episodic
Lifer
I have an old beater truck I use to get to work and back - a 91 dodge ram that has been around the bend and back. The power steering fluid leaks, there is a leak in the gas tank if you fill over 1/2 full. It stalls ocassionally. . . etc.
I never drive it over 10 miles at a time sort of thing.
I paid $1100 for it a while back ago.
I go to start it other week - and no crank. The battery was 6 years old - so of course that is my 1st thought. I replace the battery. A week later the same thing.
So I figure it is the alternator.
Take it to a local mechanic shop that was recommended to me.
So they call me back saying the alternator is only putting out 11 volts and I authorize it's replacement and install at around 320$ all together.
Fast forward to today - I just got a call and they said that after they placed the new alternator on - something was still wrong. They said they went over the wiring, etc. . . and found out that the ECM was bad. So they said there wasn't anyone in town who had a 'tester' for my particular ECM - so they got one to test it and put it in and they said after that everything worked fine and my system is up again.
The problem is that I didn't authorize this - and they know it. . . The bill is up to around $650.
If they had told me it would have been that much to begin with, I would have just sold the thing for parts and found me another beater. . .
Is there any BS to all of this? Is it really that expensive (300 more dollars) for this part, etc. ..
Anything I should ask or look for? What if I decide that I don't want that done - what are my rights?
I'm not that knowledgeable about this - so I want some 'good thoughts' and things that I can come back with. . . . .
Here is what I am wondering, could it have been the ECM and not the alternator? Should mechanics not know how to figure that out? What if the alternator was good and the ECM bad - and I am paying double?
I never drive it over 10 miles at a time sort of thing.
I paid $1100 for it a while back ago.
I go to start it other week - and no crank. The battery was 6 years old - so of course that is my 1st thought. I replace the battery. A week later the same thing.
So I figure it is the alternator.
Take it to a local mechanic shop that was recommended to me.
So they call me back saying the alternator is only putting out 11 volts and I authorize it's replacement and install at around 320$ all together.
Fast forward to today - I just got a call and they said that after they placed the new alternator on - something was still wrong. They said they went over the wiring, etc. . . and found out that the ECM was bad. So they said there wasn't anyone in town who had a 'tester' for my particular ECM - so they got one to test it and put it in and they said after that everything worked fine and my system is up again.
The problem is that I didn't authorize this - and they know it. . . The bill is up to around $650.
If they had told me it would have been that much to begin with, I would have just sold the thing for parts and found me another beater. . .
Is there any BS to all of this? Is it really that expensive (300 more dollars) for this part, etc. ..
Anything I should ask or look for? What if I decide that I don't want that done - what are my rights?
I'm not that knowledgeable about this - so I want some 'good thoughts' and things that I can come back with. . . . .
Here is what I am wondering, could it have been the ECM and not the alternator? Should mechanics not know how to figure that out? What if the alternator was good and the ECM bad - and I am paying double?
