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Independent Mechanics
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
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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
---
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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
>
>
>
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
"Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
"Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
Re: Independent Mechanics
A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
mechanics aren't, ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
"XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator,com > wrote in message
news:Xns99AC612CB4CC6xs11emailinatorcom@69.28.173.184...
> "Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
>
>> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
>
> Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
> The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
mechanics aren't, ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
"XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator,com > wrote in message
news:Xns99AC612CB4CC6xs11emailinatorcom@69.28.173.184...
> "Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
>
>> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
>
> Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
> The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
Re: Independent Mechanics
In article <P7XGi.2933$ZA5.999@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc,com >,
"Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
> mechanics aren't,
A ridiculous statement with no basis in fact.
Nowdays, this factory training amounts to nothing more than the
mechanic sitting at a computer terminal in the dealership playing
'guess the answer.' If real live instructor training, odds are
it's a contract teacher from/at a local technical college.
<rolls eyes>
> ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
Dealerships charge more per hour because their overhead costs are
higher.
In article <P7XGi.2933$ZA5.999@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc,com >,
"Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
> mechanics aren't,
A ridiculous statement with no basis in fact.
Nowdays, this factory training amounts to nothing more than the
mechanic sitting at a computer terminal in the dealership playing
'guess the answer.' If real live instructor training, odds are
it's a contract teacher from/at a local technical college.
<rolls eyes>
> ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
Dealerships charge more per hour because their overhead costs are
higher.
Re: Independent Mechanics
the after market techs are usually smarter than a dealer tech, they have to work
on many different brands and usually have twice the schooling since a dealer
only does enough to satisfy the conditions of franchise ownership and the
dealer techs are usually under the age of 30 so they have way less auto repair
wisdom
the days of learning how to wrench while working are over
techs now have 4 years of collage or 2 years trade school and get hired into
engineering jobs and such right out of school and this is cauing a tech shortage
big time ESP. WHEN THEY GET WIND OF FLAT RATE AND WHINING CUSTOMERS WHO EXPECT
FREE WORK
Big Tex wrote:
> A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
> mechanics aren't, ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
>
> "XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator,com > wrote in message
> news:Xns99AC612CB4CC6xs11emailinatorcom@69.28.173.184...
> > "Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> >
> >> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
> >
> > Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> > same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
> > The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
the after market techs are usually smarter than a dealer tech, they have to work
on many different brands and usually have twice the schooling since a dealer
only does enough to satisfy the conditions of franchise ownership and the
dealer techs are usually under the age of 30 so they have way less auto repair
wisdom
the days of learning how to wrench while working are over
techs now have 4 years of collage or 2 years trade school and get hired into
engineering jobs and such right out of school and this is cauing a tech shortage
big time ESP. WHEN THEY GET WIND OF FLAT RATE AND WHINING CUSTOMERS WHO EXPECT
FREE WORK
Big Tex wrote:
> A dealer mechanic is usually factory trained where as most independent shop
> mechanics aren't, ergo, they usually charge less per hour for labor
>
> "XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator,com > wrote in message
> news:Xns99AC612CB4CC6xs11emailinatorcom@69.28.173.184...
> > "Big Tex" <big_tex_1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> >
> >> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
> >
> > Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> > same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
> > The Usenet Improvement Project: http :// blinkynet,net /comp/uip5.html
Re: Independent Mechanics
XS11E proclaimed:
> "Big Tex" <big tex 1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
>
>> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
>
> Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
I've been willing to pay more at an independent to get mechanics with a
pulse and a service manager who is an actual mechanic rather than a
business major or thinly disguised sales type. Even better is if the
shop owner is the service manager or a very good mechanic as well. Have
had excellent luck, including one shop where the owner had the Motor
Trend trophy awarded to Volvo, and another where the owner raced Mazda
rotaries. Sure wish the heck I could find an independent that knows
Jeep drivetrains... the local dealer is OK, but have only encountered
two dealers in my life that were as good as an independent.
XS11E proclaimed:
> "Big Tex" <big tex 1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
>
>> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
>
> Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
I've been willing to pay more at an independent to get mechanics with a
pulse and a service manager who is an actual mechanic rather than a
business major or thinly disguised sales type. Even better is if the
shop owner is the service manager or a very good mechanic as well. Have
had excellent luck, including one shop where the owner had the Motor
Trend trophy awarded to Volvo, and another where the owner raced Mazda
rotaries. Sure wish the heck I could find an independent that knows
Jeep drivetrains... the local dealer is OK, but have only encountered
two dealers in my life that were as good as an independent.
Re: Independent Mechanics
In article <E6KdnUXBOJKn4nHbnZ2dnUVZ ryqnZ2d@comcast,com >,
lon.stowell@comcast,net says...
> XS11E proclaimed:
> > "Big Tex" <big tex 1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> >
> >> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
> >
> > Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> > same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
>
> I've been willing to pay more at an independent to get mechanics with a
> pulse and a service manager who is an actual mechanic rather than a
> business major or thinly disguised sales type. Even better is if the
> shop owner is the service manager or a very good mechanic as well.
Agreed. A lot of service advisors/managers suck.
If people really want to lessen the cost of car repairs they need to
stop buying cars that require a gazillion very expensive special tools.
They also need to stop messing with the a/c system and dumping in
oddball gases. They need to stop buying cars with options out the ying
yang. They need to stop the Gov from mandating expensive safety and
emissions requirements. And finally they need to buy cars that are all
alike...or they need to stop driving. I didn't drive the price of car
repair over 60 bucks an hour, the cost of staying in business did.
I thought $270 bucks for those repairs was more than reasonable.
In article <E6KdnUXBOJKn4nHbnZ2dnUVZ ryqnZ2d@comcast,com >,
lon.stowell@comcast,net says...
> XS11E proclaimed:
> > "Big Tex" <big tex 1@sbcglobal,net > wrote:
> >
> >> But this guy looks like he charges the same as a dealer would!
> >
> > Why not? I'll bet his mechanics shop at the same stores and pay the
> > same prices as the dealers mechanics do, why should they earn less?
>
> I've been willing to pay more at an independent to get mechanics with a
> pulse and a service manager who is an actual mechanic rather than a
> business major or thinly disguised sales type. Even better is if the
> shop owner is the service manager or a very good mechanic as well.
Agreed. A lot of service advisors/managers suck.
If people really want to lessen the cost of car repairs they need to
stop buying cars that require a gazillion very expensive special tools.
They also need to stop messing with the a/c system and dumping in
oddball gases. They need to stop buying cars with options out the ying
yang. They need to stop the Gov from mandating expensive safety and
emissions requirements. And finally they need to buy cars that are all
alike...or they need to stop driving. I didn't drive the price of car
repair over 60 bucks an hour, the cost of staying in business did.
I thought $270 bucks for those repairs was more than reasonable.
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
>
>
>
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
"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
Re: Independent Mechanics
reboot wrote:
> 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
Your looking at "standard labor rates" or "book" that almost
all places use to determine labor costs. Yes, it's more than
what it should take to do the job, but includes prep, install,
cleanup, rework, etc. The mechanic can make more or less
depending on how good/quick they are.
Not disagreeing with you on the cost, just clarifying where
it comes from.
Thing is, most places I go take the diagnostics off the bill
when you get the work done there.
--
DougW
reboot wrote:
> 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
Your looking at "standard labor rates" or "book" that almost
all places use to determine labor costs. Yes, it's more than
what it should take to do the job, but includes prep, install,
cleanup, rework, etc. The mechanic can make more or less
depending on how good/quick they are.
Not disagreeing with you on the cost, just clarifying where
it comes from.
Thing is, most places I go take the diagnostics off the bill
when you get the work done there.
--
DougW
Re: Independent Mechanics
>> 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
>
Dont forget that not only does he have to have a high-quality scanner that
handles nearly all new cars,
http :// buy1.snapon,com /products/diagnostics/solus.asp?partno=EESC316F13IN&dir=catalog&group_ID=3098
has to update the scanner twice a year for about $995
And he also has to verify that the old part was indeed faulty (and that the
replacement is not defective) with another tool,
http :// buy1.snapon,com /catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=diagnostics&item_ID=77743&group_ID=1357&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
and updates for it cost another $400.
I'd say you got a square deal. You don't like it, buy the tools.
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty
>> 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
>
Dont forget that not only does he have to have a high-quality scanner that
handles nearly all new cars,
http :// buy1.snapon,com /products/diagnostics/solus.asp?partno=EESC316F13IN&dir=catalog&group_ID=3098
has to update the scanner twice a year for about $995
And he also has to verify that the old part was indeed faulty (and that the
replacement is not defective) with another tool,
http :// buy1.snapon,com /catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=diagnostics&item_ID=77743&group_ID=1357&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
and updates for it cost another $400.
I'd say you got a square deal. You don't like it, buy the tools.
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty
Re: Independent Mechanics
On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>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.
Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>
>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
>
>
On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>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.
Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>
>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
do you think his boss comes to him and says your are working a half pay
today???
that is what he was asking of that shop owner
hell let him find the tools to do that work not to mention the scanner to
look at the pcm
i had a call from california sunday about a car no one can seem to fgure
out and the dealer s told him no way they would even look at it and in
talking to this guy he told me the labor rate out there is 95 to 110 a
hour. 82 is cheap
if you walked into my shop and pulled that the check out fee crap i would
have gone to 100.00 to release vehicle and if it sat there 2 days there
would have been a 20 dollar storage fee ta boot
or by the way your boss will be making you pay in full for health care
bllsht wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>
> >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.
>
> Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>
> >
> >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
> >
> >
do you think his boss comes to him and says your are working a half pay
today???
that is what he was asking of that shop owner
hell let him find the tools to do that work not to mention the scanner to
look at the pcm
i had a call from california sunday about a car no one can seem to fgure
out and the dealer s told him no way they would even look at it and in
talking to this guy he told me the labor rate out there is 95 to 110 a
hour. 82 is cheap
if you walked into my shop and pulled that the check out fee crap i would
have gone to 100.00 to release vehicle and if it sat there 2 days there
would have been a 20 dollar storage fee ta boot
or by the way your boss will be making you pay in full for health care
bllsht wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>
> >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.
>
> Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>
> >
> >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
On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:40:34 -0400, philthy <dbrider@cac,net > wrote:
>do you think his boss comes to him and says your are working a half pay
>today???
>that is what he was asking of that shop owner
>hell let him find the tools to do that work not to mention the scanner to
>look at the pcm
>i had a call from california sunday about a car no one can seem to fgure
>out and the dealer s told him no way they would even look at it and in
>talking to this guy he told me the labor rate out there is 95 to 110 a
>hour. 82 is cheap
>if you walked into my shop and pulled that the check out fee crap i would
>have gone to 100.00 to release vehicle and if it sat there 2 days there
>would have been a 20 dollar storage fee ta boot
>or by the way your boss will be making you pay in full for health care
>
>bllsht wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>>
>> >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.
>>
>> Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>>
>> >
>> >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
>> >
>> >
rising to the bait ...
my beef isn't if the guy gets paid full fare, i want him to be a
successful businessman - really. and if his pricing policy is that
everybody pays 1 hour for diagnostics regardless of the type of car or
problem, then that's his business to do so.
my repair is now going back for what seems to be the same problem. if
he is a honorable guy he won't ding me a second time for a diagnostic
charge and if he has to now replace the IAT or TPS or something else
in the immediate vicinity to the MAP sensor he just replaced ... i
don't think that is worth another 0.7 hours of labor
and if you think he's justified in charging more labor for adjacent
parts... is 6 spark plugs worth 4.2 hours ?
repeat business is the best kind and word of mouth the best
advertising. i vote with my wallet or my feet.
reboot
---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 000775-2, 09/18/2007
Tested on: 9/18/2007 10:00:47 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software.
http :// www .avast,com
On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:40:34 -0400, philthy <dbrider@cac,net > wrote:
>do you think his boss comes to him and says your are working a half pay
>today???
>that is what he was asking of that shop owner
>hell let him find the tools to do that work not to mention the scanner to
>look at the pcm
>i had a call from california sunday about a car no one can seem to fgure
>out and the dealer s told him no way they would even look at it and in
>talking to this guy he told me the labor rate out there is 95 to 110 a
>hour. 82 is cheap
>if you walked into my shop and pulled that the check out fee crap i would
>have gone to 100.00 to release vehicle and if it sat there 2 days there
>would have been a 20 dollar storage fee ta boot
>or by the way your boss will be making you pay in full for health care
>
>bllsht wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:28:06 -0400, reboot <reboot@nothere,com > wrote:
>>
>> >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.
>>
>> Or you should have diagnosed and repaired it properly the first time.
>>
>> >
>> >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
>> >
>> >
rising to the bait ...
my beef isn't if the guy gets paid full fare, i want him to be a
successful businessman - really. and if his pricing policy is that
everybody pays 1 hour for diagnostics regardless of the type of car or
problem, then that's his business to do so.
my repair is now going back for what seems to be the same problem. if
he is a honorable guy he won't ding me a second time for a diagnostic
charge and if he has to now replace the IAT or TPS or something else
in the immediate vicinity to the MAP sensor he just replaced ... i
don't think that is worth another 0.7 hours of labor
and if you think he's justified in charging more labor for adjacent
parts... is 6 spark plugs worth 4.2 hours ?
repeat business is the best kind and word of mouth the best
advertising. i vote with my wallet or my feet.
reboot
---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 000775-2, 09/18/2007
Tested on: 9/18/2007 10:00:47 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software.
http :// www .avast,com
