Mike Romain wrote:
> None of the repairs were really technical and could have been done
> in
> the driveway with the maintenance manual's help and a bit of know
> how
> for removing panels or inside skins.
>
> Finding a good shop is hard. Word of mouth seems the best way.
>
> I think the Dealers are 'far' too proud of their work....

For the most part repairs per se are well within the ability of
anybody with a reasonable mechanical aptitude, a good set of tools,
and a copy of the service manual.

The part that requires a skilled mechanic is figuring out what needs
to be repaired and why it broke.

<snip>

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 

Mike Romain wrote:
> None of the repairs were really technical and could have been done
> in
> the driveway with the maintenance manual's help and a bit of know
> how
> for removing panels or inside skins.
>
> Finding a good shop is hard. Word of mouth seems the best way.
>
> I think the Dealers are 'far' too proud of their work....

For the most part repairs per se are well within the ability of
anybody with a reasonable mechanical aptitude, a good set of tools,
and a copy of the service manual.

The part that requires a skilled mechanic is figuring out what needs
to be repaired and why it broke.

<snip>

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 

Mike Romain wrote:
> None of the repairs were really technical and could have been done
> in
> the driveway with the maintenance manual's help and a bit of know
> how
> for removing panels or inside skins.
>
> Finding a good shop is hard. Word of mouth seems the best way.
>
> I think the Dealers are 'far' too proud of their work....

For the most part repairs per se are well within the ability of
anybody with a reasonable mechanical aptitude, a good set of tools,
and a copy of the service manual.

The part that requires a skilled mechanic is figuring out what needs
to be repaired and why it broke.

<snip>

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 

It's either that or do it yourself:
http://www.----------.com/temp/steal...ecept10107.jpg and life's too
short for that.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

It's either that or do it yourself:
http://www.----------.com/temp/steal...ecept10107.jpg and life's too
short for that.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

It's either that or do it yourself:
http://www.----------.com/temp/steal...ecept10107.jpg and life's too
short for that.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

It's either that or do it yourself:
http://www.----------.com/temp/steal...ecept10107.jpg and life's too
short for that.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

I'm lucky enough to have a very reputable shop near me that I can take my
cars to if I am unable to do it due to lack of expertise in the repair or
lack of time. It's not much to look at but it's been in operation for 25+
years and the owner is held in such high esteem he was named 2007
Pumpkinfest King...

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

I'm lucky enough to have a very reputable shop near me that I can take my
cars to if I am unable to do it due to lack of expertise in the repair or
lack of time. It's not much to look at but it's been in operation for 25+
years and the owner is held in such high esteem he was named 2007
Pumpkinfest King...

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>

 

I'm lucky enough to have a very reputable shop near me that I can take my
cars to if I am unable to do it due to lack of expertise in the repair or
lack of time. It's not much to look at but it's been in operation for 25+
years and the owner is held in such high esteem he was named 2007
Pumpkinfest King...

"P.Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:gLMOi.56116$Um6.36767@newssvr12.news.prodigy. net...
> Over the years, I've almost always brought my cars
> back to the dealer for specific problems vs general maint.
> Chevy - Chevy - Saab - Maxima - Jeep - Jeep
>
> My thinking was that they know their specific brand & models,
> and have the specific experience & parts....
> BUT - my local Jeep dealer labor costs are HUGE at $117 hour.
>
> Here are some of things over the years with my current GC Jeep...
>
> ie - sunroof motor
> electric cooling fan relay
> rear lift gate latch
> transmission transducer sensor
> serpentine belt
>
> then the usual engine/oil maint, flush, plugs, etc
> and the "problem" with brake rotors -
> replaced warped rotors 3 times
> before finally going to a drilled/slotted version
>
> SO - do you continue to go to the Jeep dealer
> with their "experience" and parts,
> or go to an independent shop ?
> Would the shop have been able to fix the sunroof,
> the cooling fan relay, the rear lift gate latch ?
>
> AND - how do you find a shop that works with & really knows Jeeps ?
>
>