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Getting the car fixed...

her209

her209

No Lifer
Its gonna cost me $700+... and all I went in for was a simple < $30 smog check. 🙁

EDIT: I got a loaner while the car is in the shop. I told the guy I was gonna go to San Diego (from Orange County) and he has no problem with it. :evil:
 
Originally posted by: her209
Its gonna cost me $700+... and all I went in for was a simple < $30 smog check. 🙁

EDIT: I got a loaner while the car is in the shop. I told the guy I was gonna go to San Diego (from Orange County) and he has no problem with it. :evil:
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Did it not pass smog test?
 
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
for?
Click to expand...
1) Replacing my motor mounts (3 of them)
2) Replacing the timing belt
3) Replacing the fuel filter
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none of those have anything much to do wiht your emissions system
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QFT

The motor mounts, if they are broken, should definitely be replaced though.

I don't know how often you are supposed to replace the timing belt on a Camry but if it is an interference type engine you definitely want to do it before the belt breaks.
 
I'm so glad I do 100% of the work on my car myself...

Garges, as a rule, are all ripoffs now. They charge you a labor amount on any job from a book, rush to get it done in less than that, and if two jobs are done that one job already covers the labor, you get charged labor for both jobs. Case in point...doing the timing belt and leaky water pump on my mother's Camry. The labor for the timing belt includes removal and reinstallation of the water pump, but they charged her the labor for both jobs like they were doing them @ different times.

Also, is it me, or are they making the newer cars almost impossible to work on yourself anymore?
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Also, is it me, or are they making the newer cars almost impossible to work on yourself anymore?
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yep. i wish i could work on my own car, but don't have the time/knowledge/space to do so.

 
The labor for the timing belt includes removal and reinstallation of the water pump, but they charged her the labor for both jobs like they were doing them @ different times
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That's pretty underhanded. Sometimes book times are total rubbish anyway. For instance, it supposedly takes a Nissan mechanic 2 hours to change ignition coils on my 00 maxima, but I can do it myself in under half an hour--very, very easy job.
 
Originally posted by: lnguyen
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Also, is it me, or are they making the newer cars almost impossible to work on yourself anymore?
Click to expand...

yep. i wish i could work on my own car, but don't have the time/knowledge/space to do so.
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Agreed. On my '00 Sentra, the oil filter was difficult to reach compared with my '96 Sentra. On my '04 Accord, I need a crush washer to thread on the oil pan, and the oil filter is much more difficult to reach. :roll:
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
I'm so glad I do 100% of the work on my car myself...

Garges, as a rule, are all ripoffs now. They charge you a labor amount on any job from a book, rush to get it done in less than that, and if two jobs are done that one job already covers the labor, you get charged labor for both jobs. Case in point...doing the timing belt and leaky water pump on my mother's Camry. The labor for the timing belt includes removal and reinstallation of the water pump, but they charged her the labor for both jobs like they were doing them @ different times.

Also, is it me, or are they making the newer cars almost impossible to work on yourself anymore?
Click to expand...

Agreed but mounts for that car don't look cheap. Add tools, time,materials and he wouldn't save a lot. Maybe next time.
 
That's what I mean...you essentially need all kinds of specialty tools and a lift to do even normal maintanence anymore. Since my old,dead A/C system came out of the Mustang, I have so much room and I can reach prety much anything. Small block V8's are simple to work on too...

I actually only knew how to change my oil when I got the stang back in '93, and I've taught myself where I'm to the point where all but a complete motor teardown/rebuild I would do.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
The labor for the timing belt includes removal and reinstallation of the water pump, but they charged her the labor for both jobs like they were doing them @ different times
Click to expand...
That's pretty underhanded. Sometimes book times are total rubbish anyway. For instance, it supposedly takes a Nissan mechanic 2 hours to change ignition coils on my 00 maxima, but I can do it myself in under half an hour--very, very easy job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's SOP for most shops. This was a Toyota dealer, andafter I told her, she called them on it, but they said that is how they bill. That is how they make their money. Charge xx hours for job, rush to get it done in less time than the book, but charge for the book time, while the mechanic moves on to the next car to repeat.
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
That's what I mean...you essentially need all kinds of specialty tools and a lift to do even normal maintanence anymore. Since my old,dead A/C system came out of the Mustang, I have so much room and I can reach prety much anything. Small block V8's are simple to work on too...

I actually only knew how to change my oil when I got the stang back in '93, and I've taught myself where I'm to the point where all but a complete motor teardown/rebuild I would do.
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QFT.

I am learning about cars (all aspects) with an old 1974 D100 Dodge. You could smuggle MULTIPLE mexicans across the border under the hood, with it closed. I could havea blower and it would still apprear stock. And with only an alternator, no other accesories, it is easy as hell to work on.
 
Just did some work on the Jeep last Saturday.

new Rancho shocks(4)
new calipers
new rotors
new pads
front diff fluid change
oil change
changed tranny fluid
transfer case fluid change
rear diff fluid change
new NGK spark plugs
air fliter
flushed brake fluid
flushed power steering fluid


I couldn't imagine how much a dealer would charge to do all this...😕I
 
I actually only knew how to change my oil when I got the stang back in '93, and I've taught myself where I'm to the point where all but a complete motor teardown/rebuild I would do.
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At the end of 2002 is when I learned to change oil and I've been learning everything else since, now up to axles/brakes and all that. I learn out of necessity and my cars have been pretty reliable, so certain things I've not had to bother with yet, but I would attempt anything other than replacing the engine and tranny (the former being a real PITA, I'm sure, and the later requiring a lift or a ton of patience. Of course electricals I don't know anything about, but then they hardly ever need work.
 
Well, one advantage I have is Mustang's are very popular cars as far as enthusiasts go, and I can get help from people with much more knowledge than me. I'm sure that's true with a lot of other cars too, just to a lesser degree. Also, when I need to fix something, I can usually choose from several, better than stock, aftermarket parts for LESS than OEM Motorcraft parts cost. I'm also lucky in that there is also an excellent restoration site that has a lot of those things Ford has stopped making for my car...
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: Skoorb
The labor for the timing belt includes removal and reinstallation of the water pump, but they charged her the labor for both jobs like they were doing them @ different times
Click to expand...
That's pretty underhanded. Sometimes book times are total rubbish anyway. For instance, it supposedly takes a Nissan mechanic 2 hours to change ignition coils on my 00 maxima, but I can do it myself in under half an hour--very, very easy job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's SOP for most shops. This was a Toyota dealer, andafter I told her, she called them on it, but they said that is how they bill. That is how they make their money. Charge xx hours for job, rush to get it done in less time than the book, but charge for the book time, while the mechanic moves on to the next car to repeat.
Click to expand...

A good Mech will bill 60-80 hour Book time in a 40 week.

That is why they have power tools 😉

However I too have had the discussion of charging For removing the HEAD twice. I basically called th guy on it. and they let it go. I can go right next door to my neighbor and get the book times So I know if I am getting Jobbed. Usually I let him fix my cars but there has been a time or two when he did not have time to get it done right away so I took it to the dealer.
 
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