Tune up estimate of $664.00????

[SRocklin]

I got a tune up estimate from Midas of $664.00, is this reasonable? This just sounds outrageous to me. Does anyone know if I should pay this or not?

[maxwedge]

List what is included and itemized, how is anyone going to know what they are doing for that price??

[theragtopguy]

Midas is one of the most expensive places to get work done. I'd go somewhere else, or do it yourself. These days a tune-up is very easy to do, even though you don't specify what year or motor.

[GTP Dad]

I have to agree that that is too much money for a tune up. If the car is running alright they may change plugs, wires, PCV, fuel and air filter, clean the IAC and possibly the mass air flow sensor. They may even run a computer scan on the engine to see if there are any codes stored. But $664 is way too much for even all of that. Parts: $200 for plugs, pcv, fuel filter, air filter and trans fluid change. Scan the computer $45 and if no issues. Labor about $150 total cost $350. If they also change O2 sensors add $150 but only necessary if a light is on.

If I were you I would do it myself or take it somewhere else for another estimate. Of course my figures are only estimates as well.

[SRocklin]

Originally Posted by SRocklin

I got a tune up estimate from Midas of $664.00, is this reasonable? This just sounds outrageous to me. Does anyone know if I should pay this or not?

Sorry, I forgot to put that this is for a 1996 Cutlass Supreme. They are going to change plugs, wires, PCV, fuel and air filter, clean the IAC, I don't know if they were going to change the O2 sensors or not. The check engine light was on so I drove it to them, when they checked it they said that it was getting about 600 misfires. They also said that my radiator was damaged so that there was transmission fluid leaking into the coolant. He said that the reserve was full with transmission fluid, and that if I didn't fix this my engine would blow. It seems a little weird to me that transmission fluid would leak into the radiator.

[maxwedge]

The trans cooler in the radiator is leaking into the coolant ,serious, if the price includes this it is fair. In the future try and post the pertinent info first time, will save a lot of misinformation.

[SRocklin]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

The trans cooler in the radiator is leaking into the coolant ,serious, if the price includes this it is fair. In the future try and post the pertinent info first time, will save a lot of misinformation.

In regards to this message, the actual estimate included a tune up for $664.50 and $543.33 for the radiator repair, plus $85.00 for the diagnostics charge. Does that still sound fair?

[GTP Dad]

For the tune-up NO not based on your description of what they intend to replace, unless they intend to replace a bunch of parts like both O2 sensors, EGR and etc. As for the radiator replacement and repairs that is only fair if they are replacing the radiator although if they put an external tranny cooler on and simply flush the cooling system, new fluid and filter in the transmission it would cost about $300 with labor.

If you are getting tranny fluid in the coolant get this fixed as soon as possible as it will destroy the transmission if left too long. Although are they sure it is transmission fluid and not dexcool residue that is common to cars that use Dex for coolant. Have you been adding fluid to the transmission lately? If not I would question this because when dex cool oxidizes it looks just like transmission fluid in the coolant, kind of a dark oily residue. You may want a second opinion on both of these repairs!

[mepammy]

Originally Posted by SRocklin

I got a tune up estimate from Midas of $664.00, is this reasonable? This just sounds outrageous to me. Does anyone know if I should pay this or not?

It sure is - even the $400 I was quoted for a tune-up on one of my cars several years ago - I thought was too high. Especially since I had just had a tune-up a few months earlier elsewhere!

In this case - my car was having a problem so I had it towed for a diagnosis. They claimed that they couldn't check anything else until they did this tune-up first. This made no sense to me whatsoever. I told them not to do it. I told them I had just had a tune-up.

Went down to get my car and they asked me to pay $80. I refused because they didn't do anything. I told them I'll have to leave the car until I decide what to do, but had to get my backpack. Owner grabbed my keys out of my hand.

Moral of the story is that if you really feel something is not 'right' follow your gut instinct and turn around in the other direction as fast as you can go.

Any mechanic should be able to explain something to you so that it is understandable and makes sense. If it doesn't make sense to you, it doesn't make sense to have that person work on your car.

BTW it was the timing chain.