how to do it good for you but if you dont oh well pay the damn money and dont bitch i dont go to the store buy a peice of steak for 8$ and yell at the cashier because it costs about a dollar to get that steak to my plate so eat shit assgrabber

[mjshort18]

Originally Posted by pheurton-skeurto

kinda just had the same experience...went into dealership for some lame recall work (free, of course), and the guy changes my oil/filter, new plugs, rotor, dist. cap, even plug wires...all free...im sitting there in awe after the guys runs down the list of stuff theyve done for yes free...then i walk out to my car and unexpectedly, its spotlessly washed.
also on the way out, i have a nice half hour convo with the mechanic that worked on my ride and he offers to 'hook me up' with some decent prices on some stuff...whatever thats good for, i dont know, well see if he comes through, but either way, nice guy, nice experience. if youre in the c-bus, ohio area and you want a good dealership: john hinderer.

hey john hinderer is where i got my car...they do have really good service. glad they gave you the same great service.
-josh