|
Independent Mechanics
bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles
other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on repairs. daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but not well at part throttle. so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable prices, no upselling etc. today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i was on the trip. oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these fixes. so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 MAP Sensor $110 Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. i don't think he gets it. thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i got home. reboot --- avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I use to feel bad about charging $35 an hour for labor when I worked on
cars. Maybe u should have looked for a "shadetree" mechanic like me. In all the yrs my father and I worked on cars, we never overcharged anyone( unless they deserved it). I like to think that I continued the tradition. I am not a "certified" mechanic and don't have all the fancy equipment that is needed these days. But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would! Newer vehicles require more expert care. But I have found that some auto parts stores will diagnose some things for free. If the "Check/Service Engine" light was on, then you could have taken it to the parts store and they might have been able to tell u the problem. But I do agree with you, prices are going up and sometimes the quality of the work goes down. I just hope they fixed the problem correctly. "reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I use to feel bad about charging $35 an hour for labor when I worked on
cars. Maybe u should have looked for a "shadetree" mechanic like me. In all the yrs my father and I worked on cars, we never overcharged anyone( unless they deserved it). I like to think that I continued the tradition. I am not a "certified" mechanic and don't have all the fancy equipment that is needed these days. But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would! Newer vehicles require more expert care. But I have found that some auto parts stores will diagnose some things for free. If the "Check/Service Engine" light was on, then you could have taken it to the parts store and they might have been able to tell u the problem. But I do agree with you, prices are going up and sometimes the quality of the work goes down. I just hope they fixed the problem correctly. "reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I use to feel bad about charging $35 an hour for labor when I worked on
cars. Maybe u should have looked for a "shadetree" mechanic like me. In all the yrs my father and I worked on cars, we never overcharged anyone( unless they deserved it). I like to think that I continued the tradition. I am not a "certified" mechanic and don't have all the fancy equipment that is needed these days. But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would! Newer vehicles require more expert care. But I have found that some auto parts stores will diagnose some things for free. If the "Check/Service Engine" light was on, then you could have taken it to the parts store and they might have been able to tell u the problem. But I do agree with you, prices are going up and sometimes the quality of the work goes down. I just hope they fixed the problem correctly. "reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I use to feel bad about charging $35 an hour for labor when I worked on
cars. Maybe u should have looked for a "shadetree" mechanic like me. In all the yrs my father and I worked on cars, we never overcharged anyone( unless they deserved it). I like to think that I continued the tradition. I am not a "certified" mechanic and don't have all the fancy equipment that is needed these days. But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would! Newer vehicles require more expert care. But I have found that some auto parts stores will diagnose some things for free. If the "Check/Service Engine" light was on, then you could have taken it to the parts store and they might have been able to tell u the problem. But I do agree with you, prices are going up and sometimes the quality of the work goes down. I just hope they fixed the problem correctly. "reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I'm in Southeast MI, how about the name of the shop?
"reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I'm in Southeast MI, how about the name of the shop?
"reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I'm in Southeast MI, how about the name of the shop?
"reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
I'm in Southeast MI, how about the name of the shop?
"reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > |
Re: Independent Mechanics
"reboot" <reboot@nothere.com> wrote in message news:msime3dt173icbmb0b5keim00ruoj2gd07@4ax.com... > bought a '99 TJ 4.0 last spring, have a daughter driving it, 67k miles > > other than maintenance and a radio, i haven't had to spend much on > repairs. > > daughter comes home tuesday night just before i leave on a business > trip, says the car is running rough, idles rough. runs under WOT but > not well at part throttle. > > so being a student of this group i'm thinking electrical connectors on > the CPS or TPS or MAP sensor ... easy to get to. open each up, spray > out w/ electronics cleaner, put a dab of dielectric grease on it and > put them back together. pull the TB, looks clean, shoot it w/ some > carb cleaner and blow it out. check the IAC and clean it out. the > jeep now starts fine, idles smooth, drive it and runs part throttle or > full throttle fine. tell daughter it should be OK, leave town. > > phone call next day while i'm out of town, sam ting happening. > > so i call up an independent mechanic shop i've used over the past > three years and arrange for daughter to drop it off. > > up until now this shop has been excellent, good work, reasonable > prices, no upselling etc. > > today the service writer tells me that the MAP senson was bad, the > Throttle Body needed cleaning. my wife authorized the repair whild i > was on the trip. > > oh ... btw - the shocks and steering damper are shot and the serp > belt needs replaceing. sheesh, glad i didn't tell him to look > anywhere else. and that my wife had sense not to authorize these > fixes. > > so i check out the price for the MAP sensor. Mopar retail is about > $108 and I can get it for about $90. call the service writer back and > ask him how he gets from $110 to $270 > > 1 hr. diagnostics $82.00 > MAP Sensor $110 > Labor for MAP Sensor 0.7 hr $57 > Labor for TB cleaning 0.25 hr $21 > > hooking up a scanner ... about what - 5 minutes? > > replacing a MAP sensor on a 4.0 about what - another 5 minutes > > so i called the shop owner and told him that his diagnostic charge is > out of line on a car like this, that his labor is out of line for this > particular repair and that if i ever get upsold again i'd be taking my > business elsewhere and that i absolutely won't let my wife or > daughters drop a car off and authorize a repair ever again. > > i don't think he gets it. > > thanks for letting me vent, should have told the kid to wait until i > got home. > > reboot > > > --- > avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. > Virus Database (VPS): 000774-6, 09/14/2007 > Tested on: 9/14/2007 11:28:08 PM > avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. > http://www.avast.com > > > Just a question on the "upsold" comment. If he hadn't told your daughter or wife about the worn serpentine belt, and she left with it later breaking, and stranding her somewhere, or worse causing an accident from lack of power steering, would you have been mad at the garage for not telling you it had a worn serpentine belt? Due to the latest MAP guidelines, most places are obligated to tell of what they find, it is up to the customer to make a (n) (informed) decision. Spdloader |
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:19 PM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands