YACT: Battery light and brake light came on today

[BD2003]

Basically, he added every optional service onto it. You didnt need a radiator flush, you didnt need your brakes flushed, timing belt etc.

You almost definitely didnt need the head gasket repaired - he probably told you that was a common thing with neons, but it's actually only the 1st gen, not 2000 > up that had that problem.

Im surprised he didnt change your clutch while he was at it.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Preyhunter

I would recommend that you become familiar with your car. Get a Chilton's manual and read up at Neons.org to help you learn to do this stuff yourself. As little as these cars are worth, it's not worth it to pay someone else labor and double the retail price in parts.

Considering my job, school and home life doing the work myself is not possible.
I have three children under 9, my wife goes to school and works, I work 50+ a week, and am taking classes towards my bachelors.
I have read the Chilton's and before I was in school did my brakes and radiator myself.

I realize the guy's a ripoff. But the option of taking a day off of work to fix my car, and making my wife miss her classes so a car would be available to pick up the kids wouldn't work.

I NEED A GOOD MECHANIC

anybody know one in the Chicago suburbs?

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: BD2003
Basically, he added every optional service onto it. You didnt need a radiator flush, you didnt need your brakes flushed, timing belt etc.

You almost definitely didnt need the head gasket repaired - he probably told you that was a common thing with neons, but it's actually only the 1st gen, not 2000 > up that had that problem.

Im surprised he didnt change your clutch while he was at it.

The engine does leak. I didn't think it was a head leak, I used to own a 98 and did have the head replaced. I hadn't checked the coolant recently, though with some leaks I'm aware it doesn't show up there.

It's possible he's shitting me, but it's not something I can really dispute now.
In retrospect, I should have declined that work and had it examined somewhere else.

I agree the 'flushes' are crap.

 

[djheater]

I'm not disputing I got raped, btw.

Should have had the brakes done and taken it somewhere else.

I don't know a somewhere else though.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: BD2003
Basically, he added every optional service onto it. You didnt need a radiator flush, you didnt need your brakes flushed, timing belt etc.

You almost definitely didnt need the head gasket repaired - he probably told you that was a common thing with neons, but it's actually only the 1st gen, not 2000 > up that had that problem.

Im surprised he didnt change your clutch while he was at it.

The engine does leak. I didn't think it was a head leak, I used to own a 98 and did have the head replaced. I hadn't checked the coolant recently, though with some leaks I'm aware it doesn't show up there.

It's possible he's shitting me, but it's not something I can really dispute now.
In retrospect, I should have declined that work and had it examined somewhere else.

I agree the 'flushes' are crap.

Ah well, live and learn. I'd have gotten a cheap alternator, cheap brakes and drove it into the ground, instead of paying more to fix it than it's actually worth.

How many miles on it?

 

[spaceman]

dump it
the repair is worth more than the car.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: The Cornballer
dump it
the repair is worth more than the car.

But then I'd have to be able to buy a car for $2500 that would be as good as this car with all the repairs that are being done. And I would be down a car for the time it would take to find one.

And it's got 80,000 miles.

 

[cjchaps]

You might want to go to the neon forums and ask for a good mechanic over there.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: cjchaps
You might want to go to the neon forums and ask for a good mechanic over there.

Bah, blocked at work.

I'll post over there and see if someone can help me when and if I get home tonight.

Thanks.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Preyhunter
Just going down the list...

1. These cars run best on plain copper plugs. For about $7, you could have done the tune up yourself in 10 minutes.
2. You could have had the brakes done cheaper than that, but ok.
3. Same with the brake system flush.
4. Don't know why the headgasket needs replacing, but that seems steep. Not hard on a Neon.
5. WAY too much for a reman alternator.
6. Belts are about half that much.
7. Not surprised that the motor mounts need replacing, though it's easy to do. That price seems high and I'm surprised it's not the upper needing replacement.
8. If timing belt component kit includes a new timing belt tensioner assembly and not just the tensioner pulley, that's a decent deal. I doubt this is the case. Also, there's no labor for the timing belt replacement listed. This labor would not be included with the headgasket replacement since they have nothing to do with each other.

I would recommend that you become familiar with your car. Get a Chilton's manual and read up at Neons.org to help you learn to do this stuff yourself. As little as these cars are worth, it's not worth it to pay someone else labor and double the retail price in parts.

Overhead cam engine, changing the belt when they change the head gasket I would guess.

 

[DrPizza]

Hey, sorry to hear about you getting ripped off. Maybe if you complain, they might knock the price down a bit. Good Luck.
btw, which chain?
I had a similar experience when I went in for an oil change. They discovered over $1000 in "needed" repairs on my vehicle. I simply laughed at them. The only positive thing was the $9.99 oil change (I watched them every minute while they did it and inspected the car for other "necessary" repairs.) Oh, and another positive thing: I saved the lady who was waiting at the same time as me from having a nervous breakdown... I told her they'd lie about what was needed to be done, simply because their pay was based on what they sold you. (commission)

 

[nakedfrog]

Man... coulda gotten a new motor put in for that, I'll bet.

 

[DrPizza]

Used oil filter recycling charge $2.50?! wtf is that?!
1.4 hours for the rear drums? I recently had a mechanic put in new spring kits into my wife's rear drums (I hate working on drums) It was less than 30 minutes, and that includes an oil change!

I'd stop by the garage and have them stop doing some of the things that they were going to do, if they haven't started them. Besides, they've got about 2 days worth of labor on there... they couldn't possible be very far along

 

[OS]

you didn't get the memo, american cars don't break any more.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: djheater
I NEED A GOOD MECHANIC

anybody know one in the Chicago suburbs?

I find it funny that you live in Lombard. My wife is currently in Downers Grove and takes her car to a place that her parents swear by. You got yourself a bargain compared to this shop. The only car shop that I've trusted was the one on Ft. Campbell. Straightforward in their quotes and delivery times. I'll miss not being able to take a car there when I get out.